MILWAUKEE — School music programs are often some of the first things to get cut when districts face budget constraints, leaving a number of students without access to music education.
And the cost of private music lessons, which can range be upwards of $100 per month, can be difficult for families to afford.
To fill that void, the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) is working to reach more kids.
MYSO started in 1956, and according to Chief Artistic Director Carter Simmons, it is the largest youth orchestra program in the country. Simmons said it serves over 900 students from 200 schools from over 90 different zip codes.
Lilly Beane, who’s a senior in high school, is the principal clarinetist of the Senior Symphony at MYSO. She started playing her instrument in fourth grade.
“I’m playing Brahms’ Love Songs,” said Beane as she was warming up for rehearsal. “It’s actually a love story. So, it’s the love of music.”
A love of music has defined Beane’s young life. Now, it’s shaping her future.
She said she plans to major in music performance and social work when she heads to college next year. Beane said MYSO has helped make that goal possible.
“Starting young, you can learn the discipline. You can learn the teamwork, the leadership and you can carry that on,” she said.
Simmons has been with the organization for more than 30 years. In that time, he has helped thousands of students build their musical skills.
“Students from any and every kind of background that you can possibly imagine come here,” he said. “They interact, and they enjoy each other’s company, and they learn how to work with each other.”
Beyond music, Simmons said his main goal is helping students become successful, well-rounded young adults.
“Many of them go on into music, but most of our students go into all of the other different kinds of fields,” he said. “They become leaders in every kind of discipline you can imagine, and it all starts with their devotion to music.”
MYSO students are currently practicing for a free community concert to thank donors and inspire others to help support it. MYSO relies on community donations to offer scholarships and financial assistance to help serve more kids.
Beane said she wishes every young person could have the opportunity to experience MYSO, like she has.
“It’s a language that everybody understands, so somebody might not speak the same language as you, but with that music you are all able to connect with one another,” she said.
MYSO’s free all-day performance is on Nov. 9 at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield. It’s the culmination of MYSO’s month-long, student-led fundraiser called, Play Your Part. If you’d like to donate, you can click here.
The Nov. 9 performance will feature concerts from all MYSO ensembles on three different stages:
Large Ensembles in Harris Theater
- Chamber Flute Ensemble & Flute Chorale – 10 a.m.
- Sinfonia – 10:45 a.m.
- String Orchestra North/Central – 11:30 a.m.
- Senior Symphony – 12:15 p.m.
- Prelude Orchestra – 1:10 p.m.
- Metropolitan Symphony – 1:50 p.m.
- Prelude Wind Ensemble – 2:40 p.m.
- Wind Ensemble – 3:25 p.m.
- Progressions – 4:15 p.m.
- String Orchestra South/West – 5 p.m.
- Philharmonia – 5:45 p.m.
Jazz Combos and Steel Bands in Dawes Studio
- Perception Jazz Combo – 10 a.m.
- Effect Jazz Combo – 10:40 a.m.
- Connection Jazz Combo – 11:20 a.m.
- Rumba Latin Jazz Combo – 12 p.m.
- Apex Jazz Combo – 12:40 p.m.
- Calypso & Soca Steel Bands – 1:30 p.m.
- Outlook Jazz Combo – 3 p.m.
- Template Jazz Combo – 3:40 p.m.
- Cornerstone Jazz Combo – 4:20 p.m.
- Summit Jazz Combo – 5 p.m.
- Bronzeville Jazz Ensemble – 5:40 p.m.
Jazz Combos in Kuttemperoor Grand Hall
- Apex – 12 p.m.
- Outlook – 1:35 p.m.
- Summit – 3:10 p.m.
- Bronzeville Jazz Ensemble – 3:55 p.m.