“Andrew Balio was 13 and a student at Cherokee Middle School when his mother signed him up for an audition with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras,” writes Gayle Worland in Sunday’s (2/14) Wisconsin State Journal (Madison). “Today, Balio is principal trumpet player with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.” Visiting Madison in December, Balio gave a master class and workshop in December at WYSO. The organization “is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, with the festivities building to a crescendo at a sold-out concert Saturday…. WYSO started with one 83-member orchestra and a single conductor. Today the organization runs three full orchestras, a string orchestra, a chamber program, a harp ensemble, a percussion ensemble and three brass choirs. Demand is so high that next fall WYSO will add yet another string orchestra, this one for 8- to 12-year-olds…. WYSO members report to UW-Madison’s Humanities Building for 33 Saturday or Sunday mornings a year for group rehearsals…. About 25 WYSO members also serve as mentors in a partnership with Madison Music Makers [serving] as coaches and ‘musical friends’ for the elementary-age children, [Executive Director Bridget] Fraser said.… ‘These are all kids who are pretty highly motivated and want to do everything…. They’re pretty amazing kids.’ ”
Posted February 16, 2016
