Orchestras Matter.
Local Music Matters.
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Orchestras represent artistic excellence and provide lifelong musical experiences and participation in the creative process. They contribute to community health and vitality by fueling local economies, attracting new business development, educating young people, and—through the power of music—uniting individuals and cultures in times of public celebration and healing. They expand access to music for people of all ages who might not have a natural comfort with cultural institutions. And they are engaging in programmatic and policy efforts to reduce gaps in access to arts education in schools.
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For an orchestra, public value is not solely described or measured in terms of audience size, artistic excellence, or scope of repertoire, but also includes consideration of the difference it makes in people’s lives and whether or not that difference lasts.
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Musicians, staff, and volunteers contribute creative capital and energy to the communities in which they live, work, and play. They infuse a love and appreciation for music in children. Studies show that creating, performing, and responding to music improves students’ success in school, work, and life. It fosters discipline, teamwork, joy, and individual skill and expression in amateur musicians, from preschoolers to high school seniors.
The Marquette Symphony Orchestra
is currently accepting scholarship applications from Upper Peninsula
High School String Students for
music camps in Summer 2024!
1st prize: $500
2nd prize: $500
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 ENTRANCE FORM
Applications must be postmarked by
Friday, February 2, 2024
In-person auditions will be held at NMU on
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Winners will be announced LIVE immediately following the last audition.
Competition Requirements:
1) Previous year winners are NOT allowed to participate.
2) Applicants must be string students residing in the Upper Peninsula or string students studying with an Upper Peninsula teacher at time of application deadline.
3) Entrance Forms must be postmarked by February 2, 2024.
4) The 1st and 2nd place prize money will be given directly to a summer music camp experience approved by the MSO’s Artistic Advisory Committee.
5) What to prepare: You will be asked to play an orchestral excerpt. A scanned excerpt will be sent to the applicant’s email after the Entrance Form has been received. A solo of your choosing is also required.
Please bring an accompanist, or request to pay for accompanist at time of application.
Studies have shown that students who complete music courses score higher on their SATs,
have higher GPAs and receive more academic honors than their counterparts.
However, once they graduate from high school, it’s not a test score but a love for music that drives them to continue their studies.
2024
String Scholarship
2023 Recipients
Congratulations to Sonja Wautier (Ninth Grade) and James Uchytil (Tenth Grade), the 2023 MSO String Scholarship recipients.
Thanks to your generous donations, they will each receive $500 toward their summer music camp experience.
The MSO is a donor-supported organization. We rely on the support of our donors to help us provide year-round creative enrichment to music students in our community. Your gift puts smiles on faces, opens minds and nurtures heart and soul!
Thank you for considering a gift to the MSO and the arts and creativity at Marquette!
The MSO offers opportunities to develop skills through masterclasses, workshops and demonstrations by distinguished guest artists and the musicians from Marquette.
Hiawatha Music Festival at Tourist Park
Saturday, July 23, 2023 at 1:00pm
We had a great time working with young fiddlers in the teen and tween tents at the 2023 Hiawatha Music Festival!
Playing our names!
Live music, crafts, and loads of fun! The MSO also partnered with the U.P. Children’s Museum twice in May 2023.
MSO volunteers created an evening of musical activities for children at the museum. The museum also hosted musicians and audience members for an afterglow following the May concert.
Monday, May 9
Free Children’s Concerts at Kaufman Auditorium
The orchestra performed for Marquette County 4th and 5th graders during their school days. The performances were sponsored by an anonymous donor and The Louis G. Kaufman Foundation.
The children's concerts concluded with Maestro Más-Arocas leading the students in a singalong to Disney's Frozen–a joyful and memorable moment for everyone in the room.
Free and open for community attendance
Sunday, May 8 @ Marquette Senior High School Orchestra Room
2-3 pm
Master classes with MSO Concerto Competition winner Christine Harada Li, violin and Nathaniel Pierce, cello.
Click here to see the program.
Sunday, March 13 @ Reynolds Recital Hall
3-5 pm
Guest soloist and MSO’s 2020 Youth Concerto Competition Winner Xiaoya Liu will join a masterclass with local piano students. 8 students will be playing roughly 15 minutes each.
Middle and High School Masterclasses
From all the MSO musicians that worked with students this winter: IT WAS A BLAST!
We saw SO MUCH GROWTH and smiling eyes!
Classes will be virtual unless specific instrumental teachers are only available virtually (horn, oboe).
Artistic Advisory Committee Chair has reached out to directors and we are connecting teachers to MSO musicians.
Two dates scheduled at Marquette and one night in Negaunee.
This January, members of the MSO string sections provided instruction to the talented young musicians preparing for their Middle School and High School Solo & Ensemble Festivals. Because there were more than double the participants in Marquette, we visited two nights. Negaunee had one session.
Each young musician was invited to play their selection and receive coaching. Some students opted to have an MSO musician play with them, and others were closer to performance-ready. Growth was observed at all stages, and students were appreciative, enthusiastic and cooperative. EVERY STUDENT in attendance learned NEW SKILLS and CONCEPTS.
Harry South, Negaunee Orchestra Director, and Eric Marta, Marquette Orchestra Director, were both pleased to have this instruction provided for their students. MSO student member, James Uchytil, attended both nights in Marquette – once for his solo and later in the week with his string quartet!
The Nancy A. Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship Fund
In honor of Nancy, a founding MSO member and positive inspiration to the Marquette and NMU community. Her piano and harp teaching and performances will be missed.
“I am not sure that there was ever a kinder, sweeter soul than Nancy. She was always in good spirits, no matter the situation. She is just a tremendous loss to this community.”
The Marquette Symphony Orchestra was greatly saddened by the passing of our wonderful harpist and pianist, Nancy Zimmerman. We have lost an outstanding musician and wonderful friend.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Statement on Non-Discrimination and Fair Access in Auditions, Volunteer and Hiring Recruitment
MSO is committed to helping make the organization and its activities are accessible to all individuals on a non-discriminatory basis. MSO is opposed to discrimination based upon actual or perceived gender, age, race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, parental, marital, domestic partner, civil union, military, or veteran status.