Leadership, musical development, even world travel are part of MYSO Senior Symphony for Wauwatosa st

By day, Wauwatosa orchestra students perform alongside their peers. By night, some of those students perform professional repertoires next to some of the region's most advanced young musicians, as members of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Senior Symphony.

MYSO Senior Symphony is a 125-member orchestra of advanced musicians from Southeastern Wisconsin and some of northern Illinois. The symphony has traveled domestically and internationally for 50 years, with most participating students in grades 10 through 12.

Eight total Wauwatosa students play with MYSO's Senior Symphony, which is "senior" for its advanced skill, not for the ages of its players.

"Senior Symphony is a competitive atmosphere," said Christian Morzinski, senior cellist at Wauwatosa West. "You know you're among some really extreme talent."

Other participating students include, from East: Ben Bauer, cello, Henry Cloran, bass, and Sam Hantzsch, percussion; and from West: Peter Lehman, cello, Emma Bittner, cello, Adam Carlson, French horn, and Aleksandra Zielonka, bass.

Between 1,000 and 1,200 students try out every year for Senior Symphony, and about 10 percent are accepted. The other 900 are able to play in MYSO's 25 other ensembles and work their way up to Senior Symphony level.

Symbiotic relationship

Participation in high school orchestra is required for students to play in MYSO. Students are drawn from 215 total schools and 60 cities. The goal is for students to be able to- translate their leadership from MYSO to their school peers.

"Most of my MYSO students are section leaders in orchestra. They feel more comfortable with their instruments and techniques," said Jeffrey Sturgeon, director of orchestra at East.

MYSO students also are a resource to demonstrate in class. Many were first to volunteer to play their solo for the class in preparation for the District Solo and Ensemble Festival, which was in February.

"We usually play them to prepare for other auditions," said Lehman.

For students seeking a career in music, or to study it in college, Senior Symphony is ample preparation.

"You get a lot harder music (in Senior Symphony), so it's up to you to take charge and help others," said Sam Hantzsch, a sophomore. "I transfer all of that at Wauwatosa East percussion."

Hantzsch said his percussion ensemble's

director, Linda Siegel, "is a big inspiration."

"If you can do this for a living, that's what I want to do," said Hantzsch.

Morzinski was recently accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Music.

He and others said they used their solos from the District Solo and Ensemble Festival to prepare music for college auditions.

Private lessons are strongly encouraged for those in MYSO. Sturgeon said it has increased students' understanding of music.

"They're an enthusiastic group. They share more in-depth knowledge about the music," said Sturgeon.

Worldwide experience

International touring is specific to Senior Symphony.

Performing abroad started in the mid-1980s as an opportunity for students to experience other cultures while connecting with "strong young musicians in other parts of the world," said Linda Edelstein, MYSO executive director.

Morzinski and Lehman will perform abroad in the symphony's summer tour in Budapest and Vienna from June 28 to July 8.