Middleton Community Orchestra

May 2010: A New Orchestra is Formed

The Middleton Community Orchestra, founded in May 2010 by  clarinetists Larry Bevic and Mindy Taranto (below) is a new ensemble for community musicians who want to make music and have a great time playing together. Our guiding principle was to create a high quality ensemble composed of local amateur musicians that would be capable of performing a challenging classical repertoire.

 Working with our conductor Steve Kurr, we assembled over 70 talented musicians, programmed an entire season of music, and contracted with soloists for two of our concerts. Four months later, we had our first rehearsal on September 15, 2010.  On November 10^th we gave our first concert to an audience of over 400.

Inaugural Concert, November 10, 2010

Photo by Skip Resenhoeft

 

Steve Kurr, conductor

Photo by Skip Resenhoeft

Steve Kurr is very excited about the new Middleton Community Orchestra.   He received undergraduate degrees in Viola Performance and Mathematics from UW-Platteville, a master’s degrees in Musicology from UW-Madison, and has completed doctoral course work there with specialties in mid-18th Century Viennese symphonies and orchestral conducting.
Currently, Mr. Kurr is in his 12th year as the Orchestra Director at Middleton High School where he conducts the two school orchestras and teaches music history courses.  Mr. Kurr also teaches music appreciation classes through the UW Division of Continuing Studies, has just joined the Wisconsin Music Educators Association Council, presents music lectures for the Senior Summer School program, and serves as the timpanist for the Madison Wind Ensemble. 

In the past few years, Mr. Kurr has taught courses at the UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic, served for 15 years as principal violist of the Beloit-Janesville Symphony Orchestra, acted as Orchestra Coordinator and Viola Coach for the State Honors Project, and has been the pit orchestra conductor for the Middleton Players Theater.
Steve lives in the Town of Middleton with his wife Nancy (a private viola instructor) and his comic relief: Veronica (age 10) and Thomas (age 7).

Alice Bartsch, concertmaster

Minnesota native Alice Bartsch,  began her violin studies at the age of three with Ellen Kim, with whom she studied for twelve years.  She continued her studies with Young-Nam Kim, who describes her as a talented musician and leader, as well as “a remarkably mature young lady.”   Alice has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, as well as the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota.  Currently a sophomore at UW-Madison, and pursuing a BM in violin performance, she is co-concertmaster of the University Chamber Orchestra.  Alice is a member of the first violin section in the Madison Symphony.