FOR the gazette

STEVENS POINT — The Central Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Program has announced it has hired a new Philharmonia Conductor into the Program. Mr. Austin Bolden is the new Philharmonia Conductor as of Aug. 1, 2023.

Bolden has been teaching at Fond du Lac High School since 2019, where he leads three orchestras, Jazz II, and teaches a Music Technology class. He has also been the bass and rhythm section coach for Rock Infused Orchestra since 2017 and this year became the Double Bass Coach for the Wisconsin State Honors Orchestra. He frequently performs in various musical groups around the Fox Valley area, including Meade Street Collective (which received two WAMI nominations); Jazz for 90s Kids, and Ant’s Marching. These groups have also performed at Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair.

Mr. Bolden was a member of the Kids from Wisconsin from 2012-2013 playing both bass and guitar with the troupe. He studied in Boston at Berklee College of Music for two and a half years before finishing up his degrees at UW-Stevens Point for Instrumental Music Education and Jazz Studies. He was also principal double bass of the UWSP Orchestra and has played with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. He has studied under Lincoln Goines, John Patitucci, Whit Browne, Oscar Stagnaro, Anthony Vitti, Danny Morris, Mathew Buchman, and David Story.

“I’m very excited to be joining the CWSOP team as conductor and can’t wait to work with all the wonderful students,” said Bolden. 

The CWSO is very eager to expand its music education opportunities through its Youth Symphony Orchestra Program throughout central Wisconsin this fall. Registration is open for the Philharmonia and the Youth Symphony Orchestra at CWSO.ORG. All students in grades 6-12 are welcome to join the Program from any district area in central Wisconsin.

The Central Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Program was founded in 2014 in partnership with UW-Stevens Point Continuing Education, UW-Stevens Point Music Department, Aber Suzuki Center, Heid Music, and regional music educators in central Wisconsin. Two full symphony orchestras comprised of students from Portage, Wood, Marathon, Waupaca, Waushara, Shawano, and Lincoln Counties rehearse weekly during the academic year at the Noel Fine Arts Center on the UW-Stevens Point campus. Students receive mentoring from top music education majors and faculty of the UW-Stevens Point Music Department and Aber Suzuki Center faculty. 

The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra consists of sixty-five professional musicians coming from the central Wisconsin region. The players hold an array of occupations; many are music educators, university professors, students, and full-time professional musicians. The regional orchestra is celebrating 75 years at the heart of the vibrant arts and cultural life of central Wisconsin. For more information regarding CWSO and CWYSOP, visit cwso.org.