Dear MSO Retirees,
February 1, 2021 was the first rehearsal day for the MSO musicians in their new hall, the Bradley Symphony Center. Their response via the internet seems to be most favorable, with comparisons to the fabulous Troy Savings Bank Hall in Troy, NY where we played during several East Coast tours and the Konzerthalle in Hamburg, Germany from our European tour. So many tried for so many years to give the MSO a home of its own, away from the barriers posed by acoustics, conditions, and scheduling at the Performing Arts Center/Marcus Center, it is a bit overwhelming to know the day has finally come.
I hope you have signed up for your virtual subscription to the upcoming concerts. If you missed the email, contact Luther Gray at 414-226-7840 or grayl@mso.org. You can find a list of the programs at https://www.mso.org/concerts/packages/season-at-a-glance/ for this virtual season.
Francoise Moquin, Director of Personnel, kindly sent me information on how things were progressing leading up to the first performance. Offices are being designated, furniture moved, the old bass room is empty, and the library will be moved at the end of February. As you can imagine, the Covid guidelines are quite specific and thorough, but I’m sure the joy of being back to making music again in a new home will make up for any inconvenience. Oh, and for you newer retirees, Chris and Ruth Riggs welcomed Henry Scott Riggs to their family on January 15. The “little” fellow arrived at a hefty 8 lbs. 15 oz.! Chris is Assistant Principal Timpani and Percussion.
There are many internet sites showing the wonders of the Bradley Symphony Center. Do check out the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Musicians Facebook site or see what’s going on Backstage at mso.org. The latest posting I found was https://www.mso.org/backstage/musician-excitement/?fbclid=IwAR1t3T0oif2vghLOFIzc_wqEr01b1ESDYaSPd380hCzuZjF4FBmLkBqKnZ0
Now, it has been a long time since the last newsletter, so let’s get started.
We welcome two new members to our retiree family! Karen Smith and Laura Snyder have decided to hear what it is like from the other side of the stage. You will find wonderful tributes to each of them at https://www.facebook.com/msomusicians/ on December 30 (Karen) and December 31 (Laura).
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Paul and Kathy Mehlenbeck celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 20th. I love this photo.
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The handsome lad with the trumpet is our own Dennis Najoom. The photograph was taken during Dennis’s high school years and the poster said Dennis was “definitely a whiz kid trumpet player.”
Of the photo, Dennis wrote, “These were fun times. This picture has flooded me with wonderful memories. I have never had more fun playing music then back then with these good friends. I’m guessing we were about 16.” Never one to sit idle, Dennis has recently published “Trumpet According to Dennis Najoom: Techniques for Enhancing Your Playing.” It is available at Amazon now!
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Another oldie but goodie is this great photo of Bill Barnewitz with his group, Matrix, taken in 1978. Love those bow ties and the ruffle-front shirts.
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For another stroll down memory lane…. 29 years ago!! You might see yourself!
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Julia Goodwin posted a photo of her parents during their quartet days. We all knew Jack’s great talent on cello and piano, but how could I not know Jean was a singer? Julia wrote that her Mom died on December 8, 2020. We lost Jack in January, 2015.
Dr. Goodwin is a Music History and Piano Instructor at The Hochstein School in Rochester. She also posted this next photo. Remember when one of the local clothing companies (Chapman’s, Boston Store?) used some of the musicians in their ads? I hope that wasn’t Jack’s best bow.
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John Lounsbery had some fun this winter picking out a “just right” Christmas tree for grandson Teddy.
Looks like they are best buds.
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Bonnie Weber posted a pre-MSO photo with an up and coming violinist- Isaac someone or other.
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Sara and Dale Harmelink also celebrated their 50th anniversary this summer. I noticed that daughter Nicole spent time in December helping Sara and Dale move into their new home in Naples, Florida. Sara, you must let us know about this new adventure! Here is the entire Harmelink clan.
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David Taggart and Terry Burko were still able to bike and gather donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in spite of the pandemic, just not with their normal crew and course. David wrote, “I’m a lucky guy to have 1) a great stoker/partner, 2) my team to inspire me, 3) great medical care, and 4) LLS to give me the opportunity to pay it forward to other blood cancer patients.” Hopefully there will be a regular ride this summer and I hope you will consider giving your support to David and Terry’s Team Chemo-Sabe.
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Liz Tuma posted a photo from the 1970 New York String Seminar. The violist is Jennie Blakeman Lenz. The Seminar started in 1969 with Alexander Schneider and in 1993 Jaime Laredo became director. It still continues and Woody and I try to attend the two concerts during Christmas week at Carnegie Hall every year. I think Bill Barnewitz was also a participant. While it is a “string” seminar, they have a full orchestra complement and provide chamber music and orchestra studies for all.
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Andreas Delfs has been named Music Director of the Rochester Philharmonic. You can read the press release at
There is no mention of whether he will be continuing his work at Temple University, but he is still listed as Professor of Music in the Department of Instrumental Studies and Conductor of their orchestra. Jeff Tyzik is the RPO’s Pops Conductor.
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Steve Basson writes, “I have great news, a new grandson (November 9) named Andrew. He joins his older twin sisters (3 years) and way older big brother (5 years), they are the children of Duncan and Allison in Massachusetts.”
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Joanna Miranda has some exciting news, too. She created 12 new illustrations for the Financial Information Technology Focus magazine published in Japan by Nomura Research Institute. The theme for the year’s illustrations was “Boys Playing Sports.” The illustrations were recently published in NRI’s 2021 calendar. Here’s February!
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Received a lovely Christmas note from Wilanna and Les Kalkhof. Wilanna has been maintaining her social and spiritual connections through Skype, Zoom, e-mail and that “quaint, yet ancient device, the telephone.” Book clubs, playing for church services, and trying to keep in touch with family has filled her days. Les is enjoying time in the woods and taking photos with his “new” (1951) Leica II F and lenses. Dare we acknowledge the camera is the same age as Les?
Son Eric and his family are still in Minneapolis and they are dealing with work and school as best they can. Tasha is a vet in Kenosha and volunteered for cleaning up downtown Kenosha after the civil unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. And she has a new beau, Alex, nearing the end of his nursing studies and planning to continue for a Masters degree.
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From Anne Sczygiel, “My grandson Taron is now 13 months old and and really easy going. I am so excited that Mark just moved back to Milwaukee, working remotely here for his same Minneapolis job with C.H.Robinson which he really loves. He is living in an apartment across from Juneau Park, so I am looking forward to lakefront walks with him! ”
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Had a conversation with Sandy Dagon today and learned some sad news. Russ is now in an assisted living community due to dementia and is also recovering from Covid. Sandy said they moved him to a hospital for the virus and he is now receiving rehabilitation, but should be back in assisted living very soon. If you would like to contact Sandy or Russ, they can be reached at russelldagon@sbcglobal.net or by mail at PO Box 220, Wales, WI 53183.
You may remember Russ and Sandy’s children. Rusty is living in Florida and working for Universal, daughter Kelly lives in Libertyville, IL, and Jeff is a real estate agent in Wauwatosa. Russ and Sandy also have five grandchildren. Daughter Kelly’s oldest son, Patrick, is a law student at Loyola, Kevin is selling Porsches in Chicago, and Annie is a nurse at Northwestern University Hospital working in Labor & Delivery. Son Rusty’s son, Rusty, is a Finance major in his sophomore year at Washington University in St. Louis and Riley is a Junior in High School.
I asked Sandy for a photo and she kindly sent this beautiful one taken about a year ago.
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And it is good to hear from Joe Conti. “I have many great memories and lots to be thankful for. My 39 years with the MSO was filled with amazing concerts and now as a fan, I am just so amazed how wonderful this orchestra is. My best wishes to all.”
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Once in a while I’ll Google a name from the past and happened to find on Radio Prague International’s website a broadcast highlighting Zdenek Macal, aired on 01/24/21. The announcer gave a brief history of his career and then played two movements of Dvorak’s Sixth Symphony with the MSO! They concluded the program with a Slavonic Dance that I suspect was also one of ours. Mr. Macal turned 85 in January. There was an interesting note about his time with the Czech Philharmonic-
“In 2003, he became chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, but due to disputes with members of the orchestra, he terminated his engagement prematurely after four years. However he always praised it as an outstanding ensemble, saying there was no orchestra in the world that could match it in its interpretation of Dvořák.”
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You may remember that Frank Almond has left the Concertmaster Chair and become the MSO’s Artistic Director. The Shepherd Express did an interesting article on Frank.
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Gary Greenhoe asked that a tribute be included for Robert Rusk, MSO Tuba. I’m sorry it took so long to do this, Gary.
Robert Alan Rusk 1948 – 2015
A music performance major at Indiana University, he played tuba in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for 25 years and also with numerous other ensembles. Bob taught tuba at the University of Wisconsin and Northwestern University and designed instruments for many musicians around the country. Once again I remember my colleague, friend, and most of all, 30-year mentor Bob Rusk who left us way too soon five years ago.
RIP, Bob!
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We all have our own ways of coping with stress, and liquid, in one form or another, seems to be a part of many a retiree’s regimen.
Patt Trobaugh is enjoying living near her daughter, Anna Mersereau in Portland, Oregon. Here she is enjoying some kayaking on Sturgeon Lake, Suave Island, Oregon.
Linda Siegel enjoys the Wisconsin River.
Gary Greenhoe built up some rowing strength on a lake near home.
And Pat Mumm- Lovely enjoyed time with friends at Ferrante’s.
That is it for now. It has been an unusually long time between newsletters, but these have been especially unusual days. I hope to get back to a more typical schedule. And if you are still reading, [[: PLEASE :]] send your news to longviewlady@gmail.com. It seems a bit pointless at times to search Facebook for information many have already seen. It would be especially nice to share something that one can’t find on the internet!
Please keep safe, keep your distance, wear your mask, and get the vaccine. All best wishes to you and your families.
Andrea
I think John Lounsbery posted these.
OLOMA65 