FVSO welcomes Composer-in-Residence Lawren Brianna Ware

The Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra begins the season on September 20 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Along with trumpet soloist Michael Henckel, there will be a world premiere from Lawren Brianna Ware. This is Ware's second time working with the orchestra and Dr. Sütterlin is excited to share this new piece with our audience. 

Lawren will be joining us for the pre-concert talk on Saturday, but we checked in with her early to ask what we can expect from the piece. 

Tell us about your last trip with FVSO. What was that experience like? 

Ware: My last trip to visit with the FVSO was AMAZING! It was my first ever orchestral premiere and I was blown away by the kindness and hospitality of Kevin, Jamie, the FVSO, and the concert attendees. They truly made me feel like a celebrity and I thought that my heart would burst with joy and gratitude! And I can't forget to mention that the orchestra's performance of "The Moirai" was HOLY SMOKES INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, we would argue that you ARE a celebrity! But please tell us about M31. What was your inspiration? What do you want people to feel when listening? 

Ware: "M31" was a really fun piece for me to write. I went back and forth about the title of the piece but I knew that the composition would deal with the idea of "space" in some way. When I saw that Mazzoli's "Sinfonia for Orbiting Spheres" was programmed as well, a little lightbulb went off in my head and, in a Captain Kirk voice, whispered "Space! The final frontier!" (LOL. Kidding...kind of....) The work is named after the original catalog name for the Andromeda Galaxy (originally called "Messier 31" and then abbreviated to "M31") Andromeda popped into my head because my mother-in-law is a space and science enthusiast and LOVES to talk about Andromeda, haha. Andromeda or M31 is our closest galactic neighbor. While it is significantly larger than our galaxy (the Milky Way), much less is known about it. That unknown is what aided me in the composition of the work. There aren't many moments in the piece that I intended to concretely signify a certain sound or occurrence. My hope is for the listener to use the work as their own exploratory vessel (Trekkies, for you it might act as the Enterprise; for my Star Wars peeps, it might be the Millenium Falcon; or the Executor if you're leaning more towards the dark side...). Listen to the piece and decide for yourself the things that you are discovering as you traverse Andromeda. Did a space monster attack your ship? Did you discover a planet where aliens play jazz on extraterrestrial instruments? Did you narrowly survive a sudden meteor shower? I think you get the picture 😉! During the final seconds of the work, the orchestra crescendos, leading to a thrilling conclusion to the piece. This ending is representative of a spaceship's engines warming up to full power, preparing for a jump to lightspeed to continue on its exploratory journey of Andromeda. 

Trekkies and the Millenium Falcon? OK! We're in! We hope you love working with us as much as we love working with you.  

Ware: FVSO loves to premiere new music so it would be great to see what it is like from your perspective. I absolutely love and appreciate the FVSO's dedication to premiering new music and working with up and coming composers as well as established ones. Its dedication to new music is refreshing and, for me, personally, it's making dreams come true!

What else are you working on or what is coming up next for you? 

Ware: I'm currently working on several projects! A few days after the premiere of M31, I'll be heading to New York (SUNY Brockport) for the premiere of my (our) piece, "Tea Leaves." This composition is a collaborative work between myself and soprano/poet Kaswanna Kanyinda made possible by Opera on Tap Rochester's Jay Red Koh Composer Residency (headed by Seiko Elmore). The work is a multi-movement sound cycle that explores the African Diaspora through the tea trade and addresses the importance of tea in Black culture throughout history. Additionally I am in the early stages of planning for a commission with members of the LunART festival and International Crane Foundation. Finally, on a non-composition related note, I am continuing to love teaching my wonderful piano and violin students (of my private studio, B. Ware Works)!

Thank you all for this opportunity to return to Appleton! Because of the FVSO, Appleton will always have a special place in my heart. 

Come to meet Lawren and enjoy M31 at 7:30pm at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on September 20. Pre-concert talk starts at 6:40pm and there is a free post-concert reception after the concert for everyone. 

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

 

FVSO Opens the Season with Soloist Michael Henckel

The Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra begins the season on September 20 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Along with a world premiere from Lawren Brianna Ware, the evening features principal trumpet Michael Henckel. Henckel will perform both the Haydn Trumpet Concerto and a piece by local composer Marty Robinson titled Evensong.

We asked Michael about his years with FVSO and the anticipation for his upcoming performance. 

Tell us about your time with FVSO. How long have you been with us?

I joined the Fox Valley Symphony in the fall of 2000, so this concert will be the start of my 26^th season with the orchestra; and what a way to kick off the season by getting the opportunity to be the guest soloist!

What are some of your biggest memories with FVSO?

There are so many to choose from! Technically, this will be my third time soloing with the orchestra. In 2015, I performed the Telemann Trumpet Concerto in D, and it was a wonderful event: the first time I was able to solo in the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, and three family members were part of the orchestra with me that evening: my wife, Laura (Principal Cellist of FVSO), my daughter, Kayla (violin), and my mother-in-law, Carol (harpsichord)

The other solo opportunity I had with the orchestra was my first season on the holiday concert at Picard Auditorium in Neenah. "Ding Dong Merrily on High" was the piece, but more importantly than the solo opportunity was the fact that several days after the concert I received a hand drawn picture of me playing the trumpet from a young girl who had attended the concert. She brought it to the FVSO office and asked that I get the drawing. That sticks with me still today because I’ve never thought of myself as a role model, but I certainly seemed to make an impression for that young girl that evening.

Other memories include an outstanding performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto by Laura, and the opportunity to perform so many great pieces of the classical literature: Mahler, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Strauss … and the list goes on!

Why did you pick the Haydn to perform?

The Haydn Trumpet Concerto is truly a staple of the trumpet solo repertoire. As such, I’ve played the first page of the piece many times as part of auditions for various groups. But that limits you from really getting to know the piece as a whole. I performed the Concerto 20 years ago with the Manitowoc Symphony, and I’m excited to get the chance to perform it again with the FVSO. I’ve grown a lot as a musician and a trumpet player over the past 20 years, and my approach to and study of the piece this time around has brought some new discoveries. The piece is very well crafted, has some very beautiful moments, and some playful ones as well.

We’re excited to have Marty’s piece on the program too. 

It is a great honor for me to perform Marty’s piece with the orchestra. Marty and I have known each other for 35 years, and I’m excited to share his piece and his music with the audience. 

Evensong was originally written for saxophone quartet and trumpet. In 2014 Laura was taking a small string orchestra of students from her school on a tour of Italy, and we asked Marty if he had any pieces for trumpet and strings. He didn’t, but said he could reorchestrate Evensong for strings and trumpet. Laura’s group and I performed the piece on several concerts in Rome, and when Kevin and I agreed upon me playing the Haydn, I asked if it would also be possible to perform Marty’s piece as well.

Evensong is inspired by the tradition of Christian evening prayers. The peaceful melodic lines are presented in an introspective and reflective manner.

Thank you to Kevin and the FVSO for this opportunity, and to my friends and colleagues in the orchestra who have helped make the memories over the past 25 years. Thank you to my friends outside of the orchestra for your continued support of my musical passion.

And, a huge thank you to my family: Laura, Kayla, Dylan, and Nolan, for your never-ending love and support and for understanding over the years every time I’ve said, “I’ve got to go practice.”

Come and enjoy Michael's performance at 7:30pm at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on September 20. Pre-concert talk starts at 6:40pm and there is a free post-concert reception after the concert for everyone. 

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

 

FVSO's Sensory-Inclusive Concerts for Fall & Spring

Music in Motion, a collaboration event between the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Expressive Therapies, and your Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, is returning for a second season, now with two dates for community members to join in the sensory-inclusive experience. 

Designed with guests of all abilities in mind, Music in Motion blends live symphonic music with a welcoming environment that encourages movement, participation and fun. Attendees are invited to join in the music-making using handheld instruments and colorful scarves (provided at the event), while enjoying flexible seating, consistent lighting, and open areas for those who prefer to move during the performance. 

Musicians from the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra will perform a mix of modern and classic selections and participate in a Q&A session during the event. “It was a wonderful event. It was so nice to have the orchestra, the players involved, and it was really fun. I think everybody had a good time.”said Maresa, inaugural Music in Motion attendee 

Join your community this season for two themed concerts: 

“Soundtracks” on November 8 at 3 p.m. Featuring music from beloved films and musicals: 1. A New Hope or Cantina Song (from the Star Wars) OR Star Wars Medley 2. Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid) 3. Let It Go (from the Frozen) 4. Defying Gravity (from the Wicked) 5. Pirates of the Caribbean Medley (from the Pirates of the Caribbean) 6. The Cup Song (from the Pitch Perfect) 
Get tickets for November here!

“Sun, Star, Moon” on March 14 at 3 p.m. A celestial celebration of day and night: 1. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 2. Moonlight Bay (Wenrich) 3. Counting Stars (One Republic) 4. Rewrite The Stars (from the The Greatest Showman) 5. House of the Rising Sun (Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, The Animals) 6. Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles) 
Get tickets for March here!

Symphony Under the Stars Returns!

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra present Symphony Under the Stars 2025 at Neuroscience Group Field on Saturday, July 26. This is a free event with no charge for parking or admission presented by Network Health, Miron Construction, Community First Credit Union, and Wisconsin Public Radio. The show starts at 7:30pm.

“This concert is truly our love letter to the community,” said Jamie LaFreniere, Executive Director of the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra. “We want everyone to feel welcome. Bring the whole family, enjoy incredible music, delicious food, and a fireworks finale that lights up the night. It’s all about joy, connection, and celebration.”

This free event is designed to bring generations together – from toddlers to grandparents – with no tickets and no barriers to participation.

“This night is about FUN,” LaFreniere added. “Whether it’s your first symphony concert or your fiftieth, you belong here.”

Thanks to generous sponsors, the evening remains free and accessible. But as the event grows, so does the need for support. “We’re looking for new sponsors to help us keep this tradition going strong,” said LaFreniere. “It’s a big production—and our sponsors are the reason we can share it with everyone, year after year.”

The stadium parking lot opens at 5:00pm with the gates to get into the stadium open at 6:00pm. All free seating for the event is based on first-come, first-serve availability. There will be food and beverages available for purchase from the concessions stands with fireworks scheduled at the end of the show.

FVSO’s music director Kevin Sütterlin has been part of the production since 2019 and loves bringing a unique experience to the Fox Cities. “Imagine your orchestra performing Prince and Ozzy Osbourne. We can’t wait to share this amazing night of music with both our musicians and our audience,” says Sutterlin.

Russ and the Renegades, the house band of FVSO, Fox Valleyaires Men’s Barbershop Chorus, and MacDowell Male Chorus will also be part of the show again this year.

For the first time at this event, there are special sections available for those who would like to reserve their seats. The Diamond Seats behind home plate includes a buffet of Neuroscience Group Field favorites with a reserved seat and food for a $40 ticket. Patio tables, which seat four, are available for $80 per table and include waitstaff service. Both options are available at this link.

“We are also happy to bring back the open rehearsal during the daytime hours, 3-5pm, for a more sensory-friendly experience,” said LaFreniere. “For those with special needs who have a hard time with large crowds and don’t want the noise of fireworks, we love having them join us earlier so they can enjoy their own private free concert.”

Please contact FVSO at info@foxvalleysymphony.com to make special accommodations for the daytime rehearsal.

FVSO Extends Music Director Kevin Sütterlin’s Contract for Another Three Years

Appleton, WI — The Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra (FVSO) is thrilled to announce Music Director Dr. Kevin Sütterlin has renewed his contract for another three years, continuing his dynamic leadership through the 2027-28 season.

Known for his international accolades and deep commitment to community engagement, Dr. Sütterlin has quickly become a beloved figure in the Fox Valley music scene. From Emmy-winning ensembles to his boundary-breaking co-directorship at Sinfonietta Memphis, Kevin brings a global flair and a heartfelt local touch to everything he conducts.

"Kevin's vision for the orchestra and our community truly inspires me, and I'm so glad we get to keep him with us,” said Jamie LaFreniere, FVSO Executive Director. “I'm excited to continue this adventure and see what comes next.”

Cathy Mutschler, FVSO’s incoming Board President, echoed that enthusiasm: "We're delighted that Kevin has renewed his contract with the FVSO for another term. His technical skill and passion have challenged and elevated our orchestra, and his heart and humor have endeared him to our community."

Sütterlin joined FVSO in 2019 and this will be his second renewal. “I am excited for the next few years with the amazing musicians, staff, board members, and our beloved audience of the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra,” said Sütterlin. “I look back with pride as we have established the FVSO as one of Wisconsin’s finest professional orchestras, having been nationally recognized and awarded in recent years—and I look forward to continuing on our path of artistic growth through programming that is relevant, challenging, and inspiring. I am particularly excited about the new music we are commissioning and performing—orchestral music does not have to be dusty or old-fashioned—it can (and should!) be relevant to people’s everyday lives; it should be exciting, meaningful, and creative.”

Within the orchestra, Sütterlin’s leadership is equally celebrated. Concertmaster Yuliya Smead shared, "Kevin’s artistic vision for the orchestra is simply inspiring. His programming is broad enough to reach everyone in the audience and on stage. His exceptional musicality breathes new life into pieces, new and old alike."

Under Sütterlin’s leadership, FVSO won two American Prize awards: first place for Orchestral Performance – professional division, and second place for Conducting – professional division.  

And Principal Horn Bruce Atwell said, "After an amazing performance of Mahler's Second Symphony last weekend, I was reflecting on the incredible musical and artistic growth the orchestra has experienced under Kevin's leadership. It was at this moment Jamie let me know Kevin had signed a new 3-year contract! I could not be more thrilled!"

With this new chapter, the FVSO continues its mission of making orchestral music accessible, vibrant, and deeply rooted in community. Whether you're a seasoned subscriber or just dipping your toes into symphonic waters—there’s never been a better time to experience the energy and excellence of the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra.

About Dr. Kevin Sütterlin:
An internationally sought-after conductor and pedagogue, Dr. Sütterlin is the Director of Orchestral Activities and Opera at Concordia College and co-directs Sinfonietta Memphis, where friendship through music is more than a motto—it’s a mission. A champion of living and underrepresented composers, Sütterlin commissions multiple new works each year, passionately expanding the orchestral repertoire. He brings that same innovation and inclusion to the FVSO stage, ensuring every concert is as fresh and forward-looking as it is rooted in excellence. Sütterlin is one of the country’s leading conducting pedagogues, being praised for his keen analytical eye and deep understanding of conducting technique and physique, paired with a kind and caring approach that has empowered conductors and conducting students across the globe. He leads one of the country’s only undergraduate programs in orchestral conducting that attracts highly talented students from across the world.

About the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra:

The Symphony's mission is to build bridges of accessibility to orchestra music and to make a positive impact on the lives of everyone in our community. Founded in 1966, the non-profit provides the community with concerts, community outreach programming, and three Youth Orchestra programs. Music Director Dr. Kevin Sütterlin leads the FVS orchestra, with Dr. Luis Fernandez conducting Youth Orchestra, which just had its 50^th Anniversary in the 24-25 season. Greg Austin conducts Concert Orchestra, and Adam Brown conducts Philharmonia. The Youth Orchestras serve students from middle school through high school and there are full scholarships available for all three youth groups.

 

Meet our soloist: Eduard Teregulov

We are delighted to have Eduard Teregulov join us on stage this weekend! Let's find out a little more about the Feb. 8 performance:

Why did you pick this piece to perform? Is there specific significance or do you love the piece? Why?

I am always on the lookout for lesser-known works. How many times have the audience heard cello concertos by Dvořák, Elgar, or Schumann? Those are incredible works, but there is so much more amazing music written out there. Music that deserves to be performed and brought to the audience. I am a strong believer in diversity in classical music, and I am doing my best to contribute to it with my performances. In my opinion, both works by Sam Wu and Matilde Capuis are going to make a great contrasting program that will be engaging to the audience. They pair wonderfully with Debussy’s La Mer and Oceana by Stella Sung.

Have you played this piece before?

No, I haven’t. This will be my first public performance. When FVSO reached out to me about this concert, I was thrilled that maestro Sütterlin agreed to program these works.

Tell us about some of your other favorites.

I am a huge enthusiast for contemporary music and music of the 20th century. Some of my favorite composers are Sofia Gubaidulina, Alfred Schnittke, and Witold Lutosławski. I also love working with living composers. In the past few years, I have commissioned and premiered over 20 works for cello, including compositions for cello and electronics, cello and piano, and solo cello. Some of my late favorites are ROAR by Hannah Rice, Swansongs by Mara Gibson, Tesla Fantasy by Alina Akhmetova, and if/then Kari Watson.

What are you looking forward to about the performance?

I’m very excited to create some amazing music with FVSO and maestro Kevin Sütterlin, and I can’t wait to share it with you all on Saturday, February 8th at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. It’s going to be a blast!

Join Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra with Eduard Teregulov on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Pre-concert talk begins at 6:40pm. Concert starts at 7:30pm.

Purchase tickets here!

More about Eduard Teregulov:

Eduard Teregulov is a winner of international competitions in both Europe and the United States. He started his musical journey at the age of five and now maintains an active career around the country. His recent performances include playing in Carnegie Hall and DiMenna Center in New York City.

Eduard Teregulov is an avid advocate of the music of living and underrepresented composers. Amplifying and creating platforms for artists of today and underrepresented composers is central to his music career. Within the framework of his project on expanding the cello repertoire of the 21st century, Teregulov commissioned and premiered over twenty works for cello, including a cello concerto, works for solo cello, various chamber ensembles, and electro-acoustic compositions. He was invited to perform at festivals, conferences, and concert series including SEAMUS, ChimeFEST at UChicago, Electric LaTex at Rice University, New Music on the Bayou, Music by Women, Branceleoni International Festival, and many others.

Dr. Teregulov holds the position of Assistant Professor of Cello and Double Bass at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. He is also a founding member of Homegrown New Music Ensemble and the Music Director of the concert series in Fargo, ND - Fugitive Sound Experience.

Meet our Composer: Sam Wu

One of the pieces FVSO will perform at the February 8 Oceana concert is cetacean songs by Sam Wu. This fascinating piece is designed to inspire and inform and we can't wait to share this with you. We had a chance to talk with composer Sam Wu, who will also join us at the concert, and asked a few questions about the piece. 

What was your inspiration for the piece? What brought you to this idea?

"cetacean songs is inspired by the complexity of whalesong. While we don't understand what whales are singing and saying, we know that they communicate with specific syntax, repetition, and even regional dialects. To me, the sound of the cello shares a kindred spirit with whalesong; before I wrote the work, I also read a wonderful book by Tom Mustill, How to Speak Whale, which greatly inspired (and informed) me."

What do you want people to take away from the performance?

"I hope people walk away from the performance with an awareness of how little we know about the ocean and its inhabitants, as well as how fragile aquatic ecosystems are. Musically, I also hope people enjoy the vast colors and effects the solo cello explores throughout the concerto––I am so thrilled and grateful to work with the incredible Eduard Teregulov for this performance!"

Tell us a little about your other works.

Much of my music is programmatic––I enjoy creating musical metaphors with extra-musical concepts. Besides whalesong, I have also written music inspired by weather data visualization (Wind Map), the elaborate Shanghai metro system (Mass Transit), and moons in our Solar System that plausibly host liquid oceans (Ocean Moons). I grew up playing the violin, and first fell in love with music playing in youth orchestras; as a composer, I feel most at home writing for the orchestra, and am excited to work with Maestro Sütterlin and the FVSO for the first time!

Sam will join Dr. Sütterlin at the pre-concert talk at 6:40pm on February 8 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Get your tickets online now!

More about Sam Wu:

Sam Wu's music "abounds in delicate colours, wisps of sound and sylvan textures" (Gramophone). Many of his works center around extra-musical themes: architecture and urban planning, climate science, and the search for exoplanets that harbor life.

Selected for the American Composers Orchestra's EarShot readings and the Tasmanian Symphony’s Australian Composers’ School, winner of an ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award and First Prize at the Washington International Competition, Sam Wu also received Harvard's Robert Levin Prize and Juilliard's Palmer Dixon Prize.

Sam’s collaborations span five continents, notably with the orchestras of Philadelphia, New Jersey, Minnesota, Sarasota, Melbourne, Tasmania, Macao, and Shanghai, the New York City Ballet, National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, Sydney International Piano Competition, the Lontano, Parker, Argus, ETHEL, and icarus Quartets, conductors Osmo Vänskä, Marin Alsop, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Dina Gilbert, and Benjamin Northey, violinist Johan Dalene, and sheng virtuoso Wu Wei.

From Melbourne, Australia, Sam holds degrees from Harvard, Juilliard, and Rice. He is currently on faculty at Whitman College, as their Visiting Assistant Professor of Music in Theory and Composition.