2023/2024 WASO Season
Special thanks to the Willmar Arts Fund of the Willmar Area Community Foundation for financial assistance and for supporting WASO.

Oct 15, 2023
“Mysterious Orchestra”

The Composer is Dead With Anton Switajewski as our detective. (see bio here)

ET: Adventures on Earth
Petite Suite de Concert: Nanette’s Caprice

Doors open at 2:00 PM with Mystery Activities for all ages:

2:00-2:50 Art Gallery

1. Come meet Clue characters (Professor Plum, Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, and Mrs. Peacock) and try out your sleuthing skills with them! They will help you crack codes with cipher wheels, unlock puzzle boxes for clues, and decode secret messages in your attempt to uncover their mystery composers! All super sleuths that try to solve the mystery composers will be put into a drawing for a laser-cut, wooden decoder wheel!
2. Explore mystery activity tables where you can make your own decoder wheel, write messages with invisible ink, and investigate fingerprints!
3. Register for door prizes (Look for the balloon!)
   ... Four tickets to the Escape Room in Alexandria! (over $100 value and open to everyone)
   ... Classroom pack of 28 Invisible Ink Pens with UV lights for lucky winner! (K-6 students)

3:00-4:00 “Mysterious Orchestra” Concert in Auditorium

• “The Composer is Dead!”—a humorous “whodunit” piece by Lemony Snicket & Nathaniel Stookey, narrated by Anton Switajewski.
• Kids, come dressed as your favorite detective and parade across the stage to “The Pink Panther” theme!
• “Adventures on Earth” from E.T. by John Williams
• “Petite Suite de Concert: Nanette’s Caprice” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
  
• Door prize drawings

4:00-4:45 Stage and Green Room

• Instrument Petting Zoo to explore the fun of trying string and percussion instruments with
  orchestra members.
• Photo Op with Clue Characters!
  

link to the musician's bios

Triple Concerto by Beethoven
Idomeneo Overture by Mozart
Symphony No 103, E-flat major by Haydn

March 17, 2024
“A Celtic Carnival”
With guitarists Lehto & Wright

Irish Rhapsody
Selections from Far and Away

Music from the Lord of the Dance
Donegal to Down

May 19, 2024
“Young Artists Concert”

Colonial Dance by Price
In Nature’s Realm, Op. 91 by Dvorak
Slavonic Dance, Op. 46 No.8 by Dvorak
Our young artist winner selection

Students are free, but require a ticket for entry.  Tickets available at the door, and online.

Adult Tickets $15
Students Free

Season Tickets (4 concerts at $48)

Video of our orchestra by Graywood Films ... check it out.

Support the orchestra

Bio of our conductor, Stephen J Ramsey

The Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra is a 501 (C) (3) non profit organization. Your donation is tax deductible.