Meet the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra

Stephen J. Ramsey Music Director/Conductor (bio)	Barb Swanson Violin Music teacher, 30 years with WASO	Barb Holmgren Flute  Teacher	Frank Lawatsch Violin Retired health care administrator, member since 1998 Benson, Mn	Lisa Zeller Violin Orchestra Teacher
Paul Woolverton Trumpet Retired United Methodist Clergy	Jordan Wrobleski Violin Reception/Accounting	Brianna Johnson Violin Accounting Assistant	Karissa Poe Flute Volunteer for area ministries	Kate Hansen Viola Occupational Therapist
John Mack Lawyer	Robert Whitney Oboe  Whitney Music, 30 years with WASO	Michelle Suter Violin WHS Orchestra Director	Stephanie Hendrickson Violin	Raye Eyrich Oboe/English Horn  Psychologist
Kit Grode French Horn	Joshua Pierskalla Viola Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist	Paula Ulicsni Halvorson 1st violin	Bridget Revier 2nd violin/viola  Engineering Manager	Susann Karnowski Horn Civil Engineer
Bonnie Hauser Horn WHS Elementary Teacher	Erin Nielsen Viola Full-Time Spanish Teacher at NLS HS	Timothy Pieh Trombone Ophthalmologist	Mary Pieh Horn Piano teacher retired music therapist	Marlyn Orson Tuba Electrician
Adam Lietzau Lietzau Taxidermy	Devin Veenstra Trombone Music Teacher	JoEllen Kimball violin Grandmother of 10	Lorie Skaro-Johnson piccolo	Joel Gronseth bass clarinet
Molly Clarinet	Dennis Benson Trombone Piano Technician	Helene Doring  Cello	Matthew Reich	Brian Pearson Trumpet Retired Music Teacher
Ben Anderson String Bass HS Math Teacher	Lisa Nordberg Cello	Kaylee Helgeson Percussion WSHS Mathematics Teacher	Heather Shumaker Paraprofessional at NLS Clarinet and Percussion	Tim Pearson Bass
Faith Bierma Violin 1st grade teacher	Kristine Benson percussion, piano, keyboard chemist, teacher	Andrew Benson Percussion Manufacturing	Sarah Cady Cello Learning & Development Lead	Rick Berg Organ/Harpsichord Organist/Choir Director

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History of the orchestra

The Willmar Area Orchestra began in March of 1957. In the beginning the orchestra met in the home of its co-founders Dr. Lawrence Opsahl and his wife Margaret. A few friends got together to try some simple string ensemble pieces. In a few months there were both strings and winds getting together on Sunday evenings for musical sessions in the Opsahl living room.

Over the years the orchestra has had three different names and six conductors. From 1957-1964, it was known as the Willmar Philharmonic Orchestra. Dr. Opsahl is quoted as saying, "We decided to put our tongues in our cheeks and settle for the name Willmar Philharmonic Orchestra, which had a pleasant ring to our ears, even though it might give our audiences some reason to wonder."

In 1964, the new Willmar Community College brought in Chet Sommers to organize its music department. A collaboration between the Willmar Philharmonic Orchestra and the college began and the orchestra was renamed Willmar Community Orchestra. Chet Sommers directed the orchestra until May 1997, a period of more than 30 years. Robert Whitney stepped in to fill the void left by the retirement of Chet Sommers. He recruited members from surrounding communities and it was decided that the name of the orchestra should become the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra.

After Robert Whitney, Steven Eckblad was brought in and conducted the orchestra for ten years, stepping down in May of 2013. The 2013-14 season was a year of transition with a yearlong audition process.

Sergey Bogza led the orchestra for two seasons from the fall of 2014 to the spring of 2016. In the fall of 2016 we welcomed Stephen J. Ramsey to the podium. A position he continues to hold. Much like the group of friends that met in the Opsahl's living room in 1957, today's orchestra members volunteer their time just because they enjoy getting together to make music.

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Stephen J. Ramsey (Music Director/Conductor) is the founding music director of the Dakota Valley Symphony. He is in his 31 st season conducting the Symphony and the Summer Pops Orchestra. He is also in his 23rd season as Music director/Conductor of the Austin Symphony Orchestra of Austin, Minnesota. After assisting James Riccardo on several occasions with his duties as the founding music director of the University of Minnesota Health Sciences Orchestra, Ramsey has been pleased to serve as its music director for the past six years.

A well-known conductor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Ramsey has led performances at many area colleges, concert halls and churches. He has served as music director and conductor for Lakeshore Players and Applause Community Theater. He has held the positions of Director of Ensembles for Hamline University and Conducting Associate for the St. Paul Civic Symphony. At various times, he has also been the music director for productions by Chimera Theater, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, and the Minneapolis Jewish Community Center’s Chamber Orchestra, mixed chorus, women’s chorus, and their Genesis Theater Company.

Ramsey is an active guest conductor throughout the upper Midwest, and has led the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, the Bloomington Symphony, the Minnesota Youth Symphonies, the St. Paul Jewish Community Center Orchestra, Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, Linden Hills Chamber Orchestra, the Central Chamber Orchestra, the Suburban East High School Orchestra Festival, and the Des Moines Junior High School Music Festival Orchestra.

Ramsey holds a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. He has studied with Leonard Slatkin, William McGlaughlin, Dr. Glenn Block, Dr. Lee Humphries, Max Rudolph, Dr. Maurice Jones, Dr. Samuel Jones, Harold Farberman, Kirk Muspratt, Dr. Eph Ehly, and Dr. James Sample.

Steve is so very pleased to have the opportunity to serve the members of the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra, it’s very active board of directors, and its tremendously supportive audiences. Please welcome him into the Willmar community and tell him what you would like to hear!!!