Kettle Moraine Symphony's Mission

To provide outstanding orchestral performances that engage the community
and inspire and educate audiences of all ages.

Our Story

Kettle Moraine Symphony was founded in 1968 as “Moraine Symphony Orchestra” by the late Albert (Bud) Asch and a group of classical music enthusiasts, and was sponsored by University of Wisconsin – Washington County in West Bend, Wis. The Kettle Moraine Symphony has since grown to become a regional orchestra whose approximately 60 playing members and its Board of Directors come from diverse communities in the Kettle Moraine area.

Moraine Symphony Orchestra, d⁄b⁄a Kettle Moraine Symphony, is a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization that relies on community support, grants, donations, and sponsorships.

Introducing the Kettle Moraine Symphony!

Message From Our President

It is an honor to serve as the President of the Kettle Moraine symphony. Our Symphony board has two missions: To provide professional opportunities for the advanced musicians in our community to play large-sale classical musical pieces, and to bring that live classical music to audiences in the Kettle Moraine area. I thank the support of our community and sponsors for enabling us to fulfill these two missions each and every concert season. Additionally, I am personally excited to share with you our concert season. Each concert offers the opportunity to hear an old favorite, and to meet a new favorite piece for the first time.

– Jill Furman, President

Get To Know Your Symphony

Symphony Members Tell Their Stories

Erik Holmes – Classics, rock, ‘straight ahead’ jazz are his beat
Matthew Walker – Trombonist makes the music, and the horns too
Christine Wiese – Cello was the ticket to a world of opportunities
David Magoon – Not just trumpet, not just classical – good music is everywhere
Kathy Parsons – She followed her heart to learn many instruments
Diane Czaplewski – The wannabe flutist

Meet Sarah Emran, Concertmaster

Although a first-generation musician, Sarah Emran was exposed to art and culture from an early age through her multicultural heritage. Her exposure to the arts grew under string teachers like Elizabeth Zempel, Jamie Hofman, Suzanne Ignaszak, and Anna Grace Overmiller (Van Gelderen), with whom Sarah developed as both a soloist as well as a chamber musician. Her experiences as a chamber musician increased through opportunities with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, where Sarah served as co-principal/principal violist for four years, as well as with Falls Baptist Music School’s Chamber Strings, a conductorless ensemble with which Sarah performed at Chicago’s Midwest Clinic in both 2010 and 2019.

In 2017, after completing her bachelor’s degree at Baptist College of Ministry, Sarah began her graduate studies at Indiana University under Mimi Zweig with an emphasis in teaching and pedagogy. She continues her graduate work with Liberal Studies at IU, as well as a Church Music degree (Concordia, Wisconsin).

Sarah is passionate about developing the next generation through the tools of music and academics. In addition to private lesson and group instruction, Sarah also teaches a number of courses on both the college and pre-college level, including high-school music arts and junior-high literature. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys researching politics and the arts, as well as spending quality time with mentors, friends, and family.

Seeking Energetic Board Members

The Kettle Moraine Symphony invites you to consider becoming a board or committee volunteer for a great community orchestra serving West Bend and Washington County.

We particularly have a need for ambitious new members who are not players in the orchestra. Members of our board share an appreciation of music and believe that the arts add to the quality of life in the community.

We typically perform four concerts a year and may host a fundraiser. Our board meets every month in West Bend or Jackson. Committee members meet as needed.

If you are interested in joining us or learning more, please let us know by contacting us at info @ kmsymphony.org

Our Board of Directors

Jill Badzinski
Maria Gutierrez-Gurrola
Steven Holcomb
Alex Hornung
Lisa Kitzke
John Lamm
Hannah Muehlbauer
Cassie Ruplinger
Angie Anderson Sepersky
Matt Sepersky
Rita Sepersky
Mary Beth Winkowski
Nancy Wiedmeyer
Perry Whelan

VIPs

Music Director and Conductor – Richard Hynson
President – Jill Furman
Vice President – Erika Gayhart
Secretary – Peter W. Gibeau
Interim Treasurer – Jill Furman

Past President – Gaytha Hillman
Operations Manager and Music Librarian – Hannah Muehlbauer
Personnel Manager- Joseph Steinbart
Stage Manager – Alex Hornung
Concert Front of the House Committee Chair – Erika Gayhart
Grant Writer – Mary Beth Winkowski
Large Donors / Funds Committee Chair – Gaytha Hillman
Marketing Committee Chair – Hannah Muehlbauer

Volunteers

If you’re interested in short term or occasional volunteer opportunities, contact us at info @ kmsymphony.org

Richard Hynson, KMS Music Director

RICHARD HYNSON has contributed to Southeastern Wisconsin as conductor, composer, and teacher for more than thirty years. He has served as Music Director for the Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee since 1988. From 2006 to 2014, Hynson served as Music Director of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra. Hynson has served as Music Director for the Kettle Moraine Symphony since 2017.

Also in demand as a guest conductor, Hynson’s past engagements include performances with the Milwaukee Symphony, the Skylight Opera Theatre, and the Racine, Sheboygan, and Waukesha Symphony Orchestras.

Hynson has toured and conducted throughout Europe, South America, and Canada. Hynson and members of Bel Canto International and the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra performed at the internationally acclaimed Spoleto Music Festival in Italy at the invitation of the Festival’s founder, Gian Carlo Menotti. Hynson and the Bel Canto Choral Artists performed with Luciano Pavarotti at the United Center in Chicago. On June 4, 2000, Hynson made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut, performing Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Dona Nobis Pacem. Hynson won the prestigious American Prize for Conducting in 2012.

In addition to his work as conductor and educator, Hynson is a composer. He has written a substantial body of choral, vocal, and instrumental works, many of which have been published. The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants have frequently performed Hynson’s In the Midst of Life, composed in response to the events of Sept. 11.

Albert "Bud" Asch, Founder

Founder and former music director, Albert “Bud” Asch, had his roots in northern Kentucky, but was Washington County’s dean of music since the 1960’s when he was hired to head the music department at what is now called UWM at Washington County.

As one of the founders of the symphony, Bud served as music director and principal conductor for most of its history, retiring and passing the baton to Paul Thorgaard between 2008 and 2010. He also pursued many other avocations, including professional quality photography, tennis, woodworking and motorcycle touring.

Bud passed away on April 14, 2012 but his enthusiasm for life, people, and his hobbies, and his dedication to music left an indelible impression on everyone who knew him.

Read: Remembering “Bud”

Paul Thorgaard, Past Music Director

Paul N. Thorgaard served as conductor and music director of the Kettle Moraine Symphony between 2006 and 2016, moving to the podium from the viola section. From 1974 to 2006 he was Director of Orchestras at Wauwatosa East High School and Longfellow Middle School. In May 1995, Mr. Thorgaard was awarded a Kohl Fellowship for excellence in teaching by the Senator Herbert Kohl Educational Foundation. In April, 2003, he was awarded the Civic Music Association of Milwaukee’s Award for Excellence in Instrumental Music. He is a member of Music Educators National Conference and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and serves as a Master Adjudicator for Wisconsin School Music Association Festivals.

As an undergraduate Paul studied clarinet with Russell Dagon and Jack Snavely. As a graduate student he studied violin with Dr. Gerald Fischbach, and Dr. Abram Loft. He holds Master of Music in Conducting, Master of Science in Educational Administration, and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Mr. Thorgaard also serves as Music Director at Galilee Lutheran Church in Pewaukee.