Who We Are
The Middleton Community Orchestra is the Madison area’s premier community orchestral organization. Founded in 2010 by clarinetists Mindy Taranto and Larry Bevic to provide amateur musicians with otherwise unavailable opportunities to present high-quality performances of classical music. The MCO aims to provide enriching musical experiences for musicians and listeners by:
Attracting, as members, proficient adult and student instrumentalists from the community,
Advancing the art and appreciation of orchestral music through the study and performance of works by the great composers, and collaborating with soloists who have ties to the community,
Offering accessible, affordable orchestral performances. Concerts are free of charge to all students.
Presenting the highest quality performances possible.
Expanding, diversifying and deepening audience understanding and appreciation for classical music.
Our History
Founding The MCO
In the summer of 2010, clarinetists Mindy Taranto and Larry Bevic approached conductor Steve Kurr to invite him to join in launching a new community orchestra. Steve enthusiastically and generously accepted the challenge and conducted the MCO for its first 10 years, culminating in an impressive legacy of leading 32 concerts since its inception. Coupled with the generosity of the school district and an enthusiastic audience, the MCO's musicians have enjoyed a successful decade of performing four to five concerts each season at the Middleton Performing Arts Center, the home base of the orchestra.
Photo by Elizabeth Wolkstein
The First Performance
The MCO's first rehearsal was on September 15, 2010. Seen here, on November 10th the orchestra gave its first concert to an audience of over 400 at the Middleton Performing Arts Center with conductor Steve Kurr.
Photo by Skip Resenhoeft
Collaborations
Highlights from past seasons include collaborations with the Perlman Trio, the Madison Symphony Chorus (Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy) Middleton Players Theater (Carousel, Sweeney Todd) and Melharmony, an international Indian music organization which supports efforts to fight climate change.
Expanding Opportunities
Through its Rising Stars program, the MCO has engaged soloists in almost every concert, many of whom are up-and-coming students and young professionals who reside in the community. This program fills the MCO’s mission of providing amateur musicians in Dane County with a high-quality orchestral experience and talented, local professional artists with the rare and sought-after opportunity to solo with an orchestra.
In celebration of its tenth season, the MCO launched its Young Artists Competition, which in its first season drew 26 highly talented young performers, three of whom won the opportunity to solo with the orchestra. The concerto competition will be held annually.
Photo by Brian Ruppert, featuring Paran Amirinazari, violin
10 Years Later…
The MCO's tenth anniversary season came to an abrupt end in March 2020 due to the surge of COVID 19. And like all performing arts organizations, the orchestra's venue remained shuttered throughout the 2020-2021 season.
Photo by Brian Ruppert, featuring Kyle Knox, conductor
Music Through COVID-19
MCO musicians enjoyed twelve weeks of rehearsals and gave four free concerts at Fireman's Park from May through August 2021. It was thrilling to be together again making music and sharing it with the community.
Highlights of the 2021-2022 season included five concerts that highlighted violinists David Perry and Hillary Hempel, and pianist Thomas Kasdorf. The winners of the inaugural Young Artists Competition finally had the chance to perform in the Spring of 2022. The MCO was also excited to introduce conductors Chris Ramaekers and Ernesto Estigarribia to the Middleton community.
Photo by Brian Ruppert, featuring Chris Ramaekers, conductor, Hillary Hempel, violin, Lindsey Crab, cello, Thomas Kasdorf, piano, performing Beethoven’s Triple Concerto
“Madison audiences should listen up and pay attention to Middleton’s really splendid community orchestra, taking advantage of its offerings to discover the genuine rewards.”
John W. Barker, The Well-tempered Ear December 2016