The UWM Symphony Orchestra’s first concert in 2024 will feature the winners of the 23-24 Concerto Competition. This year’s competition winners are Clarinetist Ronghui Yu, who will perform Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A major – one of the most popular compositions, featured in films such as ‘The King’s Speech,’ ’27 Dresses’ and ‘Out of Africa.’ Mezzo-Soprano Emily Bergeron will perform movements from Mahler’s song cycle Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the death of the Children), known for its brilliant expressivity and unique musical language.

UWM Symphony will open the concert with a performance of the overture from Mozart’s Abduction of the Seraglio and will conclude the concert with a monumental orchestral work, Four Sea Interludes, from Peter Grime by Benjamin Britten.

Comprised of graduate and undergraduate music majors, the ensemble performs a six-concert series and collaborates annually with UWM Choirs and Opera Theatre, as well as presents an annual Concerto Competition Concert featuring student winners. UWM’s Symphony Orchestra has performed at Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, North Shore Performing Arts Center, the Wisconsin Music Educators Association State Conference, and was chosen as one of the two orchestras to perform at the National Conference by the College Orchestra Directors Association in Los Angeles.