Festival City Symphony Principal Cellist Stefan Kartman to Headline Season Opener With Diamond’s Kaddish

Milwaukee, WI (September 23, 2025) — Festival City Symphony (FCS) will launch its 2025–26 Saturday Classics season with an inspiring program on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Bradley Symphony Center. The concert, titled “Hope, Resilience, and Copland’s American Symphony,” will feature FCS Principal Cellist Dr. Stefan Kartman in a performance of David Diamond’s Kaddish for Cello and Orchestra, a powerful work of remembrance and reflection.

The concert will be preceded by an on-stage discussion with the Holocaust Education Resource Center beginning at 1:30 p.m., offering audiences deeper insight into the history and meaning behind the music. Admission is free with a suggested donation.

About Stefan Kartman:

Dr. Stefan Kartman serves as Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he chairs the string area and teaches cello, chamber music, and string pedagogy. In addition to his role as Principal Cellist of Festival City Symphony, Dr. Kartman has built an international career as both soloist and chamber musician.

He has performed with ensembles such as Trio Antigo, the Kneisel Trio, and the Florestan Duo, and has given acclaimed performances and masterclasses worldwide, including at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the China Conservatory of Music, and the D’Albaco Conservatory of Music.

An avid chamber music advocate, Dr. Kartman has served on the faculties of renowned festivals such as the Vianden Chamber Music Festival (Luxembourg), Madeline Island Chamber Music Camp, and the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, among others. He was also the artistic director of the Milwaukee Chamber Music Festival.

Dr. Kartman holds degrees from Northwestern University, The Juilliard School of Music, and Rutgers University, and proudly continues the pedagogical heritage of his esteemed teachers Harvey Shapiro, Zara Nelsova, Bernard Greenhouse, Alan Harris, and Anthony Cooke.

“Festival City Symphony is proud to present Stefan as our soloist,” said Operations Director Brandon Yahn. “The Kartman family’s deep connection to the history and tradition of our orchestra makes it especially meaningful to feature Stefan in such a profound performance.”

Concert Details:

• Event: Saturday Classics — “Hope, Resilience, and Copland’s American Symphony”
• Date/Time: Saturday, October 18, 2025 | Pre-concert discussion 1:30 p.m. | Concert 2:00 p.m.
• Location: Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI
• Admission: Free with suggested donation | No tickets required

For more information about Festival City Symphony and upcoming concerts, visit https://festivalcitysymphony.org/orchestra-concert-schedule/.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.