Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra partners with Edessa School of Fashion for Thorgy Thor and the Thorchestra

Milwaukee, Wis. 6/12/2025 – The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will present a one-night-only concert with drag performance artist Thorgy Thor at the Bradley Symphony Center on Saturday, June 21. Thorgy Thor and the Thorchestra, with conductor Daniel Bartholemew-Poyser, will also feature a unique partnership with Milwaukee’s Edessa School of Fashion.

During the performance, Thorgy will wear multiple outfits, one of which is designed by Edessa and Milwaukee Ballet draper and costume coordinator Lyn Kream. In addition to her work with the Milwaukee Ballet, Kream has designed costumes for dance, theater, and film performances in North Carolina and throughout Milwaukee. Kream has also designed drag costumes for several local Milwaukee drag performers, and her work was worn by Trixie Mattel on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

On display throughout the evening in the Ellen & Joe Checota Gallery will be a selection of images from artist and Edessa multimedia art director Leonardt Horák’s photography exhibition “Behind the Queen.” Presented by Edessa, this progressive 35mm black and white exhibit captures the creative expression of drag queens. Two of the Milwaukee drag queens who were the subjects of the exhibition, Dita Von and Melee The Queen, will be at the event that evening to meet patrons.

About Thorgy Thor
Thorgy Thor is a New York City based drag performance artist, entertainer, musician, and event host. Since appearing on season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and All Stars season 3, Thorgy been traveling the world, bringing to audiences her trademark wit, sense of humor, and musical charm.

In 2018, the show “Thorgy Thor and the Thorchestra” was created in collaboration with Canadian conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, making its debut with Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax in conjunction with Halifax Pride with two nights of sold-out performances to rave reviews. The show blends orchestral performances of traditional and modern classical repertoire and contemporary pop songs. The creation and debut of “Thorgy Thor and the Thorchestra” was featured as part of Disruptor Conductor, Sharon Lewis’s 2019 documentary film about conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, which highlighted his creative collaboration with Thorgy.

Since then, Thorgy has taken the “Thorchestra” program to audiences around the globe. She has performed in the U.S. with the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Charlotte, and Seattle symphonies and in Canada with Vancouver, Edmonton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Saskatoon, Regina symphonies, and Calgary Philharmonic. Additionally, she has had the pleasure of playing violin with many recording artists including New York legend Joey Arias, as well as having appeared in performance at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Le Poisson Rouge.

Thorgy began classical violin studies at a young age and studied music at the University of Hartford, Hartt School, in Connecticut before graduating from the State University of New York, Purchase, with a Bachelor of Music in both viola and violin performance in 2006. While undertaking studies at the Hart School and Purchase Conservatory, Thorgy earned an honorary degree in Drag Ridiculousness, performing her original works of art entitled “Maitri” and “Pocket to Pocket.” Thorgy also starred in theater productions such as Bad Splices and Psycho Beach Party.

Thorgy has appeared on Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle, where she showcased her violin skills in drag. Thorgy has also been a repeat guest on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, appearing alongside Goldie Hawn, Amy Schumer, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda. She was also a special guest performer as part of Eliot Glazer’s Haunting Renditions in 2017. Further television credits include Dragnificent! on TLC and Hulu.

About Edessa School of Fashion
Edessa School of Fashion is a design and business-forward, community-rooted four-year college based in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. As the only designated fashion college in the Midwest, and proudly Global Majority-led and recognized as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Edessa centers sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity in everything we do. We empower the next generation of fashion creatives through hands-on learning, industry collaboration, and culturally relevant programming. As proud partners in this Pride Month celebration, we’re honored to stand with Thorgy Thor and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in championing self-expression, artistry, and the power of community.

About the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Ken-David Masur, is among the finest orchestras in the nation and the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1959, the MSO has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of Milwaukee. The MSO’s 72 full-time professional musicians perform over 135 classics, pops, family, education, and community concerts each season in venues throughout the state. A pioneer among American orchestras, the MSO has performed world and American premieres of works by John Adams, Philip Glass, Geoffrey Gordon, Marc Neikrug, Camille Pépin, Matthias Pintscher, Roberto Sierra, and Dobrinka Tabakova, as well as garnered national recognition as the first American orchestra to offer live recordings on iTunes. The MSO’s standard of excellence extends beyond the concert hall and into the community, reaching more than 70,000 children and their families through its Arts in Community Education (ACE) program, Youth and Teen concerts, and Family Series.

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.