By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Apr 06, 2018 at 8:01 AM

For half a century, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has given local high schoolers the chance to perform with its professional musicians at its annual Audrey G. Baird Stars of Tomorrow Concert. Now, it'll celebrate that milestone with a special 50th anniversary free show on Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts.

Wisconsin high school string, percussion, woodwind and brass musicians auditioned in February for the honor of performing as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at this concert – as well as becoming eligible for up to $2,000 in scholarships. Each winning student will perform one movement from a concerto with the MSO, led by associate conductor Yaniv Dinur. 

This year's finalists include David Pickar (marimba, from Weston), Maggie Setterstrom (flute, from Monroe) and Monona Suzuki (violin, from Fitchburg). 

Semi-finalists and honorable mentions will also perform at the special concert, performing a symphony – César Franck’s "Symphony in D Minor" – alongside the MSO.

The concert is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a celebratory reception at the Wilson Center. Tickets, however, are required, available on the MSO's website as well as at (414) 291-7605. 

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.