Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra’s First Concert was in 1952

Karl Miller, as pictured in 1952 Flambeau

The announcement of the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra’s 75th anniversary season (1951-2026) is quite an accomplishment considering Manitowoc is the smallest city in Wisconsin to have its own symphony.

To celebrate this milestone, let’s take a look back at MSO’s early history.

On April 24, 1952, the Manitowoc Herald-Times reported Manitowoc’s newly established civic symphony orchestra was to make its first public appearance in a concert on Wednesday evening, May 21, at the Lincoln High School auditorium. The benefit concert was held to raise additional funds for a community band shell.

A local civic-minded committee had already raised more than $3,000 for a modern band shell to be erected in one of the city’s parks. Committee members included Don Hacker, Margaret Splitt, Mead Hansen, Rufin Boyd, Clarence Tess, Emil Sohrweide and alderman Eugene Revolinsky. Local architect Frederick W. Raeber was hired to design plans for the bandshell.

The Manitowoc Civic Orchestra (as it was then called) was started by Karl M. Miller, a young music teacher at the high school. Miller came to Manitowoc in 1951 from Eau Claire, and in spite of his demanding teaching schedule, began making immediate inquires about starting a civic symphony orchestra here. The Manitowoc School of Vocational and Adult Education sponsored the orchestra for its first 18 years. Musicians were recruited and rehearsals began in the fall of 1951.

Manitowoc’s civic orchestra was comprised of 55 musicians  – all were Manitowoc residents. The string section included 11 first violins, nine second violins, four violas, six cellos and four string basses. The woodwind section had two flutes, two oboes, four clarinets and two bassoons. The brass section featured three French horns, three trumpets and two trombones (later joined by a tuba). Other musicians played percussion instruments such as drums, cymbals and triangle.

Officers of the Manitowoc Civic Orchestra were Martin Meyer, president; Thomas Williams, vice president; Willard Erdman, secretary; and Jean Vetting, treasurer. Don Franz was concertmaster.

Tickets for the Community Shell Benefit Concert were available at Schuette’s department store, Boston Store, Rahr’s appliances, Groffman drug store, Korzinek music shop and Rummele’s and Fehr’s jewelry stores.

The May 21 concert opened with the orchestra playing the Grand March from Aida by Verdi, followed by Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1. Other selections included the hauntingly beautiful Aase’s Death from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 by Grieg, the melodious Angélus from Scènes Pittoresques by Massenet and the lively Russian Sailors Dance by Glière from the ballet The Red Poppy. The encore was the world-popular Tango Jalousie by Gade.

The concert also featured the piano duo of teenage sisters Jean and Barbara Jacks of Milwaukee, and the Westen Chorus, a popular local women’s singing group organized and directed by Lucie Westen, a former member of the Chicago Civic Opera Company who had moved to Manitowoc. The Jacks closed the evening concert with George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Following the concert, attended by about 600 people, the Manitowoc Herald-Times commented, “Manitowoc has a music tradition, blended through many nationalities, and it is pleasing to note that symphony music has been added to the varied musical programs available to its citizens.”

The second concert of the Manitowoc Civic Orchestra was held on Tuesday evening, December 9, 1952, at 8:15 p.m. in the Lincoln High School auditorium. The program featured musical selections by Humperdinck, Schubert, Ippolotow-Ivanov and Richard Wagner, and vocal solos by soprano Janet Walthers of Manitowoc.

Despite good responses from orchestra audiences and more efforts to raise money, the high cost of construction, insufficient funds and the inability of city officials to agree on a site prevented a band shell from being built. In 1960, money collected was used to purchase a portable bandwagon mounted on a trailer for concerts, programs and civic events. It was not until 1996 that the present Hollywood-style shell (Metrostage) was built in Washington Park.

Miller conducted Manitowoc’s symphony orchestra for 35 years, retiring in 1986. Other music conductors followed: Manuel Prestamo (1986–1990) and Wayne Wildman (1990-2019). The current conductor is Dylan Thomas Chmura-Moore (2019-present).

For more than seven decades, MSO has entertained and educated music lovers and provided a creative outlet for community musicians.

Happy 75th anniversary MSO. Bravo!