- So, we're gonna tune up, and then we're gonna start with "Rainbow Body."

We've got a lot to do tonight, okay, guys?

(classical serene orchestral music) Every time I open a piece of music, I'm inspired.

(classical serene orchestral music) I think it's good for the soul.

There's so much emotion and range and depth in classical music.

(classical serene orchestral music) We grow up, we're in school orchestras and youth orchestras, we go to college, maybe we play a little bit in college, and then we go off and have our lives, but then where do you come back to?

(classical serene orchestral music) And that's what we've done here, is we've created an ensemble where people can play their instrument for the rest of their lives.

We call it Cradle to Grave.

The youngest person I've ever had was 10 and my oldest was a hundred, and we have everything in between.

A lot of them say it's the highlight of their week.

(intriguing bright orchestral music) It's a place where you can just come and immerse yourself in beautiful music.

These are friends from PBS, say "Hello."

- Hi!

- Yep.

- [Musicians] Hi!

(intriguing tranquil orchestral music) (intriguing tranquil orchestral music continues) (intriguing tranquil orchestral music continues) (intriguing tranquil orchestral music continues) (audience applauding) Thank you.

Good evening, and welcome to MCOs Spring Concert.

We're thrilled to have you with us tonight here in Homestead High School's beautiful auditorium.

This spring, the Milwaukee Community Orchestra is proud to include 160 members.

(audience applauding) Woo!

I've just always been kind of gutsy, they call it chutzpah.

Don't tell me I can't do anything, 'cause I'll go ahead and do it.

(grandeur orchestral music) I was out in Irvine, California, for a year studying voice.

(grandeur orchestral music) The orchestra conductor there said, "Well, what you wanna do, voice, you wanna do flute?"

I said, "You know, I really wanna be a conductor, but I've never done it."

And he made me the assistant conductor of the orchestra.

That's the kind of chutzpah that got me, you know, my foot in the door, so to speak.

(intriguing grandeur orchestral music) Wanting to break boundaries and follow my passion, it served me well.

(grandeur orchestral music) We do three concerts a year: fall, spring, and summer.

(triumphant grandeur orchestral music) You know, it's a ragtag group, there's no auditions.

There's a wide range, a wide variety, of backgrounds and experience.

We're at 165.

Right now, we have a waiting list in all sections, except bassoon and French horn, hello.

(dramatic grandeur orchestral music) You have to pick music that's challenging and interesting, but doable, then you always wanna put, like I say, something beefy, something hard, something challenging, a couple of pieces that really stretch the players, so that they continue to grow.

(classical dramatic orchestral music) We do a mix of pops and classical, and, you know, we're playing the sound of music, but we're also playing, you know, pieces by Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven, and Verdi.

(intriguing dramatic orchestral music) As the group has evolved, the music's getting more and more challenging, 'cause the players are getting better and better.

(intriguing orchestral music) "Rainbow Body," this is a piece written in 2000 by Christopher Theofanidis.

(classical tranquil orchestral music) This piece particularly is fascinating, because it sort of follows the Buddhist idea of what happens to your soul after you die, going up into the light.

Music that's unfamiliar is usually hard to listen to the first time, but, for some reason, this piece resonates with a lot of people.

I really love these people, they're so good and giving and loyal, the camaraderie that actually enhances our ability to make music together.

It's pretty inspiring for me.

(classical grandeur orchestral music) (audience cheering and applauding) - [Narrator] Thanks for watching "The Arts Page."

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