2022 marks the 65th anniversary of the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra. The group got its start in the living room of its founder, and today brings dozens of musicians from around the region together to play. The orchestra puts on multiple concerts a year with a mission to provide its community with access to high-quality orchestral music.
Because of spacing requirements, musicians do not have a partner sharing a music stand. Lawatsch joked that he’s going to have to learn how to count better without having a partner to lean on. “It’s different from what we’re used to,” he said.
Under the direction of Stephen Ramsey, who travels to Willmar from the Twin Cities, the orchestra will continue weekly rehearsals and will perform a free concert May 15 at WEAC, when the 2021 winners of the Young Artist award will play with the group.
To make up for lost time, the orchestra is considering playing a couple concerts this summer before resuming the fall rehearsal schedule in September.