Dubuque Symphony Youth Ensembles

08/08/2026

08/08/2026

🎻🎶 Suonare sounded amazing at DBQfest! So fun seeing our student string trio share their talent and bring some beautiful music to the day.

08/06/2026

DSO's summer youth chamber group, Suonare, will be performing at DBQfest on Saturday, August 8 at 11:30am in the gazebo. Stop down and show your support!

07/02/2026

A few photos from the 2026 String Camp final performances - an incredible way to close out a week of music-making, growth, friendship and community.

Deep gratitude to Longshadow Foundation / Edwin and Susan Ritts, to the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra League, Clarke University and the Dubuque Arts Council for your ongoing support of music education and for helping make opportunities like this accessible and meaningful.

06/28/2026

Our Chamber Camp students shared the results of an incredible week of hard work at yesterday’s recital, and we're so proud of everything they've accomplished.

Join us this afternoon at 4:30 PM at the Alliant Amphitheater as the entire camp takes the stage for their final performance before the DSO’s Summer Melodies concert.

Come celebrate these talented students and enjoy an evening filled with great music. We hope to see you there!

06/15/2026

Senior Spotlight – Ainsley Munson
Graduated from: Maquoketa High School
Instrument: Clarinet
Private Teacher: Micki Marolf

FUN FACTS
Place you were born: Dallas, TX
Favorite food: Lo Mein
Best place you’ve traveled to: Switzerland
Cats or Dogs? Cats
You’re on a road trip with 3 celebrities. Who is in your car? Tom Holland, Emma Watson, Scarlett Johannsen
One non-music related interesting thing about you: I enjoy hiking
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How long have you been playing your instrument? 7.5 years

How long have you been playing with DSYE? 5 years

Do you / have you played any other instruments? Which? Piano and bass clarinet

If you could choose one other instrument to learn, what would it be? Why?
French horn because I love how it sounds.

Who is your favorite composer? John Williams

Favorite piece of classical music? Dvorak's New World Symphony

What music genre, besides classical, do you enjoy most? Contemporary Christian

What other activities/athletics are you involved in? Choir and National Honor Society

What are your plans for next year? Attend Iowa State University to major in Environmental Science with a minor in Music.

How will you stay involved in music after graduation? I plan to be involved in marching and concert band, choir, and additional smaller ensembles

What has been your most memorable experience during your time playing in the DSYE? Traveling to Kansas City to play with their youth orchestra.

Do you have any advice for younger musicians just starting out on their instruments?
Keep practicing. Above all else, that is what will help you excel.

What has playing in DSYE meant to you? How it has benefitted you, and what are you taking away from it?
I have become a better musician and I have loved the experience of playing with an orchestra.

05/22/2026

Senior Spotlight – Samuel Kress
Graduating from: Maquoketa Community High School
Instrument: Tuba
Private Teacher: Adam Denner 8th-11th grade, Daniel Rowland 12th grade

FUN FACTS
Place you were born: Clinton, Iowa
Favorite food: Poor man Salisbury Steaks w/ mashed potatoes
Best place you’ve traveled to: Jamacia, Ozarks – Missuori
Cats or Dogs? 2 dogs Corbin and Leelu, 4 cats, Millie, Fluffy, Simba, Oscar
You’re on a road trip with 3 celebrities. Who is in your car? Adam Sandler's, Kevin James, and David Spade
One non-music related interesting thing about you: I am a state champion bowler
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How long have you been playing your instrument? 6 years

How long have you been playing with DSYE? 4 years

Do you / have you played any other instruments? Which? Piano, Trombone, and Euphonium

If you could choose one other instrument to learn what would it be? Why? Cello, its my favorite sting instrument

Who is your favorite composer? Julie Giroux

Favorite piece of classical music? Dvorak – Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”

What music genre, besides classical, do you enjoy most? I enjoy most music, but more recently I have been enjoying Folk Music

What other activities/athletics are you involved in? Bowling, Trap Shooting, and Martial Arts

What are your plans for next year? To got to Iowa State University for Music Education

How will you stay involved in music after graduation? I am going to do marching band, pep band, and many other ensembles if I get the opportunity.

What has been your most memorable experience during your time playing in the DSYE? Being able to go to Kansas City and being able to listen to the Kansas City Symphony perform Beethoven.

Do you have any advice for younger musicians just starting out on their instruments? There are going to be times when you feel like you hit a wall in your progress on your instrument, power through that wall, and reach even higher heights.

What has playing in DSYE meant to you? How it has benefitted you, and what are you taking away from it? Being a part of DSYE has been an important part of my life, it’s where I learned that I want to be an orchestral tubist. Learning this has helped me decide what I am going to peruse in life and I will take the experience I have gained through DSYE and move forward in life.

05/21/2026

Senior Spotlight – Olivia Driscoll
Graduating from: Dubuque Senior High School
Instrument: Viola

FUN FACTS
Place you were born: Dubuque, IA
Best place you’ve traveled to: Nashville
Cats or Dogs? Dogs

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How long have you been playing your instrument? 7 years

How long have you been playing with DSYE? 3 years

Do you / have you played any other instruments? Which? I played cello before for 1 year

If you could choose one other instrument to learn what would it be? Why? Probably a wind instrument because I like how they sound and it’s a different style instrument then I usually play.

Favorite piece of classical music? Probably St. Pauls Suite

What music genre, besides classical, do you enjoy most? Probably pop

What other activities/athletics are you involved in? I am a part of the Green team and National Honors society at Senior, and I am the manager for the girls soccer team.

What are your plans for next year? Attend University of Wisconsin-Platteville for Forensic science

How will you stay involved in music after graduation? I’ll probably play music as a hobby in the future

What has been your most memorable experience during your time playing in the DSYE? Probably doing the side-by-side concert with the symphony, that was really fun and a good opportunity.

Do you have any advice for younger musicians just starting out on their instruments? Definitely make sure you work hard and practice your music but also don’t be afraid to just have fun with your instrument. Try to play new things and just make sure you don’t push yourself too hard because its important to enjoy what you’re playing.

What has playing in DSYE meant to you? How it has benefitted you, and what are you taking away from it? DSYE has been a really great experience, getting the chance to play some great pieces and being able to connect with and meet new people my age has been great. I think I’ve learned to have more confidence in myself and my skills, because I’ve played some pieces that I never thought I would be able to play and it was just cool being able to see how far I’ve come in the last 3 years playing for DSYE.