Dubuque Symphony Youth Ensembles

07/16/2025

Our youth chamber music ensemble, Suonare, will be performing at the rescheduled Millwork Night Market this Thursday evening - hope to see you there!

Reminder -- we'll see you tomorrow, Thursday, July 17 for this months' rescheduled .

We're thrilled that Pennyroyal is available to join us again this week as your live entertainment. Come down and support the best local food vendors and artists in our area!

07/10/2025

Sounare is performing tonight at Millwork Night Market!

06/28/2025

Friday evening's Summer String Camp faculty recital at Clarke University's Jansen Hall showcased performances by Andrew Gentzsch, Philip John Warner Bergman, Stephen Reichelt, Carol Carlson, Christina Gentzsch and Kayla Schultz.

Additional upcoming performances which are free and open to the public include:

Chamber Camp Student Recital - Sunday, June 29th at 2:30pm (Jansen Hall, Clarke University) This recital showcases performances by the Chamber Camp students, who spend a week working intensely in small groups.

String Camp Ensemble Performances - Sunday, June 29th at 4:15 pm (high school) and 5:00pm (middle school) at Alliant Energy Amphitheater. A culmination of the camp week, this performance features all camp students and faculty. Join us for this celebration of the students' hard work and passion for music!

06/28/2025

Friday evening's Summer String Camp faculty recital at Clarke University's Jansen Hall showcased performances by Andrew Gentzsch, Philip Bergman, Stephen Reichelt, Carol Carlson, Christina Gentzsch and Kayla Schultz!

06/24/2025

Welcome to string camp, students and faculty!

Camp runs through this week at Clarke University. We hope everyone has a great week forming friendships, learning lots and preparing for performances this weekend.

Faculty will hold a recital this Friday at 6pm, chamber students will hold their recital Sunday at 2:30pm - both in Jansen Music Hall - free and open to the public.

All camp students and faculty will perform at the Alliant Energy Amphitheater at 4:15 Sunday. The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Summer Melodies concert follows at 6:30

05/09/2025

Senior Spotlight on Ami Bellings, Violin
Graduating from: Dubuque Senior High School

FUN FACTS
Born: Hirosaki City, Japan
Favorite Food? Spicy Noodles
Best place you’ve traveled to? Jamaica
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
You’re on a road trip with 3 celebrities. Who is in your car? Sza, Bebadoobee, Rosé
Tell us one non-music interesting thing about you: I have the Seal of Triliteracy

How long have you been playing your instrument? 9 years

How long have you been playing in DSYE? Since 2019

Do you / have you played any other instruments? Piano, Flute, Koto

If you could choose one other instrument to learn, what would it be? Why? Guitar, so I can accompany myself when I sing.

Who is your favorite composer? Ariana Grande

Favorite piece of classical music? Symphony No. 5

What music genre, besides classical, do you enjoy most? R&B, pop, musical theater

What other activities/athletics are you involved in? Ballet, Theater, Speech, Student Council

What are your plans for next year? College

How will you stay involved in music after graduating? Musicals

What has been your most memorable experience? Playing the theme from Swan Lake

Do you have any advice for younger musicians just starting out? Practice & passion!
What has playing in DSYE meant to you? How has it benefited you, and what are you taking away from it? I have gained knowledge on the different kinds of classical music, and an appreciation for all musicians.

05/08/2025

Senior Spotlight on Ethan Intriligator, Violin
Graduating from: Dubuque Senior High School

FUN FACTS
Born: Dubuque, IA
Favorite Food? Philly Cheesesteaks
Best place you’ve traveled to? Cologne, Germany
Cats or Dogs? Cats
You’re on a road trip with 3 celebrities. Who is in your car? Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lebron James, Itzhak Perlman.
Tell us one non-music interesting thing about you: I can drive a stick shift
How long have you been playing your instrument? 13 years

How long have you been playing in DSYE? 4 years

Do you / have you played any other instruments? I played the trumpet for one year, I can sorta play a drum set, and I’ve recently picked up jawharp

If you could choose one other instrument to learn, what would it be? Why? Definitely the piano, there are so many beautiful pieces on the piano.

Who is your favorite composer? Wieniawski

Favorite piece of classical music? Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2

What music genre, besides classical, do you enjoy most? 70’s rock

What other activities/athletics are you involved in? Dubuque Scholastic Mountain biking Team, and I do a lot of skiing in the winter.

What are your plans for next year? College, studying violin performance

How will you stay involved in music after graduating? I will study violin performance and continue to grow and learn as a violinist.

What has been your most memorable experience? Either the Mozart Requiem with the Dubuque Chorale or the Danzon No. 2 with the DSO

Do you have any advice for younger musicians just starting out? Learn to enjoy and love the music you play.

What has playing in DSYE meant to you? How has it benefited you, and what are you taking away from it? It has challenged me as a violinist, made me into a more professional musician, and given my many opportunities that I will never forget.

05/07/2025

Senior Spotlight on Hao Xu, Violin
Graduating from: Dubuque Senior High School

FUN FACTS
Born: Fujian, Fuzhou
Favorite Food? Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich
Best place you’ve traveled to? China
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
You’re on a road trip with 3 celebrities. Who is in your car? Hillary Hahn, Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce
Tell us one non-music interesting thing about you: I’ve been in mixed martial arts for 12 years
How long have you been playing your instrument? 12-13 years

How long have you been playing in DSYE? 6-7 years.

Do you / have you played any other instruments? Tried piano, didn’t really like it

If you could choose one other instrument to learn, what would it be? Why? P**a, traditional Chinese instrument and it has such a round and elegant sound.

Who is your favorite composer? Gustav Holst, Camille Saint-Saens

Favorite piece of classical music? Jupiter: bringer of jollity, Sibelius Concerto in D minor violin concerto

What music genre, besides classical, do you enjoy most? Hip-hop (Rap) R and B, Romantic

What other activities/athletics are you involved in? Mixed martial arts

What are your plans for next year? Attending University as a double major, one for music performance/ed and going to be majoring in business accounting and analytics

How will you stay involved in music after graduating? It’s one of my majors :) And I love sharing with the world about it.

What has been your most memorable experience? I have always enjoyed the community, but I do hold onto many memories during our Kansas City trip. It was short but we’ve never really done something like that so a new experience definitely will stay with me.

Do you have any advice for younger musicians just starting out? Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. When you make a mistake, make it loud. Fix it in rehearsal, every conductor would rather work with you in rehearsal then have you make a silly mistake during the concert. Also, with social media, don’t compare yourself to other prodigies or great violinists. Strive to be like them, strive to be as good as Bell, Hahn, Heifetz.

What has playing in DSYE meant to you? I’ve been apart of this program for most of my growing years. I’ve competed against some of my peers, worked alongside them, laughed, fought. Everything with this group. I made great friends, very fond memories and I have grown a lot from this program. From a chatterbox, sitting in the back of the section not really focused to now concertmaster. It’s been many years, many memories and a lot of notes. But, I regret nothing, I’ve learned and grew a lot from this program and to anyone who’s hesitant? Join, you won’t regret it :)