Musicians

Our Musicians

“There has always been
a special bond among the
musicians in this orchestra,
and between those musicians and their loyal fans.” Concertmaster, Kevin Case

Our Orchestra's 33rd Year -
Same Outstanding Musicians

We are a group of professional musicians who come together to honor one of the world's most accomplished composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. While we play many famous pieces, we also mix in a few surprises along the way. Come be delighted, entertained and uplifted by our world-class performances!

What does it take to become a musician?

A great passion and love for music? Hours and hours of practice? Yes, these are all part of what it takes to become a professional musician and play for a wonderful orchestra like the Midwest Mozart Festival. However, if you ask most musicians they will tell you good teachers and educators were key to their success. This is why the Midwest Mozart Festival is also so passionate about supporting music education!

Meet a Midwest Mozart Festival Musician –

Violinist - Tracey Jasas-Hardel

Tracey Jasas-Hardel has played regularly with The Midwest Mozart Festival Orchestra, The National Symphony Orchestra, The National Chamber Orchestra, and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

She studied for a time in Berlin, Germany as a Fulbright grant recipient, then returned to the United States to perform in the White House as part of the Marine Band Orchestra.

Tracey is a co-founder and director of the nonprofit 240 Strings, an organization providing subsidized music lessons to Portland, Maine youth. She now happily lives in Yarmouth, ME, teaching and practicing in a very old house built in 1849.

Charles Grosz is principal bass of the Midwest Mozart Festival Orchestra, a position he has held for the past ten seasons. Before returning to his native Milwaukee, Charles lived and worked in Europe and the Middle East for nearly 20 years, performing with several leading
orchestras.

Charles began his musical training on keyboards at an early age, and was appointed organist for Saint Matthias church at the age of eleven. He began studying the bass while in high school, and continued throughout college.

After earning a Bachelor degree in Art History from the University of Wisconsin, Charles moved to Europe where he performed with many top ensembles, including the Frankfurt Opera, the Israel Philharmonic, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, and the Jerusalem Symphony. At the request of violinist Shlomo Mintz, Charles joined the Israel Chamber Orchestra as assistant principal bass, a position he held for 11 years. A devotee of chamber music, Charles has participated in numerous music festivals, among them Hong Kong, Istanbul, Athens, Buenos Aries, Paris and Tokyo.

Charles currently lives in Milwaukee, and is principal bass with the Racine and Kenosha Symphonies, the Skylight Opera Orchestra, and the Bel Canto Chamber Orchestra. Charles is also the executive director of the Wisconsin Philharmonic.

Bass - Charles Gross

2017 Summer Concert Series - Orchestra Musicians

Violin 1 Flute

Kevin Case, Concertmaster Janice Bjorkman
            Carol Dylan Julia Richter
            Laura Hourt
            David Katz Oboe
            Nina Saito Philip Koch
Andrea Hixon
Violin 2
Clarinet
            Rachel Handlin
            Tracey Jasas-Hardel Christian Ellenwood
            Talia Pavia Christopher Zello
Catherine Bush
            Pamela Simmons Bassoon
Erik Leveille
Collin Anderson
Viola   Peter Brusen

  Amanda Koch Horn
       Paul Vanderwerf
            Olga Tuzhilkov Michael Buckwalter
Jeremiah Frederick
Cello
Trumpet
Nazar Dzhuryn
Mike Beert Kevin Wood
     Roza Borisova Matt Lee

Bass Timpani

   Charles Grosz Jon Mortensen

Our Musicians​

“There has always beena special bond among themusicians in this orchestra, ​and between those musicians and their loyal fans.” Concertmaster, Kevin Case