Gaylord Chamber Orchestra - The History - The Present

A group of musicians in the Gaylord, Michigan, area had a dream - a dream of bringing classical and light classical music, performed by local musicians, to the people of the greater Gaylord area.  In the year 2000, the dream became the vision of a few innovate musicians.  Elizabeth Moon, Judy Magsig, and Kathy Volke, along with Dr. Wayne Wyrembelski, who agreed to conduct an ensemble, launched the reality of this wonderful dream.  In 2002, the Orchestra along with a large local chorus, presented Faure's Requiem which was very well received by the Gaylord area audience.

Building on the success of that orchestral presentation, in 2003 the conductor, Dr. Wayne Wyrembelski, contacted a small group of interested community members, including Kate Nordeen, Kathy Volke, Christopher Hebel, and Pat Slominski, to meet and set a Board of Directors in place so the dream of an ongoing Gaylord Chamber Orchestra (GCO) could become an enduring reality.  A number of planning meetings followed.

In January, 2004 the first meeting of a Board of Directors took place.  The Board adopted by-laws and a mission statement, and elected Board officers.  The Mission statement read, "The mission of the Gaylord Chamber Orchestra is to enrich the lives of both the area musicians and the educational outreach in Gaylord and the surrounding area."  The first Board of Directors included Kate Nordeen, president; James Cotant, vice president; Mary Paukert, secretary; Eileen Godek, treasurer; Christopher Hebel; Bill Bertagnoli; Kathy Volke; Dr. Wayne Wyrembelski; Ed Sandri; David Leonardson; Beth Dipzinski; Dr. Patricial Duley; Peggy Richards; Dr. Louis Habryl; Judy Magsig; Dr. Pat McNamara; Fred Smith; Shari Waldo; and Pat Slominski.  Board Members who have joined the Board since its inception include Josh Howell, Dr. Mark Nearing, Marian Scott, John Gleeson, Steve Wright, Connie Blotske, Dick Beachnau, Kathleen Arndt, Steve Riozzi, Lynda Rutkowski, Deborah Nearing, Rose Gleason, Denise Pallarito, and Barbara Myers.

James Cotant, on behalf of the GCO, was instrumental in filing and application for tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.  Approval for tax exempt status was recieved in November 2004.  The first membership drive was held in the spring of 2004 and brought in fifty members.  Dr. Patricia Duley and Dr. David Gast hosted soirees in their home to raise funds and a number of other people held musical evenings.  In 2005 the Board planned and carried out its first major fund raiser, "A Cabaret" held at the Otsego Club which was entertaining and successful.  Before and since then the GCO has applied for and received a number of grants.  The search and application for grants continues as do fund raising events such as two lovely wine tasting evenings hosted by Ralph and Lois Skinner and Steve and Dona Renton and conducted by John Gleeson, and spaghetti dinners featuring "Riozzi Spaghetti," homemade pasta and sauce by Steve Riozzi, held in August, 2007 and May 2008.

The Gaylord Chamber Orchestra under the guidance of Kathy Volke, Artistic Director, has presented three to four concerts yearly and is continually growing in ability and performance.  The 2007/2008 season brought forth Musical Hues of Autumn at St Mary Cathedral in October with Wayne Wyrembelski performing "Organ Concerto in F major #1" by Josef Rheinberger and accompanied by the orchestra.  Members of the Gaylord High School band also contributed to this performance with Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man." The Christmas concert was a big success with full orchestra playing Chrismas pops tunes and the Gaylord women's chorus "The Northern Lights" adding to the concert.  In March 2008 Gaylord Chamber Orchestra presented Musical Meltdown featuring members of the Orchestra in a String Octet at the First Congregational Church.  The season concluded with VivaldiFest, which included a brunch with lecture and a concert on Saturday, May 17.  The lecture/brunch took place at the Sugar Bowl restaurant and featured speakers Tim Hendrickson, Kathy Volke, and Dr. Wayne Wyrembelski.  The concert, held at Peace Lutheran Church, included the Gaylord Chamber Orchestra along with the VivaldiFest Chorus, and featured works of Vivaldi including the "Gloria." The VivaldiFest concluded the following day with a concert by the Gaylord Youth Orchestra and "The Scholars," St Mary's boys chorus.

With the guidance of Dr. Wayne Wyrembelski and Judy Magsig, a Youth Orchestra was formed under the umbrella of the GCO.  This endeavor was supported through grants from the Rotary Club of Gaylord and Paxton Industries.  The Gaylord Youth Orchestra performs concerts throughout the year in Gaylord and beyond, under the direction of Dr. Wayne Wyrembelski, Artistic Director and Conductor of the GYO.  The Youth Orchestra has delighted people at the Alpenfest with a concert under the pavilion for the past three years.  The GYO also appears at the Jordan Valley Fiddler's Jamboree, and the Cheboygan Youth Arts Festival.  A special activity provided by the Youth Orchestra and supported by a grant from Rotary of Gaylord is the annual "Strings 'n Things" tour.  Since 2004 the GYO has introduced string instrument playing to thousands of school children in northern Michigan.

It is the deepest hope of the Gaylord Chamber Orchestra and Youth Orchestra Board of Directors that we can continue to fulfill our mission by brining orchestral music to Gaylord and the surrouding communities for years to come.