MSM Bridge Program

MISSION: To bridge experiences of singers in educational institutions with opportunities to continue artistic engagement and growth in the community as a lifelong pursuit.

See What Participants Have Said About The Program:

“My short time within Master Singers of Milwaukee’s bridge program has been immensely powerful in a myriad of ways. Firstly, getting to work with a new group, separate from the academic choral world, has given me new musical experiences and personal relationships that would not have been possible otherwise. I have grown more as a musician in the past year than I had ever before. Furthermore, as a graduating senior in a non-musical degree field, the question of how to remain creative and musical after I leave the academic world has been on my mind. MSM has answered this question for me, as it has not only shown the benefits of being within a community choir (and that it is even an option), but also has given me a home in this city away from UWM, which is so incredibly comforting. Finally, the bridge program itself has made this possible. Being a student with a full, “I want to graduate now instead of next winter” course and workload, I do not believe that I would’ve been able to be a part of MSM without the benefits that the bridge program provided, both relationally and – to be quite frank – financially as well. All in all, I wouldn’t trade my time in the MSM bridge program for anything, and I hope to not only stay within MSM for years to come, but also that others younger than myself may find this opportunity themselves.”

Henry Maes

My biggest takeaway from this experience is the ability to learning music at fast past. Throughout this experience I have been able to advance my knowledge on music theory and how to form an amazing ensemble. I’ve learned about the individual self management you have to have when being in an ensemble that only meets once a week. Overall the experience helped me further my music experience before college and determine if this is something I could do as a career.

Mason Chester-Hopkins

It has been a pleasure participating in the MSM Bridge Program this year as the MSM Apprentice. Through this role I was able to experience leading a group of a larger size containing singers of diverse age ranges. This is a unique opportunity compared to the K-12 teaching opportunities I’ve had thus far. In addition, Dr. Durlam allowed me some creative freedom and helped me jumpstart a Vocal Jazz choir from within our main Master Singers group. This experience has been truly rewarding as it has allowed me to dive into complex vocal jazz repertoire with very talented singers. I have appreciated the trust Dr. Durlam has granted me through this process, allowing me to explore the creation of this new group and rehearsing our repertoire. All of this was made possible with his and the Bridge Program’s support. Thank you all!

Sarah Melcher

Master Singers of Milwaukee is such a wonderful organization. The singers are so friendly, and our practices every Tuesday make me feel like I have a place in the wide world of music. I am a high schooler who is planning to attend UWM in the fall for music education, and this group has done so much more than prepare me for my academic and professional career as a music educator, but has pushed me to learn complicated pieces far faster than I have ever done. I want to thank Dr. Durlam, Janet Bashirian, and Robert Stevens, who have each poured hours into this program, pulling kids across Milwaukee into this advanced group and keeping them afloat. I also want to thank everyone who had a hand in making this program possible financially. Without your donation, this wouldn’t be possible. You are not just supporting music, you’re nourishing the next generation of musicians. Thank you all for this opportunity.

Quinn Buschmann
The Master Singers of Milwaukee Bridge Program was a truly transformative experience. Auditioning for the solos was intimidating, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow as a performer. I loved singing at different venues with various choirs—it was inspiring to be part of such a talented and supportive community. The program provided me with genuine insight into the tight-knit nature of the musical world and made me feel like I belonged in it. I’m especially grateful to the alto 2 section for welcoming me so warmly and making every rehearsal feel like home. Thanks to the scholarship, I gained confidence, new skills, and lasting connections. Hopefully, I can come back and audition as a regular member one day—this experience has definitely inspired me to keep singing.
Samyiah Harper

Click here to view all testimonials on one page.

2024-2025 Season

Samyiah Harper – Scholar

Samyiah Harper, a senior at Nathan Hale High School, is a committed member of the Master Singers of Milwaukee Bridge Program, and is honored to receive a scholarship for her dedication to music. Outside of choir, Samyiah is passionate about theater and songwriting. She also has a love for illustrating, creating art that complements her creative projects. With a diverse range of artistic pursuits, Samyiah is excited to continue exploring and blending their creative passions, both within the choir and beyond.

Quinn Buschmann – Scholar

Quinn Bushmann is a senior in high school at Ronald W Reagan high school. He has been singing for 3 years and is planning on attending UWM in the fall for music education. In his free time he enjoys biking in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Mason Chester-Hopkins – Scholar

Mason Chester-Hopkins is a junior in high school with the intent to pursue music education in college. He has enjoyed music since he can remember and believes music is something that connects all people. Mason spends his free time making/listening to music and hanging out with friends.

Sarah Melcher – Apprentice

Sarah Melcher is a Milwaukee native and alumni of UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts. At UWM Sarah completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education with certification in K-12 General Music and Choral Music, as well as a minor in theater studies. For the past three years she has been teaching in the Wauwatosa School District and now directs the choral programs at both Wauwatosa East and West High Schools. In addition to her choirs, Sarah is the music director for Wauwatosa West’s theater productions. Most recently she music directed “Legally Blonde,” “Hadestown: Teen Edition,”  “9 to 5: the Musical,” and “Frozen: the Broadway Musical,” the last of which performed on the national stage at the International Thespian Festival conference in June of 2024 and earned Sarah an award for her music direction. Sarah has sung with the Master Singers of Milwaukee since spring of 2022 and is delighted to be a part of the bridge program as the “Apprentice.” Her latest efforts have led towards creating a vocal jazz choir from the Master Singers group to challenge interested singers in studying jazz literature.

Henry Maes – Intern

Henry Maes is incredibly excited to be in Master Singers’ Bridge Program as an Intern. He is currently a student at UW-Milwaukee and will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in urban studies with a minor in music. At UWM he is a member of Kameraden Chorus and Kameraden Plus; he has previously been a member of UWM’s Concert Chorale. After graduation, Henry hopes to stay in Milwaukee and continue his time in Master Singers

SELECTION PROCESS: MSM Scholars, Interns, and Apprentices are selected through an application and audition process:

APPLICATION:

    • Interested parties fill out the online form below to apply.
    • Applications are open year-round. Finalist auditions for year-long and first-cycle commitments will be held during summer (details below). Additional per-cycle-only finalist auditions will be held in November and February.
    • Scholars and Interns apply by August 15 to be considered for full-year or first-cycle positions. Apply by November 1 or February 1 for second- or third-cycle consideration.
    • Apprentices apply by August 1 to be considered for the full-year or first-cycle apprenticeship. Apply by October 15 or January 15 for second- or third-cycle consideration.

AUDITION:

    • Selected applicants will be invited to audition with Artistic Director Zack Durlam. MSM Scholar, Intern, and Apprentice positions will be awarded following the completion of all auditions.
    • Bring a prepared song to perform at your audition. This could be the Star Spangled Banner, a classical solo, a musical theatre piece, or anything you feel comfortable and confident performing. The song does not need to be memorized. MSM will provide a pianist.
    • After your prepared song, the Artistic Director will assess your musical skills and vocal range. This process may include some easy warm-ups, sight reading, tonal memory exercises, and basic questions about your musical experience and knowledge. No preparation is necessary for this portion of the audition.
    • Provide the name and contact information for a reference who is not a family member. This person should be an adult teacher, coach, administrator, supervisor, or group leader who can discuss your character, work ethic, and leadership skills. Music teacher references are ideal, but the reference does not need to be a musician. Choose a person who knows you well and can speak accurately and positively about you and your work.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • All Scholars, Interns, and Apprentices must participate in required performances and at least 90% of rehearsals per concert cycle
  • Regular rehearsals are Tuesdays from 7-9:30 p.m. in Wauwatosa. Each concert cycle includes one additional 3-hour dress rehearsal
  • Scholars, Interns, and Apprentices will provide a testimonial regarding their time and experience with MSM upon the conclusion of their service
  • All participants are expected to display strong character, work ethic, and responsibility

CONTACT US TO APPLY

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