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.

• Henry Maes – Intern

  “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.”

• Mason Chester-Hopkins – Scholar 

  “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”

• Sarah Melcher – Apprentice

  “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!”

• Quinn Buschmann – Scholar

  “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.”

• Samyiah Harper – Scholar

  “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.”