St Croix Valley Orchestra Association

CELEBRATING 34 YEARS!

!! MATCHING GRANT !!

On the Giving Day, (4/29/25), the first $1,000 of donations made will be matched dollar for dollar, one time per donor. Your $50 gift would give the orchestra $100! 

OUR HISTORY

In 1991 some local musicians gathered to perform Handel's Messiah. It was so rewarding that the musicians decided to form a permanent orchestra! The St. Croix Valley Orchestra continues today to bring live music of the masters to rural areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin.  

Members constantly contribute to their communities. Chamber groups of string and wind players participate yearly in Amery's "Love your Library" event and a quartet plays for nursing homes.  We also donate money to school music programs in our area and give scholarships to members who graduate high school.

Though the players are volunteers,  expenses such as music purchases, director's salary, stipends for soloists, travel and publicity costs. Your donations also help:

- Purchase and commission new music and equipment

- Rent space

- Subsidize scholarships for members who are graduating and heading to college

A big THANK YOU to all who have donated and supported us through the years!

MEET OUR DIRECTORS!

Matthew Poon, Director

Dr. Matthew Poon is a conductor and music theorist holding M.M., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Toronto, a B.M. from McMaster University, and a diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

He is currently a professor of music theory at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and works with both the St. Croix Valley Orchestra and the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony. 

Zachary Bartsch,  Assistant Director

Zachary Bartsch grew up in Cameron, Wl on a family dairy farm before attending UW-Eau Claire for Music Education. While there, Zach studied clarinet with Dr.Melissa Koprowski, Conducting with Dr. John R. Stewart and Composition with Dr. Chiayu Hsu. 

Zach has been working to complete his National Boards for teaching and recently completed his Master of Music in Music Education degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.

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