CWSO announces new music director

Metro Wire Staff

The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra this week announced the appointment of Dr. Andres Moran as its new music director. He succeeds Dr. Patrick Miles, who led the orchestra for 17 years.

Moran served as interim music director for the 2019-20 CWSO season and played principal horn from 2016-19. In addition to his role with the CWSO, he holds the position of Assistant Professor of Horn and Orchestral Director at UW-Stevens Point.

“I think that the orchestra has exciting plans ahead and I am very eager to be a part of its present and future,” Moran said. “Since joining the orchestra four years ago, I have seen how talented and passionate the musicians are about their music-making. The energy and enthusiasm that they bring to the audience is [sic] infectious and inspiring.”

Previously, he was the Resident Conductor of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and the Music Director and General Manager of the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras. During his time in El Paso, the EPSYOs grew to serve over 300 young musicians throughout the greater Southwest region. His responsibilities with the El Paso Symphony included creating and implementing all of the organization’s education and outreach programs including their presentation of six annual Carnegie Hall Link Up concerts for over 14,000 area 5th grade students.

Moran said his transition into the music director role was a natural one.

“I think the goals for any orchestra in a community like Central Wisconsin should be to engage with as much of the community as possible,” he said. “My role in making that happen is to make sure that each and every concert is an exciting and entertaining experience for the audience. The repertoire has to be inspiring, both for the musicians and the audience.”

But Moran’s goals bring significant challenges, under the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in over 70 years, the organization has not been able to offer full orchestra concerts.

“While we are currently limited in our ability to present full orchestral concerts for Central Wisconsin, we are searching for safe and responsible ways to provide live classical music to audiences in both in-person and virtual settings,” he said. “Music is capable of touching its listeners and performers in many ways, and we want to make sure that we are able to be at the forefront of the music scene in Central Wisconsin.”

The CWSO regional orchestra is celebrating 72 years at the heart of the vibrant arts and cultural life of Central Wisconsin. The CWSO offices are in the Smith Scarabocchio Art Museum at 800 Main Street. For more information about the CWSO, call 715-345-7726 or visit cwso.org.