Hannah Schendel conducts the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra (WSO). The area native recalls attending WSO concerts as a child. Photo: Dawn Anderson
A local orchestra strikes a chord in the hearts of concert-goers and musicians.
Greenwood’s Dagne Gustafson learned to play the cello when she was in the fifth grade. Today, at 63, she’s still playing.
Gustafson moved to Minnesota in 2012, and she’s performed with the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra (WSO) ever since. “Not only are the musicians talented, but they’re just wonderful people,” Gustafson says.
The symphony is entering a new season this fall, and its concerts will take place on Sundays at Wayzata Central Middle School. All performances are free to attend, though optional donations are accepted either on-site or online. “Donations make our seasons possible,” says WSO’s publicity director, Melissa Kalal, who has been integral to the symphony since the beginning. “Without them, we couldn’t do this.” (Community members can also support the orchestra by volunteering on its board.)
The WSO has been sharing its love of music with the Lake Minnetonka community since its inception in 2009. The founders were a group of musicians who became the WSO Board of Directors, and they scheduled the orchestra’s first season, selected a venue and assembled a full roster of musicians.
Throughout its inaugural season, the orchestra auditioned four guest conductors, each responsible for leading one concert. At the end of the season, the musicians chose Marlene Pauley to serve as the WSO’s first music director, and she skillfully led the orchestra through 12 seasons. “She was just so good at getting the best out of us,” Gustafson says.
After Pauley stepped down in 2022, the search for a new music director began. Following auditions with another four guest conductors throughout the 2022–23 season, the orchestra chose Hannah Schendel to take Pauley’s place.
Schendel discovered conducting at the University of Minnesota (U of M) after initially pursuing undergraduate degrees in biology and violin—an unconventional duo. “It’s a combination of both the creative musical side that I love and the scientific analytical skills that I’ve learned from my biology training,” Schendel says.
Schendel ultimately earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the U of M, and she holds a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the University of South Carolina. Recently, Schendel studied at the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music under the mentorship of renowned conductor Mark Gibson.
Having grown up in the Twin Cities, Schendel attended WSO concerts as a child. So, when she saw the job posting at the orchestra, she was eager for the opportunity to move back home, flying from Cincinnati on four different weekends to rehearse with the orchestra before her audition.
According to Kalal, most WSO members aren’t professional musicians, and they include other careers alongside their passion for music. When they play with the orchestra, they generously volunteer their time and talents, motivated solely by a love for what they do. “It’s such a rewarding experience to be able to play this music together,” she says.
Remember, if you’re ever looking for a way to elevate the melody of your Sunday, look no further than the WSO. As Kalal so aptly puts it, “There’s just nothing like live music.”
Notable Impact
The best way to support the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra is to attend a concert and make a tax-deductible donation. Concert sponsorships are available, and interested parties can reach out to info@thewso.org for additional details.
Wayzata Symphony Orchestra
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