The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra (CWSO) is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census...

 . The Orchestra provides four concert sets per concert season, and is made up of 60-70 professional and semi-professional musicians. The Music Director is Dr. Patrick Miles, who is also the Director of Orchestral Activities and Professor of Horn at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point is a public university located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin...

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Performances are the Sentry Theater, @ 1800 (of Sentry Insurance

Sentry Insurance

Sentry Insurance, founded in 1904, is a mutual insurance company located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It was founded by members of the Wisconsin Retail Hardware Association, now the Midwest Hardware Association, to provide insurance for its members and was originally called Hardware Mutual. Today...

). The 2009-2010 season is CWSO's 61st concert season.

History

CWSO began in 1947 when it grew out of the music classes of Peter Michelsen, instructor at Central State Teachers' College (now University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point). The Orchestra has gone through several name changes during its history. Originally known as Central State Symphony Orchestra, in 1953 it became the Stevens Point Symphony. In 1977 the name changed to Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra.