Concerto Competition Winners, Peter Wise (Marimba) and Ashley Springer (violin), performed as soloists with the orchestra during "The Feelings of Life Through Music" 2025 Spring Concerts, March 1 and 2. 

 

Concerto Competition Winner Peter Wise is a senior at Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School. He has played percussion since he was in sixth grade and has taken a special interest in the marimba since eighth grade, eventually joining the Red Cedar Symphony as a sophomore.

Peter loves playing music and singing in various instrumental and choral ensembles at his school. Some of his favorite experiences include playing in the pit orchestra for a school musical, performing in honor bands, competing in Wisconsin School Music Association Solo and Ensemble contests, and organizing a percussion ensemble.

Next year, he will attend UW-Eau Claire. Though currently undecided on his major, he expects to study music. He also hopes to be part of the Blugold Marching Band. He is honored to have been taught by Mr. Jim Hurst, who introduced him to Ney Rosauro's marimba concerto. He is excited to share this captivating piece.

 

Ashley Springer is a junior at UW-Stevens Point (UWSP) studying Music Performance and Arts Management. She began violin lessons at the age of seven and currently studies with Dr. Anna Cromwell.

An avid performer and teacher, Ashley currently serves as the Concertmistress of both the UWSP Symphony Orchestra and the Waupaca Civic Symphony. She also leads UWSP's Andromeda Quartet, is a section violinist in the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra (CWSO), and runs a thriving private strings studio through Noteworthy Music Studio in Stevens Point.

Previously, she served as guest concertmaster of the Wausau Symphony Orchestra, performed as a member of the 2023-24 CWSO Scholarship Quartet, and performed in the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) High School State Honors Orchestra, serving as Concertmistress in 2021 and Principal Violin II in 2019.