In 2012, a group of residents who shared a passion for music came together to discuss ways of creating a summer-only chamber orchestra as a way to provide family entertainment and supplement music education throughout Southern Wisconsin.
Dr. J. Ian Nie, a music professor at Beloit College, and his student, Carol Roy, called a meeting in April, 2012 along with other interested musicians and teachers of music. Turtle Creek Chamber Orchestra (TCCO) was launches and quick action was taken to file incorporation papers as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit.
Turtle Creek Chamber Orchestra performs a summer concert series, holds an annual scholarship competition, and conducts a summer music camp for children. Operational funds come from grants, donations, and fundraisers, and all board and orchestra members are volunteers; there are no paid staff members.
The summer concert series consists of five concerts performed in Beloit, Janesville, and the surrounding communities. Since it’s inception, the orchestra has grown from a 25-piece string orchestra to a 55-piece orchestra that includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion. Musical selections cover a broad spectrum, from traditional Brahms, Beethoven, and Mozart, to contemporary Broadway and movie themes, and even some pop and rock music.
The musicians are from southern Wisconsin and many are full-time teachers. Many of them play for other groups such as the Beloit/Janesville Symphony, the GoDeans, and various other musical organizations.
Students who participate in the mini summer camp come from across the area including Beloit, Rockford, Janesville, and Fort Atkinson. For four days, students learn the fundamentals of playing string instruments such as violin, viola, cello, and bass. Students are placed in beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes and are given an opportunity to work with a professional guest clinician. On the final day, dinner is provided, and the students perform a concert for friends and family.
The Nie Young Artist Scholarship competition, held ever January, is open to school-aged students of piano and string instruments from southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Each division offers four levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and collegiate, and cash prizes are awarded to the winner and honorable mention in each category. New for 2025 the W.M. Cunningham Scholarship for Excellence in Piano Performance will be added to the possibilities.
Future plans for the organization include adding a voice division to the scholarship competition and continuing to grow the organization as a whole.
Learn more about or donate to Turtle Creek Chamber Orchestra at www.turtlecreekchamberorchestra.org
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