The Studio Orchestra/Dimensions in Sound

Offering amateur musicians opportunities to play and audiences opportunities to enjoy!

Now seeking volunteer musicians for the Studio Orchestra. Wed. night rehearsals & performances, Sept through May. Special need for strings! See below for contact info!

Dimensions in Sound and The Studio Orchestra, Inc. (DISSO) is made up of two non-profit musical groups dedicated to the preservation and presentation of classical works of the Big Band era as well as the classical symphonic works of orchestra music.

Our focus is to bring professional quality music to nursing home and retirement center residents and their friends and families, an audience of those no longer able to seek out this type of music because of advanced age or disabilities.

The organization also provides a structure for musicians who want to volunteer their talents in their community the opportunity to do so.

The Studio Orchestra is a group of about 30 amateur musicians. The group resembles a chamber orchestra in size, but a 'pops' orchestra in musical content. It was founded by Musical Director Lonnie Nofzinger. Strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion sections combine to produce solid performances of a variety of musical arrangements - ranging from classical and light classical, to Broadway show tunes, to popular standards.

Dimensions in Sound is a group of about 20 amateur musicians who perform big band music of the '30s, '40s and early '50s. It consists of the typical instrumentation of the big band era - saxophone, trombone and trumpet sections, keyboard, bass and drums. Exact musical arrangements of the great bands are performed; but new arrangements are included to give a new twist to standard pieces.

Chris Forbes is the director of Dimensions in Sound. He has a B.A. in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (1986). Chris is currently a director of jazz studies for the Waunakee School District, teaches private trumpet lessons and has been a commissioned arranger and composer for Jazz, Symphonic, and Marching bands as well as orchestras and show choirs.

Dr. Patricia Backhaus is the director of The Studio Orchestra. She earned Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota where she also earned the MM degree. Her BA is from Carroll College (now University) in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Pat became the director in the 2008-2009 season.

Click here to read more about Pat.

For further information about The Studio Orchestra, contact Ann Weber at 608-271-6402

For further information about Dimensions in Sound, contact Ann Weber at 608-271-6402