Byron Stripling infuses Milwaukee Symphony with gospel and jazz

Byron Stripling, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s new Stein Family Foundation Principal Pops Conductor, brings a wealth of experience and a passion for musical diversity to his role. In a recent interview with HYFIN’s Anthony Foster, Stripling shared his vision for the orchestra, his musical journey, and his commitment to community outreach.

Stripling, a renowned trumpet virtuoso, singer, and actor, has performed with countless orchestras across North America. His appointment to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra marks a new chapter in his illustrious career.

“It’s a great honor,” Stripling said of his new position. He reflected on how his early exposure to orchestras and classical music through his father, a conductor, shaped his musical journey. “My father was a conductor. He conducted orchestras, he conducted choirs, and so my beginnings were like being in church singing classical music, but then also we would do spirituals and also we would do gospel.”

Stripling’s approach to music is deeply rooted in its power to connect people and transcend genres. He emphasized the importance of live performances: “To hear something live with a person with a beating heart that stands flatfooted and sings for you… that puts you in a different place because we’re all yearning for other people. We’re social people.”

The conductor’s passion for music education and community engagement was evident throughout the interview. Stripling plans to visit underserved communities and local schools in Milwaukee. “Send me to the local elementary school, not the one where everybody goes to, where those kids don’t get to hear the kind of music I’m gonna play for them,” he said. “I want to go where there are neighborhoods where they’ve taken away the cellos and the basses and the violins and all that, and the trumpets and the trombones, and they don’t even have music. Send me there.”

Stripling’s musical journey began in childhood, influenced by his father’s eclectic tastes. He recounted early experiences attending concerts of jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Count Basie. These formative experiences shaped his appreciation for diverse musical genres, which he now brings to his programming with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

A pivotal moment in Stripling’s youth was watching the performance of Leontyne Price, a renowned Black opera singer. “When I sat there and I saw somebody that looked like me, I said, maybe I could do that too. And my father said, yes, you can. You can do anything you want to be,” Stripling recalled. This experience inspired him to believe he could succeed in classical music as a Black man.

The new conductor also spoke about the healing power of music, particularly in challenging times. Reflecting on personal losses, Stripling said, “I can hear a song now, and it brings me back to them because our family was like this. We were tight..they’re not here, but I can still be here to give that joy to other people, and that joy is the song.”

Stripling admired Louis Armstrong, citing his authenticity and ability to connect with people from all walks of life as traits he seeks to emulate. “He said, ‘I’m here in the cause of happiness.’ Imagine that’s your life goal,” Stripling marveled.

Stripling’s first concert series with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” promises to celebrate musical diversity. The program will feature gospel, spirituals, and jazz classics, including “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” and “Down by the Riverside.” This eclectic mix showcases Stripling’s commitment to bringing varied musical experiences to Milwaukee audiences.

“The fact that the Milwaukee Symphony is open to [musical diversity] is also a beautiful thing,” Stripling said. “I think this gives them a chance to get those different genres in their hall and have that music echo through their halls and hopefully change their life.”

Upcoming Performances:

1. “When the Saints Go Marching In“

• Dates: September 20-22, 2024
• Times: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM, Sunday at 2:30 PM
• Location: Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Avenue

1. Free Community Performance: Indaba Nights

• Date: September 19, 2024
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Location: St. Ann Center’s Indaba Band Shell, 2450 W. North Avenue

1. “Twist & Shout: The Music of The Beatles — A Symphonic Experience”

• Dates: March 28-30, 2025

1. “Let’s Groove Tonight: Motown & The Philly Sound”

• Dates: May 23-25, 2025

Tickets for Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performances are available at www.mso.org or by calling 414-291-7605.