About the Orchestra

The OSO is Oshkosh's exciting and innovative orchestra and is comprised of approximately 40 to 50 players. Works for orchestra are often virtuosic in nature, dynamic and very brilliant. There is also room for great expanse, lyricism and drama. Our repertoire has something to offer every audience member; it spans from the Baroque to Beethoven and Brahms to works of our time. In short, a performance by the OSO is everything you want from an orchestra concert, and more.

Andre Gaskins | Artistic Director & Conductor

Andre J. Gaskins enjoys a diverse career as conductor, soloist, and music educator. The 2011-12 season marks his first as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra. Since the fall of 2009, he has served as Director of Orchestral Activities and cello at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin. Previous conducting positions include the Columbus Ballet Orchestra, the Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus, the Columbus State University Philharmonic, the Richmond Symphony, the Earlham College Orchestra and the New World Youth Chamber Orchestra.

Maintaining an active schedule as a performing cellist, his recording of Martinu's 'Concertino' for the Summit Records label was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Awards, in the category of 'Best Performance by a small ensemble (with or without conductor)'. Solo appearances with orchestra have included performances with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Richmond Philharmonic, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, the Fort Smith Symphony, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and the Butler Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Gaskins has appeared as solo cellist from historic venues as the Grand Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation to the cities of Indianapolis, Richmond, Cincinnati, Ann Arbor, Okinawa (Japan) and Beijing (China).

Mr. Gaskins can be heard in the soundtrack for the PBS documentary, "For Gold and Glory," and as a featured soloist for the motion picture soundtrack, "Forgive Me Father." Highlights for the 2010-11 season included performances as guest soloist in Concepcion & Curanilahue, Chile and a European tour as guest soloist with the Purdue University Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Gaskins served as the principal cellist of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra from 2002 - 2009. While pursuing doctoral studies at Indiana University, he studied conducting with David Effron and composition with David Dzubay. He also served as the teaching assistant to world-renowned cellist, Janos Starker.

Mr. Gaskins has composed and performed original music for the documentary, "Air Boat Rescue One," produced by Grace Lim and for the A2f Pictures short film, "Cycle," written and directed by Mark Mazur and Trent Hilborn.

This season, Mr. Gaskins will make his Carnegie Hall debut, performing in Weill Recital Hall in February of 2012.

Our Mission

As part of the greater Oshkosh community, the mission of the Water City Chamber Orchestra is to provide a balanced program of orchestral music, support the growth of music education in the Oshkosh area, primarily through the Youth Symphony, and facilitate awareness of the synergy that can exist between music and other forms of art.