2023 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS JUDGES continued

DARCY HAMLIN has held the third horn position with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 2003. In addition to her full-time MSO duties, she enjoys visiting Minnesota in the summer to play with the Lakes Area Music Festival, freelancing with numerous brass quintet opportunities in the Milwaukee area, and collaborating frequently with Musaik, Milwaukee’s chamber music consortium. A passionate educator, Hamlin serves on the faculty of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music as well as teaching her own home private studio. Her students have attended prestigious conservatories and won positions in professional orchestras. Her hobbies include reading, drawing, walking, yoga, and being silly with her kids. She lives in Glendale with her husband, writer and editor David Lewellen, and their children, Ben and Sophie.

Audrey Baird’s impact upon the Milwaukee Symphony and other Milwaukee area performing arts groups was significant. She chaired her first committee for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra League as ticket drive chairwoman for her suburb of Wauwatosa (1958) and served as MSO League President from 1965 to 1967. She became an honorary director of the League Board in 1990, having also served on the board as an active member (1973 to 1990). Additionally, she served as president of the Women’s Council of ASOL (now the Volunteer Council of the League of American Orchestras) from 1973 to 1975, which created the Audrey Baird Ticket Sales Award in her name, honoring her legendary ability to train and inspire volunteers. In 1981, she joined the MSO administrative staff as director of audience development. Her lasting contributions, dedication, and spirit are honored annually by the Audrey G. Baird Stars of Tomorrow competition and auditions.

When Audrey received the Gold Baton at the League of American Orchestra’s conference in 1996, the presenter noted: “Audrey’s work as a volunteer leader, marketer, lecturer, and consultant has left a lasting mark on orchestra fund raising and ticket sales. She is the First Lady of volunteer ticket sales, whose unmatched skills and irresistible enthusiasm have multiplied audiences for orchestras everywhere.”