The University of Michigan University Symphony Orchestra (USO) is considered one of the world’s finest student orchestras. Under the auspices of the School of Music, the USO serves as a training ground for both young musicians, many of whom go on to play in major symphony orchestras, and for students who come to the conducting programme, ranked number one in the country. Recent projects include the first performance since 1940 of the one-act blues opera, De Organizer, by librettist Langston Hughes and composer James P. Johnson, reconstructed by James Dapogny, première recordings on Equilibrium label of works by William Bolcom, Leslie Bassett, and Michael Daugherty, and recordings of opera scenes by Amram, Ellstein, Schiff, and Schoenfield with the University Chamber Choir and Orpheus Singers on the Naxos American Jewish series. Kenneth Kiesler is the Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting at the University of Michigan School of Music.
