7QUESTIONS+PLUS

Renee Mura grew up surrounded by music. The mother of three wrote that she often fell alseep to the sound of her father’s records playing in his workshop below her bedroom. So it made sense that she began pursuing the violin at the early age of 7. (She plays with the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra). In addition to being a talented musician, Mura started her own law firm in 1999, specializing in family law, criminal law, real estate and civil litigation. And most recently she was elected president of the Kenosha Symphony Association Board of Directors.

Renee Mura will now take your questions ...

How did you develop your interest in music and the violin?
My father had a workshop in the basement when I was growing up. He was an avid lover of music, having pursued the French horn and voice lessons. He played all kinds of records in his workshop, including musicals, operas, symphonies, as well as folk tunes. My bedroom was above the workshop, so every night I would fall asleep to my father's choice of music. My interest in the violin came from watching a television series on Strauss. I knew that I wanted to play violin just like I heard and observed on television.

What is your take on the Kenosha Symphony's ticket prices? Have you thought about lowering prices to attract larger crowds? The Kenosha Symphony Orchestra is a great deal at $25 for adult tickets, which is reduced to $20 for seniors. Students are $10 and we have offered all students age 12 to 18 free admission with a paying adult ticket. We are a professional orchestra. All seats are excellent at the Reuther Auditorium, which is known for its outstanding acoustics. We have exceptional guest artists who solo with the symphony, many who are world renowned. I don't believe you see these exceptional artists for $25 a ticket anywhere else. Season tickets are even less at $90 for four concert for adult admission. The Kenosha Symphony Orchestra is a deal.

How involved is the symphony in our schools?
What many people do not know about the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra is that we perform two youth concerts every year, with the winner of the youth auditions performing at each of these concerts. These concerts are performed on a Friday in May before our last season concert. All of the fifth grade students in our community, including private, parochial and public schools attend these concerts. Reuther auditorium is filled to capacity for each concert. This is offered free of charge to the schools, as it is supported by our sponsorships, performing arts grants, as well as individual donors. The youth auditions are held in January of each year which are open to high school students and our local colleges. The winner receives a scholarship and the opportunity to perform with the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra at the youth concerts. This is an incredible opportunity for these young students to observe a symphony orchestra perform live. This experience inspires these young children to pursue a musical instrument and/or to practice harder so they too could play in a symphony some day.

What should be done to create more interest in the symphony among students and children? I believe parents have to expose their children to the symphony by bringing them to the concerts. This was very motivating to me as a child. Also, I believe the schools should be involved through the music instructors to remind children and their parents of the concerts. If you never see a concert, you will not know what is out there to experience.

How hard is it to raise money for the symphony? The symphony is now in its 68th season. Through the years, the symphony has had the good fortune of having the support of the community. We received funds from the Donna Wolf Steigerwald Foundation, which donated our Steinway Grand Piano and most recently from the Hazel B. Demos Bequest. Once businesses and community leaders learn about our great symphony, or have been asked for their support, they have been willing to financially support us. Mr. Dennis Troha has generously supported the Youth Audition scholarships and youth concerts as has Target Corporation. We have also received sponsorships this year from local businesses including Chase Bank, Snap-On Tools, Chrysler Foundation, M&I Bank, and Bank of Kenosha. Further, we have raised money through our advertisers in our program book. The symphony is always pursuing additional sponsorships, as these are needed to continue bringing our very fortunate community artistic excellence.

What is the outlook for the future of the Kenosha Symphony? Excellent. In bringing our audiences artistic excellence, it has become better every year. We have a dedicated conductor and dedicated musicians who have great passion for music.

What type of music do you like most? Who is your favorite composer? Classical. I do not have a favorite composer as I am amazed by all of them.

It seems strange to bring in a conductor from so far away? Why does the Kenosha Symphony do this?
Our conductor and musical director is maestra Miriam Burns. She has her home in New York and is the cover conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Like many conductors, she conducts all over the United States, as well as conducting abroad. She is able to fly in for our rehearsals which are held the week before concerts and flies out after the concerts. She has conducted for the Kenosha Symphony for 10 years. She enjoys the dedication of our musicians. She was the best candidate that auditioned for the position 10 years ago, and that is why she is our conductor.

What inspires you? People with a kind heart.

Who or what has been your biggest influence? My parents, who instilled in all of their children (my sister who is a doctor, and my brother who is an engineer) an expectation of being educated, hard working, independent and having strong moral values. I know now as a parent, how hard their job was.

What got you interested in the symphony? I have been involved in the symphony since I can remember. My parents started bringing me as a child. Then, I played in the symphony when I was in high school. During my last year in law school, I again began playing in the symphony by taking the train to Kenosha from Chicago to attend rehearsals. I have had the good fortune to continue playing with the symphony.

How do you manage to balance your time between family and your busy role as an attorney and president of the symphony board? I prioritize the task at hand. I have family that assists me with the children; great attorneys and staff at work whom I can delegate certain tasks; and a symphony board that is willing to implement my ideas and assist.

What book are you most likely to recommend to friends? I just finished reading "Supreme Conflict," which provides an inside look of the last 20 years of the U.S. Supreme Court. I also enjoyed reading the "Knitting Circle," which was a book about a group of women's lives who have each suffered a great tragedy in life, but are somehow made whole through their gatherings of their knitting circle. Right now I am reading "Titan" which is a book about John D. Rockefeller.

What is your favorite television show? I don't watch television regularly. If I have the chance, I watch cooking shows because I love to cook and entertain.

What is the best advice you've received? Don't say no, say yes. Of course, anyone who knows my mother would recognize these words as hers.