Meet the Musician: Casey Sroka
If you’ve ever felt the hair on your arms stand up during a powerful brass fanfare at a Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra concert, you have likely been under the spell of hornist Casey Sroka.
Hailing from Iola, WI, Casey has been a cornerstone of the CWSO brass section for an incredible 27 years. With nearly three decades of service to the orchestra, Casey brings both her incredible musical depth and a delightfully adventurous spirit to our stage.
We interviewed Casey to learn more about her 39-year journey with the horn, her favorite baseball teams, and the magical way she views her music.
Every musician has a “turning point” story, and Casey’s is a testament to the power of a great teacher. She actually didn’t start on the horn at all!
“I started out playing trumpet, but didn’t enjoy it,” Casey shares. “My junior high band director recognized that, and asked if I would like to try Horn. I did, and the rest is history—39 years of history!”
That crucial switch unlocked a lifelong passion. While the horn is her main musical voice, Casey is a true multi-instrumentalist who also plays the trumpet, clarinet, and even the ukulele!
When it comes to her favorite composers, Casey loves the heavy, dramatic colors of Modest Mussorgsky, the classical genius of Ludwig van Beethoven, and the brilliant brass writing of English composer Malcolm Arnold.
We’ve had some fantastic superhero answers from our musicians, but Casey’s might be the most poetic yet. If her horn had a superhero alter ego, it would be Dr. Strange.
“I get to go to different times and places with every song that I play!” Casey explains.
It is the perfect comparison—the horn’s rich, noble, and ancient sound has a unique power to instantly transport an audience from a medieval castle to a futuristic galaxy.
When she isn’t playing the role of musical mystic, Casey is a major sports fan. She loves riding bikes, playing ball, hanging out with her family, and catching live baseball games. She manages to support both sides of a classic rivalry, cheering on both the Chicago Cubs and our very own Milwaukee Brewers!
And when it comes to keeping cool after a hot summer ballgame? Casey bypasses traditional chocolate or vanilla for a nostalgic, exploding burst of flavor: Firecracker ice cream!
We are so incredibly proud to have Casey’s magic, dedication, and majestic horn playing in the CWSO brass section. Next time you attend a concert, listen for the soaring horn lines and think of Dr. Strange casting her musical spells!