Drummer-Pastor Mark Kvale wants to be a La Crosse Symphony conductor

Conductor Wannabe, Pastor Mark Kvale of the La Crosse Youth Symphony Orchestra, in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk making his pitch to win the competition.

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk wherever you get your podcasts.

Five groups are competing to win the fundraiser put on by the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra (vote here). A minimum $2 donation toward will get split between the symphony and the group being voted for. The winner will be a conductor at the May 3 concert.

Kvale’s pitch is “Drumming up support for the La Crosse Youth and La Crosse Symphony Orchestras.”

On the show we talked about parents can get their kids involved with the La Crosse Youth Symphony Orchestra and what donations are used for — scholarships, instruments, attire, travel.

We also chatted about Kvale being a drummer and the irony of someone who’s used to being in the back of the band could win this competition and be leading an orchestra.

Kvale is also having a get together from 6-9 p.m. at the Root Note, downtown, on Thursday, where there will be coffee, cocktails and perhaps a certain Pastor-Drummer on the stage helping play some jazz.

Kvale is the Pastor at English Lutheran Church in La Crosse. He’s been doing that for three years and is in his 20th year as a pastor.