Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

The Faculty of the Conservatory is comprised of more than 80 performing musicians who possess a wide range of talents and teaching styles, and who are dedicated to providing their students with a varied, unique, and ultimately rewarding learning environment.

Kevin Arndt – Music Industry, Pro Tools
WCM faculty member since 2004. Mr. Arndt is a professional recording engineer with The Exchange Recording Studios in Milwaukee, WI. He has served on the sound engineering team as producer, mixer and recording professional with a variety of regional studios and with Hyde Studios in San Francisco, CA.

Steven Ayers – Piano
WCM faculty member since 2005. Steven Ayers has a Bachelor and Master of Music degrees as well as a Performer’s Certificate from Indiana University. He attended the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and began work on his doctoral degree at UW-Madison. He has taught at Lawrence Academy of Music in Appleton and Indiana University. He currently serves as accompanist for the String Academy of Wisconsin.

John Babbitt – Bass, Theory, Music History
WCM faculty member since 1994. Mr. Babbitt graduated in 1985 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Masters degree in performance on double bass. He has worked extensively throughout the Midwest as a professional bassist and educator both in classical and jazz formats. Mr. Babbitt served as WCM faculty chair of the String Department from 1996 to 1999, and has also served as adjunct faculty at UW-Milwaukee, UW-Stevens Point, Concordia University, Carroll College, Alverno College Community Arts Department, The String Academy at UW-Milwaukee and the Oshkosh Summer String Program.

Peter Baime – Flamenco and Classical Guitar
WCM faculty member since 1969. Mr. Baime began his studies with Nino Bernardo in the U.S. and in Spain with the legendary gypsy guitarists Diego Gastor and Paco Gastor. He began his performance career in 1965. In 1996 Mr. Baime joined the faculty at Cardinal Stritch University. In addition to teaching he has performed more than 2,500 concerts in public schools. He has scored, performed, and recorded six documentary films airing on PBS. Mr. Baime performs extensively in the U.S. and Puerto Rico as well as in Spain, Canada, Italy and Mexico. He has recordings on the Dr. Black and Narada labels. He has commissioned several contemporary and now-published works for classical guitar. In October 2000 he won an Emmy Award from the National Academy for Television Arts & Sciences for his original score in “Indigenous Always.”

J. Mark Baker – Voice
WCM faculty member since 2006. DMA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; MM, Illinois State University; BM, University of Montevallo (AL). J. Mark Baker is an experienced singer, choral conductor, church musician, and music educator. As a professional member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus he sang under the direction of today’s leading conductors and was a recipient of the CSC’s Margaret Hillis Foundation scholarship for continuing vocal studies. Locally, he has been the baritone soloist in performances of Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Mozart’s Solemn Vespers, Fauré’s Requiem, and Ariel Ramirez’s Misa Criolla, among others. As a music editor, Dr. Baker has prepared a five-volume Anthology of Italian Opera, a four-volume set of Mozart opera arias, and the collected songs of Maurice Ravel.

Bonnie Jean Barczak – Music Therapy Department Chair
WCM faculty member since 1998. MT-BC, WMTR, Music Therapy. B.A., Trinity College (Deerfield, IL); Equivalency, Music Therapy, Alverno College. Ms. Barczak, a board-certified music therapist, is currently serving a three-year term as Vice President for the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association. Ms. Barczak has served as Vice President, Continuing Education Chair, and 2005 Great Lakes Regional Conference (Milwaukee) co-chair for the Wisconsin Chapter for Music Therapy. Currently she is the Senior Choir Director at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church in West Allis, WI. Ms. Barczak has been the choir director for the Greater Milwaukee Chorale (2000-2007) and Alverno College (2000-2005).

David Bayles – Percussion, Jazz,
Department Chair of Music Industry and Percussion
WCM faculty member since 1997. B.F.A. Music Education UW-Milwaukee. A member of the Conservatory’s We Six, Mr. Bayles has worked with such jazz artists as Slide Hampton, Barry Harris, David Hazeltine, Brian Lynch, Jack McDuff, Bob Mintzer, Frank Morgan, James Moody, Melvin Rhyne and Ernie Watts. Dave performs at jazz clubs and music festivals throughout the Midwest. Recording credits include the Luis Diaz Quintet (On the Edge), the Curt Hanrahan Quintet (Hang Time), the Juli Wood Quintet (Movin’ and Groovin’) and the 2005 We Six CD “Bird Say.” Dave’s orchestral credits include timpani with the Rome (Italy) Festival Orchestra and percussion with the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra. As a clinician for Yamaha Music Corporation and Zildjian Cymbals, he travels and teaches widely throughout the U.S. and Canada. Dave also teaches percussion at UW-Parkside in Kenosha, WI.

Matthew Bergey – Piano
WCM faculty member since 2002. M.M. in Piano Performance, Manhattan School of Music; B.S., UW-Madison. Mr. Bergey studied under Dr. Arkady Aronov at MSM, as well as with Margarita Kontorovsky and Howard Karp. An avid chamber musician, he also plays as a freelance accompanist in the Milwaukee area.

Ana Ruth Bermúdez – Cello
WCM faculty member since 2001. B.M. in Cello Performance, Instituto Superior de Arte de La Havana, Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Moscow. Ms. Bermudez has played in the International Chamber Orchestra of Moscow and in the Havana Chamber Orchestra of which she became artistic director in 1991. She taught cello at Havana’s National School of Music and Higher Institute of Art, “Simon Bolivar” Conservatory of Music and University Institute of Musical Studies in Caracas, Venezuela. In 1982 she participated in the VII Tchaikovsky International Competition. An active performer as a soloist and chamber musician in Cuba, Russia, Spain, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico and USA, including the premiere of a solo cello piece written for her at the Miami International Composers Festival.

Jan Brandes - Music Therapy
New WCM faculty member February 2008. MT-BC, WMTR. BFA in Music therapy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Ms. Brandes is a member of the American Music Therapy Association as well as the Wisconsin Chapter for Music Therapy. She has worked as a Music Therapy Clinician and Clinical Training Director in Southeastern Wisconsin. Ms. Brandes provides services for individual and group settings for the elderly and children with special needs and autism in the Lake County, Illinois school district. She is a member of the adult choir, adult hand bell choir and directs the youth chime choir at First Presbyterian Church.

Jamie Breiwick – Trumpet
WCM faculty member since 2005. Jamie Breiwick has been a main stay on the Milwaukee jazz scene for over a decade. He has shared the stage with such nationally recognized artists as Carl Allen, Willie Pickens, George Braith, Rick Germanson, Dan Nimmer, Rob Wilkerson, Pete Zimmer, and John Sullivan. Jamie is also in demand as a freelance musician and has had the opportunity to perform and/or record with such internationally acclaimed acts as Eric Benet, Bob Newhart, and the band Brazzaville (Barcelona). In addition to leading his own quintet, he performs regularly in and around Milwaukee with such groups as We Six (straight-ahead), Clamnation (original latin/funk), and De La Buena (latin jazz). Jamie's music has been featured on Milwaukee's 88.9 WMSE, as well as on the nationally syndicated NPR broadcast "Says You!".

Jamie holds a degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and has been the director of bands at Maple Dale School in Fox Point, WI since 2002. In addition to teaching middle school band, Jamie is the adjunct trumpet instructor at Cardinal Stritch University and at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, positions he has held since 2005.

His first CD released in 2006 “Song To a Rose” features some of the regions top call jazz musicians including Curt Hanrahan - alto/tenor sax, Steve Einerson - piano, Joe Sanders - bass, and Sam Monroe - drums. "Song to a Rose" was featured as one of the top ten of 2008 by Paul J. Youngman of jazzreview.com.

Nancy Cline – French Horn
WCM faculty member since 2008. Nancy Cline is an accomplished musician, performer and instructor, bringing over 30 years of teaching experience to the Conservatory. She is currently in her third year as an adjudicator for the Wisconsin School Music Association and has successfully prepared her students for participation in WSMA Festivals all throughout her teaching years. Her students perform with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and have attended Music Camps throughout the State, with some students continuing to pursue careers in music. As a performer, Ms. Cline has been a member of the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra for over 25 years and is currently Assistant Principal Horn. She is also a member of the Festival City Symphony horn section and performs regularly with many orchestras, ensembles and National Touring Acts throughout Wisconsin.

Thomas Clippert – Guitar
WCM faculty member since 2004. Mr. Clippert is also currently a faculty member of the Merit School of Music in Chicago. He received his Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music where he studied with Benjamin Verdery. Mr. Clippert was the recipient of Yale University’s Eliot Fisk Guitar Prize. Mr. Clippert is an active performer both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, and his repertoire reflects his wide ranging musical interests.

Wayne Cook – Trumpet
WCM faculty member since 2002. M.S. in Music Education, University of Illinois-Urbana; B.M., University of North Texas; postgraduate work on DMA, Eastman School of Music. Mr. Cook brings forty years of teaching experience to the Conservatory, including serving as Associate and Full Professor of Music (trumpet) at UWM from 1966 to 1999. He also held positions at UWM as Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts, Chair of the Department of Music, and Director of Graduate Studies in Music. As a performer, he was Principal Trumpet with the Skylight and Florentine Operas, Music under the Stars, Milwaukee Ballet and Festival City Symphony. Mr. Cook has been a member of the Milwaukee and Waukesha Symphony Orchestras and the UWM Faculty and Waukesha Symphony Brass Quintets. He has performed on concert stages in twenty-six countries.

Maurice Cotton – Contemporary, Gospel Piano, Voice
WCM faculty member since 2006. Maurice has performed at churches all across the country and has worked extensively with churches in the Milwaukee area. He has served as music director for national gospel recording artist Phoebe Hines as well as music director at Christ the King Church. He has worked with Hansberry-Sands Theatre as music director for the hit play “Mahalia,” and has composed and produced several CD projects for various artists and churches including his own “Just Keep On Smilin’.” Maurice is also founder and CEO of Cotton Gin Music Production and Recording Studio.

Kate Craney-Welch – Music Therapy
WCM faculty member since 1999. B.M.M.T., University of Evansville (Indiana). In addition to her Conservatory clients, Ms. Craney-Welch is active in promoting music with senior citizens in Southeastern Wisconsin. She has started local music appreciation classes and has done music therapy and music relaxation informational presentations for local senior groups. She also has led specialty programs for cardiac rehabilitation and breast cancer support groups. Ms. Craney-Welch currently performs with the Church Street Singers.

Karen Darga – Music Therapy, Early Childhood
WCM faculty member since 2000. MT-BC, WMTR, B.M. in Music Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Ms. Darga is Music Therapy Coordinator/Clinician at the Conservatory. A member of the American Music Therapy Association, she is a past vice-president and secretary of the Wisconsin Chapter for Music Therapy. She provides services in both individual and group settings for populations ranging from very young children to the elderly. In the spring of 2003, she received training in Neurologic Music Therapy. She has also received training in early childhood music through Music Together in Princeton, NJ. Ms. Darga regularly appears throughout the community presenting informational programs on music therapy to the public. She also directs two children’s choirs and youth and adult bell choirs at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

Mark Davis – Jazz Piano and Theory, Department Chair
WCM faculty member since 1992. B.S., with honors, Skidmore College. Mr. Davis is Jazz Department Chair and a member of the Conservatory’s We Six. His WCM instructors included Adelaide Banaszynski and David Hazeltine. Later studies included work with jazz legend Barry Harris. He has performed with many nationally known musicians, including Jimmy Heath, Brian Lynch, Frank Morgan and Jeff Hamilton. He is on the faculty of Wisconsin Lutheran College and Cardinal Stritch University, where he serves as Coordinator of Jazz Studies. Mr. Davis can be heard on the 2005 We Six CD “Bird Say.”

Maxon Day – Low Brass, Department Chair
WCM faculty member since 2002. MM, and BFA from UW-Milwaukee. Mr. Day is an active trombonist, conductor, and composer, and currently serves as Director of the Conservatory Connections program and Chair of the Woodwind and Brass department. A committed and experienced private instructor he formerly taught at the Waukesha County Conservatory of Music and served as Music Director for SafeZone Community Art Center, Director of Jazz at Wauwatosa West High School, Associate Conductor for the UWM Youth Wind Ensembles and UWM Bands, Interim Director for Music From Almost Yesterday, Director of the UWM Panther Band and taught theory and general music for UWM.

Andrea DeGreiff-Beisser – Piano
WCM faculty member since 2002. M.M, UW-Milwaukee; B.A. in Music, University of Nebraska-Kearney. Mrs. DeGreiff-Beisser’s broad training includes studies in accompanying for instrumental and vocal ensembles and soloists. At age 13 she was chosen to participate in a solo concert with the Orchestra of the Conservatory of Music in Bogota, Colombia to play the Haydn Concerto in F. As a recitalist, she has appeared at the University of Nebraska and at the Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango Concert Hall and Olav Roots Auditorium in Bogota, Colombia, several opera productions with the UWM voice students, as well as several voice faculty recitals here at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She has studied under Harold Martina, Blanca Uribe, James Cook, Jeffrey Peterson, Katjia Phillambaum and Judit Jaimes.

Teresa Drews – Piano, Department Chair
WCM faculty member since 2003. MM in piano performance, Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University; BM cum laude in piano performance, Northwestern University. Member, Pi Kappa Lambda. At the Conservatory, Ms. Drews maintains a large private piano studio and also teaches group piano classes for children through adult. Through Conservatory Connections, she has taught general music and piano to K4-12th grade students at Holy Redeemer Christian Academy and the Daniels-Mardak Boys and Girls Club, as well as serving as the piano teacher for the “Mature Musicians” program at Alexian Village. An active performer in the Milwaukee area, she often collaborates with WCM faculty and other area musicians and is the staff accompanist at Alverno College. She has studied with Sylvia Wang, Ann Schein, and Seth Knopp, and performed in master classes by David Burge and Menahem Pressler. Prior to moving to Milwaukee, Ms. Drews taught piano in Baltimore, Maryland at the Friends School and The Music Workshop.

Elise Erlandson – Early Childhood Coordinator
WCM faculty member since 2005. B.M. with a minor in psychology, from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. While attending DePauw University she taught preschoolers at the Tutor Time Child Care/Learning Center. Elise has also worked as a music teacher for Little People’s Music, Inc. Elise has received training in the Kodaly Concept, completed coursework at the Community Coordinated Child Care Center and is certified as a lead Early Childhood Teacher. Elise has worked at the Academy of Learning and Leadership for three years as a preschool teacher of two and three year olds. In addition to teaching in the Early Childhood Program at the center she has taught music to children in grades K4-8. Elise is currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Master’s program at Cardinal Stritch University.

Michael Ferraro – Cello
Faculty member since 2009. Michael earned a B.S in Music from Indiana State University in 2008 and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in String Pedagogy at UW-Milwaukee. Michael was principal cellist of the Indiana State University Symphony from 2006-2008 and assistant principal from 2004-2006. Michael is an avid chamber musician and freelancer in the Milwaukee area.

Robert Figueroa – Percussion
WCM faculty member since 2006. Mr. Figueroa maintains a busy performance schedule as a percussionist. He has appeared with, among others, the Jeno Somlai Sextet, the Eddie Butts Band, the Afro Drum Ensemble, Nick Collione, Bennett Carl, Lake Effekt, the Luis Diaz Quintet, Bu Khara Bu, Lori Smith & Dazzle and Christopher’s Project. The Jazz Fusion movement of the late 70’s and early 80’s fueled Robert’s pursuit of the integration of traditional Afro Caribbean rhythms to popular music genres such as Jazz and R&B. Robert currently appears as lead vocalist and composer for Nabori.

Jahmés Finlayson – Percussion
WCM faculty member since 1998. Jahmés Anthony Finlayson is an accomplished musician, performing artist, storyteller, composer and workshop facilitator. His interactive and engaging presentations include music, songs, stories and movement of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas and beyond. His concerts and assemblies for school groups, colleges and universities across the country are enthusiastically received by young and old alike. He is the Musical Director of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing drum ensemble “Children of the Sun.” He has been affiliated with the world renowned Ko-Thi African Dance Company as poet, musician and prop designer for more than two decades and is a founding member of the popular world music ensemble “One Drum.”

Braden Flanagan-Zitoun – Cello
WCM faculty member since 2002. M.M. and B.M., Indiana University. Ms. Flanagan-Zitoun has studied with outstanding teachers including Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Helga Winold and Janos Starker, as well as with chamber music specialists Rostislav Dubinsky, Joseph Gingold and Menahem Pressler. Before coming to Milwaukee, she was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She performs regularly as a chamber musician and with various orchestras in Milwaukee. Ms. Flanagan-Zitoun taught cello and chamber music at the Cappelli Institute in Chicago.

John Foshager – Piano
WCM faculty member since 1987. B.M. Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Mr. Foshager has studied with Tony King and David Hazeltine as well as jazz legend Barry Harris. He has performed with a host of local jazz artists such as Hattush Alexander, Berkeley Fudge and Manty Ellis. He has also performed with internationally known artists Spike Robinson, Scott Hamilton, George Braith, Frank Morgan and Richie Cole. A WAMI award winner for his work with the Juli Wood Quartet, Mr. Foshager has performed at the Playboy Club in Chicago and venues throughout the Midwest. His recordings include a CD with his John Foshager Trio/Quartet, featuring Dennis Irwin and George Fludas; work for the Hal Leonard Company; and an appearance on the WYMS Jazz Sampler.

Rachel Fritz – Piano
WCM faculty member since 2007. B.M. from the University of Central Missouri, magna cum laude, M.M. from University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Certified by the International Piano Teaching Foundation through Level 3. Suzuki Certified through Book 1. Previously held position as group piano faculty at the Des Moines Symphony Academy. Rachel also serves as accompanist for the Soli Deo Gloria Woodwind Ensemble and as pianist/organist at Redemption Lutheran Church.

Berkeley Fudge – Saxophone, Flute
WCM faculty member since 1972. Mr. Fudge is a veteran performer who has appeared with Sonny Stitt, Lena Horne, Gene Ammons, Roland Kirk, Don Patterson, Ruth Brown, Esther Phillips, The Impressions, The O’Jays, Bobby Vee, Thelma Houston, Lonnie Smith and Richard Davis. He has served as Artist in Residence at Marquette University and UWM. In addition to teaching for MATC, he has served as the Milwaukee Jazz Experience’s Director of Music Activities and an instructor for their Central City Jazz Ensemble as well as Music Director for the YWCA Global Career Academy. As leader of the Berkeley Fudge Quartet, he received the 2001 WAMI award for Best Traditional Jazz Performer and Milwaukee Arts Board’s Outstanding Artist of the Year 2003. Mr. Fudge is a member of We Six and can be heard on the 2005 We Six CD “Bird Say.”

Aaron Gardner – Saxophone, Flute
WCM faculty member since 2005. B.A. Berklee College of Music. Aaron studied flute with Marie Sander and Berkeley Fudge and saxophone with Joe Viola, George Garzone and Andy McGhee. Aaron returns to Milwaukee after performing and traveling the country for the past 8 years with the New York-based band ulu. He can be heard on their four recordings on the Harmonized, Catapult, Phoenix and Neva labels. Aaron is an accomplished teacher in both classical and jazz idioms.

Jenny Gettel – Voice
WCM faculty member since 2002. M.M. Vocal Performance, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; B.M. Choral Education, Lawrence University. Ms. Gettel is soprano soloist with the chamber group Great Lakes Baroque. She also served as principal soprano soloist with Ensemble Musical Offering, where she worked with Stanley Ritchie, Marion Verbruggen, Joshua Rifkin and other Baroque specialists. Ms. Gettel has appeared as soloist with Present Music, Bach Chamber Choir, Racine Symphony and Skylight Opera, where she performed in a cycle of Monteverdi operas under the direction of Stephen Wadsworth. Ms. Gettel taught voice at Alverno College, general music at New World Montessori, 81st Street School and in the Whitefish Bay Public Schools. She is a founding member of the a cappella group Polyhymnia and is director of contemporary music at St. Boniface Episcopal Church in Mequon.

Steve Grimm – Rock Guitar, Songwriting
WCM faculty member since 1993. Mr. Grimm has been an award-winning songwriter and guitarist in the Milwaukee music scene for 20 years. As former leader of Bad Boy and the Steve Grimm Band, he has performed extensively throughout the United States, released several albums/CDs, and played on Midwest television and radio stations. Already the recipient of multiple WAMI awards, he continues to receive nominations from this organization for his contributions to Wisconsin’s musical life.

Phillip Grossman – Violin
WCM faculty member since 1971. B.M. Violin Performance, Indiana University. Mr. Grossman’s teachers at the University were Josef Gingold, Daniel Guilet and William Primrose. He has been a member of the first violin section of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 1970.

Sigrid Gullickson – Violin
WCM faculty member since 1981. B.A., with honors in violin performance, Augustana College. Ms. Gullickson studied with Anthony Gilombardo from the Minnesota Orchestra; Vitorio Brero at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin; Gustave Rosseels at the University of Michigan; Lyman Bodman, Michigan State University; and at the Suzuki Institute. Ms. Gullickson has attended the Eastman School of Music’s Summer Music Academy for String Teachers as well as the National Studio Teachers Forum. In 2003 and 2005 she participated in the Starling-DeLay Symposium on Violin Studies held at Juilliard. Ms. Gullickson is founder and director of the Milwaukee Jewish Day School’s violin program.

JoAnn Lucernoni Haasler – Violin, Viola
WCM Faculty Member since 2007. JoAnn Haasler holds a BFA in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She has studied violin with Ralph Evans, Efim Boico, Donald Weilerstein, Louise Behrend, Pamela Gearhart and Yuri Beliavsky and has had chamber music coaching with members of the Fine Arts, Cleveland and Budapest Quartets and pianist, Judit Jaimes. She completed a two-year training course in the Suzuki Method with master teacher trainer, Louise Behrend, at the School for Strings in New York City. She was subsequently invited to become a member of the faculty and taught there until moving to the Milwaukee area in 1985. Since then she has taught violin privately and at the Waldorf School of Milwaukee, joining the Wisconsin Conservatory faculty in 2006. She performs regularly with the various orchestral and chamber groups in the area.

Jeff Hamann – Jazz Bass
WCM faculty member since 1998. A member of the Conservatory’s We Six jazz sextet, Mr. Hamann attended the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, winning first place in the Jazz Studies Scholarship competition four years in a row. He has worked as a clinician and jazz festival judge in the Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Waukesha public schools as well as at UW-Milwaukee, UW-Madison and UW-Green Bay. Performing with such well-known artists as Frank Morgan, Marlena Shaw, Steve Allen and Eric Alexander, he has toured throughout the Midwest and has appeared at Jazz Yantra in Bombay, India. Currently, he can be seen leading his own jazz trio every Friday at the Northshore Bistro. Jeff is also the bassist on Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know show, airing Saturdays on Wisconsin Public Radio and broadcast nationally on NPR stations. He can be heard on the 2005 We Six CD “Bird Say.”

Kayme Henkel – Piano
WCM faculty member since 2006. Kayme Henkel holds a Doctorate of Music in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a secondary focus in opera coaching. She has won performance awards from Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA), UW-Madison, and Wisconsin Public Radio. In addition to her faculty position at the Conservatory, she performs as a collaborative artist and soloist, teaches at Alverno College, and serves as a board member for Milwaukee Music Teachers Association and WMTA. Her students perform in various venues in the Milwaukee area and have won Conservatory scholarships, college scholarships, and high rankings in WSMA and WMTA events.

Barbara Henry – Piano, Director of Education
WCM faculty member 1986-89, 1998-present. M.M., UW-Madison; B.M., State University of New York/Fredonia. Ms. Henry is the Director of Education and coordinator of the Piano and Instrument Exploration Camps for the Conservatory. Previously, she chaired the Keyboard Department at the Conservatory and at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she was also the creator and coordinator of the Music and More Program. She has presented several pedagogy workshops and judged numerous competitions. Ms. Henry studied pedagogy with Guy Duckworth and piano with Howard Karp and Ellsworth Snyder. She has performed in master classes by Misha Dichter and Joseph Block.

Leslie Henry – Music Therapy, Early Childhood
WCM faculty member since 1998. MT-BC, Music Therapy. B.M., Music Therapy, Alverno College. Ms. Henry has developed music therapy programs in geriatrics, community based music therapy, and intergenerational facilities. In addition to her work at the Conservatory, she works at the St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care and frequently attends regional and national music therapy conferences. She recently finished her second term as President for the Wisconsin Chapter of Music Therapy, and has undertaken masters level studies in Biomedical Applications of Music Therapy. She is a registered “Music Together” early childhood music teacher.

Lisa Hershaft – Early Childhood
WCM member since 2007, Ms. Hershaft has a degree in vocal music education from Ithaca College and a Master’s in Social Work with a focus in children and families/school social work. Ms. Hershaft has worked as a preprimary and elementary music teacher for over eleven years in both the northshore suburbs of Chicago as well as through the University School of Milwaukee. Ms. Hershaft is certified to teach Orff Schulwerk, Kindermusik, Feldenkrais, and has coursework and hands on classroom experience teaching with Dalcroze and Kodaly methodologies. She specializes in working with children with special needs and has developed curricula to accommodate her students’ socio-emotional and educational needs. Ms. Hershaft has completed coursework in the areas of vocal pedagogy and has taught voice students privately for over eight years. Ms. Hershaft has directed various musical theater and festival productions in both Illinois and Wisconsin for children grades K5- grade eight. Ms. Hershaft performs solo work with numerous churches and other organizations. She has performed with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus as well as with various opera and musical theater companies in Chicago.

Stefanie Jacob – Piano
WCM faculty member since 1987. M.M. with highest distinction in Piano Performance, Indiana University; A.B., magna cum laude, Harvard University. Stefanie Jacob made her solo debut with the Boston Pops at age 17 and her Carnegie Recital Hall debut in 1984. She was twice awarded Second Prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and received Indiana University’s Leo Weiner Prize for Chamber Music. Ms. Jacob has soloed with both the Milwaukee Symphony and the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra and recorded for the Arundax, CRI, Fleur de Son, Equilibrium and the Wisconsin Conservatory labels. She is a founding member of the Conservatory’s Prometheus Trio.

Eric Jacobson – Trumpet
WCM faculty member since 2009. Eric Jacobson is a professional trumpet player, clinician, composer and private instructor residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Eric freelances in the Milwaukee and Chicago area playing in groups such as; The Luis Diaz Quintet, Nabori, De La Buena, and leading his own jazz quartet. Eric has been fortunate to experience performances and lessons with well-known artists such as: Maynard Ferguson, Slide Hampton, Brian Lynch, Jim Rotondi, Tito Puente Jr., Eric Benet and Wynton Marsalis. Eric was recently recognized in Jazzscope magazine By David Hoffman as having “a gorgeous round sound on both the trumpet and flugelhorn” and being “on his way to being a jazz giant." Eric also teaches at MYSO, Wauwatosa West High School’s Jazz Ensemble and assisting the Wauwatosa West Marching Band. In 2001 Eric released his debut jazz CD entitled Inspiration which features some of Milwaukee's best jazz musicians as well as New York trumpet sensation Brian Lynch. Eric is currently working on his second album and for release in 2009.

Linda Jones – Clarinet
WCM faculty member since 1994. B.A. and M.M. Colorado State University in Performance. As a post-graduate student, Ms. Jones did summer study with Leon Russianoff and Stanley Hasty and also studied with Peter Hadcock of the Boston Symphony. In addition to giving individual instruction at the Conservatory, Ms. Jones conducts the Conservatory student clarinet choir (“Linda’s Licorice Sticks”) and coaches the WCM Honors Woodwind Quintet. She is the recipient of the Civic Music Association’s 1996 “Certificate of Excellence in Studio Music” and is a clarinetist and manager of Milwaukee’s Festival City Symphony.

Pat Kaiser – Music Therapy
WCM faculty member since 2003. MT-BC, WMTR, Music Therapy. B.F.A. in Music Educational-Instrumental Certification, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Special Education Music Certification, General Music and Vocal Music Certification, and Music Therapy Equivalency, Alverno College, Milwaukee.
Ms. Kaiser brings her expertise to children through music therapy contract work at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music as well as Music Therapy Services of Waukesha County. Ms. Kaiser is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Wisconsin Music Educators Association, American Music Therapy Association, and the Wisconsin Chapter for Music Therapy.

Benjamin Kammin – Finger-Style Guitar
WCM Faculty member since 2006, B.A. in Guitar Performance, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As a solo finger-style guitarist, Mr. Kammin has performed extensively throughout the Midwest. He has immersed himself in the music of Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Billy McLaughlin, and many other notable finger-style guitarists. Working closely with renowned finger-style guitar educator and historian, John Stropes, Mr. Kammin's focus is on performing, composing, teaching, and exploring new repertoire. He has shared the stage with such artists as Tuck & Patti, Peter Mulvey, Brooks Williams, Peter Roller, and Matt Schroeder. Mr. Kammin has participated in master classes with Billy McLaughlin and Alex de Grassi. His second recording of finger-style guitar music is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2007.

Joseph Ketchum – Violin
WCM Faculty since 2007. Joseph Ketchum was born and raised in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin and began his studying violin at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music at age 4 with Ronald Melby. He continued his studies with Mimi Zweig, winning the Conservatory’s Merit Scholarship Competition for eight consecutive years from 1982 to 1989. While a Junior at The University School of Milwaukee, Mr. Ketchum performed as a featured soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In 1997, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from Northwestern University under the tutelage of Dr. Myron Kartman. While at Northwestern, Mr. Ketchum studied pedagogy with Betty Haig and served as Assistant Concertmaster of the Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra. Upon graduation, Mr. Ketchum returned to Milwaukee and founded, ViolinoGram, unique serenade service that offers unique serenade services in Milwaukee and Chicago. Currently, Mr. Ketchum is active as a soloist, chamber musician, pedagogue, and entrepreneur. He performs regularly as Concertmaster of the Skylight Opera Theatre Orchestra. He has been featured on the UWM concert series “Music from Almost Yesterday” and is also active in the performance of various styles of music, from Jazz, to Bluegrass, to Rock n Roll. He has recorded for the Hal Leonard Corporation. He is an arranger and principal string player for Banshee Music, a worldwide provider of radio, tv, and film soundtracks. His Mr. Ketchum performs on a 1927 Carl Becker violin which he has played since 1985. Currently, Mr. Ketchum resides in Milwaukee with his wife, Betsy, and their 3 year old son Joe.

Daniel Kirkpatrick – Percussion
Daniel Kirkpatrick, University of North Texas with a B.M. - Percussion Performance, cum laude. Mr. Kirkpatrick served as principal timpanist for the UNT Symphony Orchestras while also freelancing and teaching private lessons, marching band, percussion ensemble and jazz band at the award winning Liberty High and Fowler Middle Schools. His teachers have included Christopher Deane, Michael Drake, Mark Ford, Paul Rennick and he has performed under the batons of Anshel Brusilow, Eugene Corporon, Clay Couturiaux, and many more. Mr. Kirkpatrick also operates DK Percussion, making custom timpani and bass drum mallets in addition to professional percussion repair. He specializes in timpani, marimba, drum set and marching percussion.

Timothy Klabunde – Violin
WCM faculty member since 2005 Tim has been a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 1980 and has served as concertmaster for the Milwaukee Ballet and Milwaukee Civic Orchestras. Mr. Klabunde has appeared as violin soloist performing with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra. He studied with Leonard Sorkin and George Sopkin, founders of the Fine Arts Quartet, as well as Bernard Zaslav and Abram Loft. Mr. Klabunde’s international appearances include the Festival de Belles Artes in San Miguel, Mexico and the Fourth Annual International String Quartet Competition in Evian, France. In addition, he has performed live on WFMT Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess Series and Wisconsin and National Public Radio. He is currently a member of the Prometheus Trio and is an adjunct violin instructor and member of the Clarus piano trio at Cardinal Stritch University. The past two summers have included appearances at the Washington Island Music Festival.

Korinthia Klein – Violin, Viola
WCM faculty member since 1996. B.A., with honors and with distinction in Music Cognition, Ohio State University. Before moving to Milwaukee and joining the Conservatory faculty, Ms. Klein taught violin and viola at the Cumberland Valley School of Music in Pennsylvania. At Ohio State University, she worked with musicians, psychologists, and computer programmers to study the cognitive processes of music performance and perception. She has performed with the York Symphony Orchestra in York, Pennsylvania, and the West Shore Symphony Orchestra in Harrisburg. She completed an apprenticeship program in violin making in 2000 and owns and operates Korinthian Violins in the Bay View area of Milwaukee. She currently plays viola in the Festival City Symphony and is a founding member of the Cream City String Quartet.

Janina Knechtges – Piano
WCM Faculty since 2008. M.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Northwestern University; B.M., magna cum laude in Piano Performance, certificate in Music Business, Northwestern University. Most recently, she was the Dean of Programs and a piano faculty member at the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts (AASPA). Through her affiliation with AASPA, she taught private and group lessons, performed in faculty recitals and chamber music concerts, and accompanied both students and faculty members. She also taught at the University of Michigan’s Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program from 2001-2004. In August 2005, she was on the piano faculty at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

Karli Larsen – Oboe, English Horn
WCM faculty since 2007. M.M., Oboe Performance, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; B.F.A., Music Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. While studying at CCM, she was invited to perform at the school’s opera and chamber music program in Lucca, Italy. Karli won the festival’s concerto competition and performed Mozart’s Concerto in C Major with the festival’s orchestra. Since she returned to Milwaukee, she has worked as an instrumental music educator and performed with many ensembles throughout the Milwaukee and Appleton areas. Currently, she teaches instrumental music for the Conservatory Connections outreach program. Karli has been teaching oboe privately since 1998; her students perform with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, and some of her students have already gone on to pursue careers in music.

Jordan "DJ Madhatter" Lee – Recording, Music Technology
WCM faculty member since 2007. Jordon Lee began his musical adventures at a very young age. Playing drums and percussion for most of his young life, he took to the turntables as a teenager, and has built a strong musical foundation with them. Years of formal music training, combined with a thirst for the new, lead “Madhatter” to break new grounds with the turntables. His experiences in the world of hip hop and Dj culture have taken him all over the world. Performing with, and producing for some of the best names in hip hop and rap. His love for jazz, soul, funk and R&B has expanded his use of the turntables beyond listening to records. He currently performs with The Rusty Ps, The Bonifas Jazz Ensemble, The Tea Trio, and Djs regularly throughout the US.

George Lindquist – Classical and Baroque Guitar, Lute
WCM faculty member since 1972. B.A. Carthage College with a diploma in Classical Guitar Performance; M.M. Musicology University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mr. Lindquist studied classical guitar with James Yoghourtjian and has been an active teacher and performer since 1975. He also has been a member of several ensembles, including a classical guitar trio, a flute and guitar duo, and a guitar and harpsichord duo, with performances throughout Wisconsin and on Wisconsin Public Radio. He is one of the guitarists featured on the CD Milwaukee Guitar: Strictly Solo and can also be heard on recordings with the Master Singers of Milwaukee and the Festival Choir of Madison. Mr. Lindquist also teaches classical guitar and related subjects at UW-Parkside and UW-Whitewater.

Mikhail Litvin – Mandolin
WCM faculty member since 2001. M.M. in Pedagogy and Performance, Donetsk State Musical-Pedagogical University. A master mandolinist, Mr. Litvin has performed as a solo recitalist and as a soloist with chamber orchestras in Russia, Germany, The Netherlands, France and the United States. He is also an experienced conductor and music teacher. After graduating with a degree in orchestral conducting, music, and string pedagogy, he taught guitar and mandolin and led many student musical groups at the municipal music school in Minsk, Belarus. Mr. Litvin currently performs in duos with piano, accordion and guitar. He participates in educational programs with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra with accordionist Stas Venglevski and is a member of the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra.

Alexander Mandl – Violin
WCM faculty member since 2003. D.M.A.; UW-Madison, M.M., Yale University; B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Alexander “Sascha” Mandl has been acclaimed as one of the foremost violinists and conductors of Brazil. He has appeared worldwide in halls such as Weill at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully and Memorial of Latin America. He is the Concertmaster of the Beloit-Janesville Symphony and Assistant Concertmaster of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Dr. Mandl has collaborated with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Erick Friedman, Aldo Parisot, Nai-Yuan Hu, and Todd Levy. He is a founding member of the Philomusica Quartet and the Yale Piano Trio. A recipient of the Ivan Galamian Award, he also holds faculty positions at UW-Parkside, the Luci Toscane Festival and the Eleazar de Carvalho Festival in Brazil. Dr. Mandl has served as teaching assistant to Sidney Harth at Yale and conductor at Cardinal Stritch University.

Kathleen Matts – Voice
WCM faculty member since 1993. M.M., Wisconsin Conservatory of Music; B.M., UW-Madison. Soprano and choral conductor. Soloed with most Milwaukee choruses and orchestras throughout Wisconsin, including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and has performed many leading opera and musical theatre roles. Among her Skylight Opera Theatre roles are Eurydice/Musica roles in Wadsworth’s original “Orfeo,” “The Stronger,” by H. Weisgall, an opera for solo soprano and the title role in Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta.” Credits include: co-founder, Circlestage Musical Theatre Academy; Theatre Arts coordinator, Congregation Emanuel B’nai Jeshurun; Cardinal Stritch University Choir Director and voice instructor and many years of directing music for area Lutheran Churches. Currently, Founder and Artistic Director of the Ad Hoc Ensemble and Conductor of the Milwaukee Damenchor.

Sue Medford – Piano
WCM faculty member since 2005. Graduate of the Piano Pedagogy Professional Training Program of the New School for Music Study in Princeton, NJ and Western Carolina University, Sue Medford studied at the New School with its founder, Frances Clark; and co-founder, Louise Goss; as well as renowned pedagogue, Richard Chronister; composer David Kraehenbuehl; and Elvina Pearce, author, composer and clinician. After graduating, Ms. Medford became a supervisor in the professional department and served as a clinician in teacher workshops across the US. She was also the National Representative for Summy-Birchard Music Publishing Company. She taught piano at the New School for Music Study, in Chicago and at an American school in Germany. Following her move to Milwaukee, Ms. Medford was appointed by the Milwaukee Symphony as the Director of Education and Education Concert Manager, positions she held for 23 years. She is the founder of Piano Arts, a National Concerto and Solo Competition.

Carol Meves – Flute
WCM faculty member since 1989. B.M., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Carol Meves has recorded for the Koss and Northwoods labels, toured Europe and the U. S., and performed in a variety of venues including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Bel Canto Orchestra, and Kenosha and Green Bay Symphonies. She has been heard on National and Wisconsin Public Radio. Ms. Meves has commissioned works for flute choir, flute and cello, and flute and voice. In 1995, Ms. Meves was selected as one of the winners of the National Flute Association’s Performer’s Competition. Along with an active solo and orchestral career, she received an award for excellence in studio instruction in 1998 from the Milwaukee Civic Music Association.

Eric Meyer – Recording
WCM faculty member since 2006. Eric Meyer is an active composer, sing-songwriter and recording engineer around Milwaukee. In 2004 he received a BFA in Music Composition, Theory and Technology from UW-Milwaukee. His principal composition instructors include Yehuda Yannay, Kamran Ince & Karen Beaumont. He currently teaches Practical Recording Techniques and provides recording services for the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.

Tatiana Migliaccio – Violin
WCM faculty member since 2005. Tatiana joined the faculty at WCM after 9 years of successful teaching at the Rockford (IL) College Music Academy where she taught both Suzuki and traditional violin, music theory and chamber music. She holds degrees from the Lviv Conservatory and Musical College of Ternopil in Ukraine. Since moving to the US in 1994 she trained at the Chicago and American Suzuki Institutes. She has played with the Rockford, Naperville and Waukesha Symphonies, Chicago Philharmonic and the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra.

Elisa Mon-Garcia - Violin
WCM faculty member since 2006. MM, University of Wisconsin-Madison; BM Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid, Spain. Ms. Mon-Garcia is member of Madison Symphony Orchestra and Waukesha Symphony. As an active educator, she has taught at UW-Whitewater, is currently adjunct faculty at Ripon College, collaborates with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestras, and serves as violin faculty at the Martin Codax International Music Festival in Spain.

Tahlia Morris - Harp
WCM faculty member since 2008. M.M., Orchestral Performance, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL; B.S. Child Development, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. Tahlia is a certified Suzuki harp teacher and began her study of the harp at age five with the Suzuki method. She played principal harp with the Chicago Civic Orchestra for two years and also performed with the Oak Park River Forest Symphony, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, and the Utah Valley Symphony. Tahlia played regularly for afternoon tea at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. She currently freelances for various events.

Raymond Mueller – Classical Guitar, Music Librarian
WCM faculty member since 1977. B.M, M.M. with high honors, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Mr. Mueller’s principal teachers were James Yoghourtjian, John Holmquist and Gilbert Biberian. Mr. Mueller specializes in teaching students at all levels who seek to establish a sound technical and musical foundation. In addition to his private teaching Mr. Mueller coaches the Telemann Classical Guitar Quartet and conducts a highly successful series of performance classes for students enrolled in his studio. Mr. Mueller currently performs as a soloist and as a member of the Viennese Guitar Duo.

Fumi Nishikiori – Piano
WCM faculty member since 1999. M.M. in Piano and Harpsichord, Indiana University; B.M. in Piano and Harpsichord, Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University. Ms. Nishikiori has received numerous awards from both Roosevelt University and Indiana University, including the prestigious Willi Apel Scholarship. She has studied piano with Ludmila Lazar and Shigeo Neriki, and harpsichord with David Schrader and Elisabeth Wright. While attending Indiana University, she studied chamber music with Rostislav Dubinsky and early chamber music with Stanley Ritchie. As a conductor, she has led the Indiana University Symphony Orchestra, Ad-hoc Orchestra, a children’s chorus and adult vocal ensembles. In addition to her work at the Conservatory, Ms. Nishikiori free-lances both as a piano-harpsichord soloist and accompanist in Milwaukee and the greater Chicago area.

Colin O’Brien – Banjo, Fingerstyle and Bluegrass Guitar
WCM faculty member since 2003. Mr. O’Brien studied with banjoist and Bela Fleck mentor Tony Trischka, as well as classical guitar with Steven Novacek at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. He studied fingerstyle guitar with John Stropes at the Wisconsin Conservatory and Peter Roller. His band, Salt Creek, plays “funky esoteric bluegrass” throughout the Midwest. Salt Creek was awarded “Best Bluegrass Band” by WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) in 2004 and 2005. As a performer, Mr. O’Brien has shared the stage with Kansas, Willy Porter, Dan Tyminski, Paul Cebar and others. His CD “Pressure in the West” received rave reviews in the local and national press.

Linda O’Brien - Piano
WMC faculty member since 2008. MA in music and BA with honors in piano performance and choral/general music from Ball State University. Piano study with Pia Sebastiani. A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, and member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers Hall of Fame, Ms. O’Brien has been teaching piano to students of all ages for over 25 years. Active as a performer, accompanist, and adjudicator, she also teaches general music for the WMC Connections Program. Prior to moving to Milwaukee, Ms. O’Brien taught piano and served as college choir accompanist at UW-Sheboygan. She was also active in the SSO organization, playing piano and harpsichord in the orchestra and serving as accompanist for the “Symphony Singers.”

Amber L. Oosterwaal – Bassoon
WCM faculty since 2007, originally hails from Dallas, TX. She earned a BM and MM in Bassoon Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and UW-Milwaukee respectively. She has studied with William Winstead, Martin James, Robert Thompson, Shawn Mouser, and Beth Giacobassi. Mrs. Oosterwaal previously served on the faculty of St. Norbert College (Professor of Bassoon) and taught summer school music courses at UW-Milwaukee. She performs with many Milwaukee-area ensembles, including Bel Canto Chorus Orchestra, Festival City Symphony, Racine Symphony, Sheboygan Symphony, and Waukesha Symphony. Mrs. Oosterwaal was chosen by the Civic Music Association of Milwaukee to perform on their Artist and Ensemble series in the 2004-05 season and again in the 2007-08 season. She has premiered several pieces including Samuel Robles’ “Mis Abuelos” (solo bassoon), Jonathan Monhardt’s “Miniatures” (solo bassoon), Wayne Wildman’s “Russian Variations” (orchestral arrangement for bassoon and piano), and her own composition for bassoon and percussion “After Coffee.”

James Paolo – Upright and Electric Bass
WCM faculty since 2005. Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Jim Paolo is an active performer in the region and has performed with top jazz artists in the United States including Buddy Montgomery, Melvin Rhyne, Frank Morgan, Berkeley Fudge, David Hazeltine, Brian Lynch, Manty Ellis, Wille Pickens, Greg Abate, Von Freeman and Henry Johnson. He plays with the Luis Diaz Quintet and the Latin jazz orchestra La Chazz. Jim is a clinician for the Jazz Experience for Milwaukee Public Schools and has taught at the Conservatory’s summer Jazz Camp.

Danielle Pardo – Violin, Viola, Suzuki Coordinator, Department Chair
WCM faculty member since 2001. M.B.A., Universidad Central de Venezuela; M.M. in String Pedagogy, UW-Milwaukee; B.M., University of Musical Studies, Caracas, Venezuela. Chair of the String Department since 2001, Ms. Pardo performed nearly fifteen years with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra in Caracas. She also taught at the Simon Bolivar Conservatory and Venezuela Youth Symphony. She has performed as soloist in Bach’s Sixth Brandenburg Concerto, the Telemann Solo and Double Concerti, and Mozart’s Symphonia Concertante. Ms. Pardo appears with local musical groups including the Festival City, Kenosha and Waukesha Symphony Orchestras. She performs with the Iberoamerica ensemble and provides services for Conservatory Connections. In September 2002, she founded the WCM Suzuki String Program. In 2008, Ms. Pardo was invited to become part of the faculty at Merit School of Music in Chicago, where she teaches violin and viola at the Alegre Strings and Preparatory Programs.

Phillip Pearl – Voice
WCM faculty member since 1994. M.M. Opera, University of Wisconsin; B.F.A. Music and Theatre, UW-Milwaukee. Mr. Pearl has studied with Karlos Moser, Kammersanger Jean Cox, Anna Reynolds, Mimmi Fulmer, Lenore Lynde Horsman and Richard Winter. He was one of eleven people chosen nationwide to participate in “Masterclasses in the Art of Singing Wagner,” has sung major operatic and oratorio roles throughout Wisconsin and has recorded for Wisconsin Public Radio and The Symposium for Church Composers. His directing credits include extensive work with children’s theatre and many opera company productions.

Bony Plog-Benavides – Percussion
Bony Plog-Benavides is a native of Bogotá, Colombia, where she studied with Cuban percussionist Frank Calzadilla. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music with a concentration on Percussion Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, where she studied with David Bayles. In May 2008, she finished her Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology at Arizona State University. Her thesis research focused on the popularization of Gaita Music, a musical tradition of Northern Colombia. While at ASU, Mrs. Plog-Benavides studied with African music scholar Mark Sunkett and renowned drummer Dom Moio. At ASU she performed with the ASU Latin Jazz Band, Brazilian Bateria, Javanese Gamelan, Latin Marimba Band, and African Drum Ensemble.
Locally she has appeared with the Racine Concert Band, Kenosha Pops Concert Band, and local musicians, such as Mike Plog, David Bayles, Luis Diaz, Dan Trudell, Bill Bonifas, and Jeno Somlai.

Robin Pluer – Voice
WCM faculty member since 2004. Ms. Pluer is a perennial WAMI Award winner as well as the Shepherd Express’ “Best Female Vocalist.” She has composed and performed music with Paul Cebar and John Sieger. With Juli Wood, Connie Grauer and Kim Zick (Mrs. Fun) she created “The Rhythm Club” to perform an eclectic array of jazz, pop, R&B and French songs. Robin collaborated with Peter Buffett, recording a song for his album, “Songs from an East Side Attic.” Robin combines vintage French chansons from the 20s, 30s and 40s with contemporary songs which she performs each year at Bastille Days in Milwaukee. Robin studied with Martha Artis (at WCM), Jessie Hauck, and Sylvie Frere. She has also studied at L’Alliance Francaise of Manhattan and at UWM.

Kathryn Rambo – Music Therapist, Wellness Coordinator
WCM faculty member since 2004. Ms. Rambo, a Board Certified Music Therapist and Drum Circle Music Practitioner, graduated Alverno College with a degree in Music Therapy in 1974. She is also an adjunct faculty member of Alverno College, teaching interpersonal communication. As the Conservatory’s Wellness Coordinator, Ms. Rambo emphasizes a preventative approach with well adults and well elderly. Her areas of specialization include facilitating guided interactive drumming circles and music therapy wellness programs including: stress reduction, mindfulness and relaxation training. She has been teaching Adult Wellness classes in the greater Milwaukee area for over 15 years.

Anthony Ramirez – Percussion
WCM faculty since 2005. Anthony is a Milwaukee-based musician specializing in Afro-Caribbean percussion with a range in styles from traditional to contemporary. He is a former percussionist for the Carthage College Gospel Messengers. Anthony has worked as an Artist in Residence at Milwaukee’s John C. Cudahy YMCA and as a guest artist for the Milwaukee Art Museum in their Art Works program. He has accompanied African and modern dance classes at the YMCA and UWM and provides workshops to elementary and middle school children on the history and tradition of Afro-Caribbean music and culture. Anthony is currently an Associate degree candidate in Music Occupations at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Kerry Ramthun – Music Therapy, Piano
WCM faculty member since 2003. MT-BC, WMTR, Music Therapy, Piano. B.M. with honors and certificate in Piano Pedagogy, Alverno College, Milwaukee. Ms. Ramthun is currently pursuing her M.A. in Music Therapy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana. Certified in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music Level I: The Use of Supportive Music & Imagery. Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) by Music Teachers National Association. Member of Music Teachers National Association and Wisconsin Music Teachers Association. Ms. Ramthun has fulfilled contracts for the Conservatory with the psycho-oncology population at St. Luke's Medical Center, as well as contracts with multi-cultural geriatric populations and private sessions.

Lynn Roginske – Contemporary Piano, Voice, Theory
WCM faculty member since 1975. B.M. Wisconsin College-Conservatory; M. M. Wisconsin Conservatory of Music; D.P.I. Certification in Music and Choral Education, Alverno College. Jazz piano and composition studies under Tony King, Martha Artis, Eddie Baker and David Hazeltine. Ms. Roginske is in demand throughout Wisconsin as a piano soloist and with her jazz trio. She regularly performs on the Family Concert series at the Conservatory. In addition to her work at the Conservatory, Ms. Roginske works as a Music/Adaptive Music Specialist for the Milwaukee Public Schools and has taught at Alverno College.

Laura Rooney – Violin, Viola
WCM faculty since 2006. B.M. Music Education, M.M. in Performance, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Laura received her degrees while teaching strings in the Madison public schools. She has performed professionally as a violist and violinist in the United States and Europe, and taught elementary and middle school strings in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for nine years. She directed the orchestra program at Pius XI High School for four year before deciding to devote more time to studio teaching. She also freelances in the Milwaukee area. She is ABD towards a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music, and has been published in American String Teacher.

Marlee Sabo – Soprano, Voice Department Chair
WCM faculty member since 1967. M.M with honors, Indiana University; B.M. Oberlin Conservatory; Mozarteum, Salzburg; Fulbright Scholar Stuttgart, Germany; German Government grant for further operatic study. Marlee Sabo came to the Conservatory as a member of the College faculty and Performing Artist. She has performed as a recitalist and chamber musician, as well as participating as a founding member of the Pro Musica Nova, a group premiering and performing contemporary music. In Milwaukee, she has been soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in Mahler's 4th Symphony; Samuel Barber's Knoxville, Summer, 1915; Handel's Messiah; and Greig's Peer Gynt Suite. She has sung the role of Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni with the Florentine Opera and John Harbison's Mirabai Songs, Aaron Copland's Emily Dickenson Songs, and Shostokovich's Romance Suite, Lukas Foss' Time Cyle, and numerous Haydn Masses with the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Sabo has performed and recorded in Europe, including appearances in the Salzburg Festival, Msozart's Wohnhaus, on German television, and at the Stuttgart Staatstheater. She has sung and recorded with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, appeared at the Grant Park Concerts in Chicago; the Aspen Festival; Tanglewood; the Atlanta Lyric Opera; and is co-founder and chamber musician at the Washington Island Music Festival. At the Conservatory, Ms. Sabo has taught repertoire courses in the German Lied, French Melodie, Oratorio, Contemporary Music and Opera. She has taught Phonetics and Chamber Music for Voice and Guitar. She has been the Director of the Opera Workshop and produced performances of Aaron Copland's The Second Hurricane and Menotti's The Egg for the Milwaukee Symphony's Contemporary Music Festivals as well as a production of Mozart's first opera, Apollo and Hyacinth, for the Conservatory. She has served as Chairperson of the Voice Department and has recently had a Scholarship Fund at the Conservatory established in her honor.

Trevor Sadler – Advanced Recording
WCM faculty member since 2001. Trevor Sadler has been engineering, producing and mastering music for over 10 years and has accumulated over 1000 album credits. Work with artists such as Kathy Mattea, Zap Mama, Cracker, Ramsey Lewis, Tony Levin, Moby, Madonna, David Byrne, Peter Gabriel, Live, Nine Inch Nails, Crash Test Dummies, Triumph, Rush, Tom Cochrane, I Mother Earth and the Toronto Symphony has yielded several gold, platinum and Grammy awards. Trevor has been a beta tester and consultant for pro audio companies such as Sonic Solutions, Apogee and TC Electronic. Trevor is also a member of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, The Audio Engineering Society and the Music Producers Guild of America. He owns and operates Mastermind Studios in Milwaukee.

Matthew Schroeder – Fingerstyle Guitar, Rock Guitar, Department Chair
WCM Faculty member since 1992, B.F.A. with honors in Guitar Performance, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As a rock guitarist, Mr. Schroeder has performed extensively throughout the Midwest. Past Bands include Blackfish, Pet Engine, Steve Grimm and the Thrill Cats, and Jamie Jess. He currently plays for the WAMI-award winning Barbeez. As a fingerstyle guitarist, Mr. Schroeder studied under John Stropes. He has been featured on local television and radio and can be heard on the CD compilation, American Finger-Style Guitar circa 1999. His debut CD, Signal, released April 2006, features original acoustic fingerstyle compositions and displays Schroeder’s command of various styles from Americana to impressionism, and blues to pop. www.matthewschroederonline.com

Jeanette Seitz – Music Therapy
WCM faculty member since 2001. MT-BC, Music Therapy. B.M. with honors, Alverno College. A certified music educator in addition to a music therapist, Ms. Seitz has assisted students and clients in environments that range from elementary schools to acute care facilities. She led music therapy sessions for Very Special Arts Festivals. She is active in several music therapy associations and a member of the Music Educators National Conference.

Jacques J. Sewrey – Recording
WCM faculty member since 2006. In 1980 Jacques received a certificate in basic and advanced recording engineering from Full Sail Recording Workshop. Since then he has recorded numerous bands and groups in Southeastern Wisconsin as well as mixing live sound. He owns and operates Great Mix Recording and is the Mastering Engineer at The Laboratory recording studio, both of these are in Milwaukee. In addition to his normal engineering duties, he has wired and/or built several studios in SE Wisconsin and is currently staff technician for Nexus Recording and Beathouse Music. He is well versed in Apple and PC recording technology. Some of the groups he has worked with include Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Gufs, Three Smart Girls, Streetlife, Concord Chamber Orchestra, The Boogiemen, The Heroes, Woody Hermann, UWM Symphony Orchestra and Kothi Dance Company.

Diana Shapiro - Piano
New WCM faculty member September 2008. DMA in progress, University of Wisconsin-Madison; GPD, Longy School of Music; MM and BM, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Ms. Shapiro enjoys a successful performance career, mainly as a part of the Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo (www.piano-4-hands.com), a professional piano duo which has won numerous major competitions, and has appeared in solo recitals and festivals worldwide. A number of the duo's performances have been recorded for radio and TV in the US, Israel, Hong Kong and Germany. Ms. Shapiro has a broad experience teaching students at several music schools in the US and in Israel.

Joshua Sherman – Percussion
WCM faculty member since 2008. Joshua Sherman graduated from the University of Wisconsin Parkside in 2006 having completed a Bachelors of Arts with a major in music and percussion performance. He is also certified in Instrumental K-12 music education and has an additional concentration in Jazz Studies, which he completed in 2007. He performed with the CBDNA National Small College Intercollegiate Honors band in 2006 at the University of Michigan under the direction of Frank Ticheli. Joshua currently is Director of Instrumental Music at Gilmore Middle School in Racine, WI. He also performs on occasion as a substitute musician with the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra and the Racine Symphony Orchestra.

Paul Silbergleit – Jazz Guitar
WCM faculty member since 1996 and a member of the Conservatory’s We Six jazz sextet. B.A., Oberlin College. An accomplished jazz composer as well as performer, Mr. Silbergleit has played clubs, concert halls, and festivals throughout the area, as both a leader and a sideman. He has appeared with Jack McDuff, Jon Faddis, Richie Cole, Melvin Rhyne, Brian Lynch and David Hazeltine, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, among others. Both his 1996 debut CD “Silberglicity” (on which other Conservatory faculty members are featured) and his 2003 release, “My New Attitude,” have made it onto the jazz charts with nationwide airplay, and he can also be heard on the 2005 We Six CD “Bird Say”. Mr. Silbergleit also teaches at Cardinal Stritch University.

Jared Frederick Snyder – Cello

WCM faculty member since 2009. Mr. Snyder is anticipating a BM in cello performance from the University of Wisconsin-Mlwaukee in May of 2009. Mr. Snyder began his undergraduate degree at The Juilliard School in New York City, where he received the Naumburg scholarship and the Edward W. Noble Foundation scholarship. Previously, Mr. Snyder was the cellist of the former Sphinx Quartet which included several different concerts in New York City’s Carnegie Hall, teaching and performing on the island of Bermuda, and performing with the world-famous Guarneri String Quartet. Jared has appeared on CBS-TV’s 60 Minutes, and has performed for such music legends as violinist Isaac Stern and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. His past instructors include: Hans Jørgen-Jensen, Stefan Kartman, Joel Krosnick, Darrett Adkins, Cassel Grubb, Melissa Kraut, Johanne Perrone, and Suzanne Hayworth. Mr. Snyder also coaches for MYSO’s String Orchestra.

J.Z. Song – Piano
WCM faculty member since 2002. B.A. Hunan Normal University; M.M. Michigan State University; 2 year DMA program, Michigan State University. Prior to WCM, Ms. Song served as a faculty member at the Music Department of Queen’s College in Charlotte, North Carolina. She also held teaching positions at Community School of Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina, Community Music School of Michigan State University, and School of Music at Hunan Normal University in China. As a performing artist and a teacher, Ms. Song collaborated as a visiting scholar at Michigan State University and was certified in piano pedagogy by the Michigan Music Teacher Association.

Kathleen Sonnentag – Voice
WCM faculty member 1990-1999; 2006. “Rich,” “Glorious,” “Enveloping,” are just a few adjectives that critics have used to describe Kathleen’s mezzo-soprano voice. She was awarded the prestigious Eleanor Steber Award for Excellence in the Concert Field and has made her career singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States and abroad. She has soloed in Handel’s Messiah in over seventy-five performances from Chicago’s Orchestra Hall to Tokyo’s Hitomi Memorial Hall. Opera News praised her as “vocally commanding” for her role of Maddalena in Rigoletto. She was the First Place winner of the district Metropolitan Opera Auditions and a finalist in the International Belvedere Competition in Vienna. Ms. Sonnentag records for Hal Leonard Publishing.

Curtis Stotlar – Piano
WCM faculty member since 1999. M.S., Juilliard School; B.M., Eastman School of Music; Doctoral Program, Peabody Conservatory. Mr. Stotlar performed in more than 30 countries, and appeared on national radio and television networks on four continents. He was a featured guest on NBC's Today where he performed part of an original piano concerto and was interviewed by Hugh Downs. As winner of the Harriet Hale Woolley Prizefor two consecutive years, he studied piano in Europe with Wilhelm Kempff, Robert Casadesus and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and composition with Nadia Boulanger and Olivier Messaien. He has taught at Vassar College, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and the Juilliard School (piano literature). Mr. Stotlar taught in the French conservatory system at the Conservatoire de Neuilly and Rencontres Musicales de la Plaine de Versailles, where he chaired the piano department. In addition to his musical studies he earned a second Master's Degree in cinema from the University of Paris (Sorbonne).

Michele de Souza – Music Therapy
WCM faculty member since 2007 MT-BC, B.M. in Music Therapy, University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. Ms. de Souza specializes in music therapy services for the mental health population. A music therapist on staff at Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division since July 2008, Ms. de Souza integrates Creative Art modalities (including dance, poetry and art) in her practice. From 1994 to 2008, Ms. de Souza worked as a music therapist at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. She worked with a broad variety of clientele, from adolescents to seniors (including Eating Disorder clients). Knowledgeable of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based programs, Ms. de Souza successfully added Mindfulness groups to the Partial Hospitalization Program therapy at W.M.H. At present, Ms. de Souza serves the adult acute in-patient population at Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division. A native of the Caribbean island, Trinidad, Ms. de Souza was chosen to represent her country, playing in a steel-pan ensemble at a music festival in New Delhi, India in 1985. She now shares her expertise on the steel-pan in many of her therapy sessions. Under the guidance of Dr. Louise Montello, NCPsyA, MT-BC, Ms. de Souza began training (November, 2007) in the principles of Performance Wellness and Essential Musical Intelligence. In addition, she became a Master Gardener (UW-Extension) in 2009. Ms. de Souza continues to incorporate these and other valuable experiential resources to her music therapy practice in order to address the many clinical needs of her clientele.

Paul Terrien – Guitar
WCM faculty member since 1992. B.F.A., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Diploma in Guitar Performance, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Mr. Terrien has recorded and performed in various genres encompassing heavy metal, punk, rock, pop, blues, oldies, Renaissance and dance music as well as solo classical guitar. Most recently, he can be heard on the 2006 releases “Rats Revenge” by The Crusties and “Dunk Tank” by Binky Tunny and the Farmland Chokehold. He can also be seen nationally and internationally as the bassist of the band Beatallica.

Michael Thiele – Piano
WCM faculty member since 1993. D.M.A. University of Iowa; M.M. Northwestern University; B.M. UW-Oshkosh. A frequent performer as both soloist and ensemble pianist, Dr. Thiele has taught piano at Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, University of Nebraska, Cornell College in Iowa, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin Center-Fox Valley, University of Wisconsin Center-Fond du Lac, and Concordia University. He is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, Milwaukee Music Teachers Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Joshua Tice – Early Childhood
Josh graduated from Marian College with a BS in Vocal Music Performance. This will be his first year with the Conservatory. Previously, he was the music teacher at La Causa Charter School for over nine years. There he developed the music curricula for K5-8th grades and worked in the daycare setting. He also initiated and directed the middle school swing choir program. Josh coordinated the after school Youth Orchestra in conjunction with Waukesha Symphony Orchestra.

Scott Tisdel – Cello
WCM faculty member since 2000. M.M., Cello Performance, Indiana University; B.M., Cello Performance, San Francisco State University. Scott Tisdel has served as Associate Principal Cellist of the Milwaukee Symphony and Principal Cellist of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra since 1987, and has appeared as soloist with both ensembles. Prior to his arrival in Milwaukee, Mr. Tisdel was Principal Cellist of the Florida Orchestra (Tampa), and a member of both the Oakland and San Jose Symphonies. Mr. Tisdel is a founding member of the Conservatory’s resident Prometheus Trio. He performs at the Washington Island Music Festival and the Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival.

Christine Wiggin – Music Therapy
WCM faculty member since 2007. MT-BC, BM in Music Therapy, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. Ms. Wiggin, a certified music therapist, specializes in providing music therapy services to children on the pervasive developmental disorder spectrum. She received extensive training in Applied Behavior Analysis treatment through Wisconsin Early Autism Project. Ms. Wiggin also supplies sensory and cognitive stimulation therapy to senior citizens in the mid/late stages of Alzeimer's disease.

Jack Forbes Wilson – Music Theatre
WCM faculty since 2007. Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. Jack came to Wisconsin to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he received a Master of Music Degree before moving out to Spring Green. After working at American Players Theatre for three seasons, he moved to Milwaukee, where he has worked as a pianist, singer, and actor for twenty years. He has appeared in ten shows at the Milwaukee Rep’s Stackner Cabaret, and has also performed with Madison Rep, Skylight Opera Theatre, Next Act Theatre and many other theaters. His experience as both performer and director in the world of professional and community theater make him an ideal teacher.

Nathan Wysock – Classical Guitar
WCM faculty member since 2001. D.M.A., M.M., Eastman School of Music, Performance/Minor in Early Music; B.M. Illinois State University, guitar performance. Nathan studied guitar with Nicholas Goluses, Douglas Rubio and Angelo Favis. He is a dedicated teacher who has taught for several community programs as well as for the secondary guitar program at Eastman. He is an avid performer of both solo and ensemble repertoire. He has performed in competitions in the United States and abroad and is a member of the group L’ensemble Portique. He is currently on the faculties of Lawrence University and Edgewood College.