Celebrity Musicians

Frank Almond
Violinist Frank Almond and pianist William Wolfram have a CD recording of the Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano by Johannes Brahms: performances of Brahms' Violin Sonata No.1 in G, Op. 78; No 2 in A, Op. 100; and No.3 in D Minor, Op. 108. Produced by Frank Almond and Leszek Wojcik for Boolean Recordings.

William Barnewitz
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Principal Horn William Barnewitz has a solo CD, Functionlust, featuring Donizetti's Dirti Addio, Mozart's Horn Quintet, Berlioz's Le Jeune Patre Breton, and the Brahms Trio. To celebrate the release, Mr. Barnewitz and friends presented an evening of chamber music, benefitting Milwaukee's Hunger Task Force.

Tim Bell
Professor of Jazz Studies and Woodwinds at UW-Parkside. He earned his BME and MME from the University of North Texas. He regularly performs as a woodwind doubler with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Skylight Theatre, and numerous Broadway productions. Tim Bell, 262-595-2562, Kenosha.

Claude Cailliet
Trombonist, is originally from Kenosha, spent 13 years in Los Angeles before moving to Madison in 1990 where he directed the UW Jazz Big Band for 12 years. Throughout his career he has performed and recorded with a wide variety of internationally known artists including Neil Young, U2, Joe Walsh, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Frank Sinatra Jr. Mr. Cailliet is a professor of music at the UW-Baraboo/Sauk County and performs with many Midwest groups in addition to leading the popular Salsa/Latin Jazz Ensemble, MadiSalsa.

Roberta Carpenter
Conductor and violinist Roberta Carpenter of Oconomowoc has a CD recording conducting the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic. Music features David Diamond - Rounds, Max Bruch - Scottish Fantasy, Maurice Ravel - Tzgane, and Claude Debussy - La Mer.

Hong-Hsin Chen
Is a Junior at Madison West High School. She currently studies piano with Dr. Kyung Kim at Lawrence University. Hong-Hsin also plays violin, and is in her seventh season with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra. Awards in music include WYSO's 2005 Youth Concerto Competition, and the National 2005 Walgreens Midwest Young Artists Concerto Competition Piano Winner. Other interests include math, science, art, frisbee, writing and composing. Hong-Hsin is very grateful for the opportunity to perform with the Menomonee Falls Symphony on November 5, 2005.

Ralph Chicorel
Composer and lyricist. Prior to Anna Karenina, The Audio Musical, Ralph has had six albums to his credit. His most recent is the concept musical Great Expectations on the Original Cast Records label. His resume includes writing the stage musical Jean about the founder of Weight Watchers, Jean Nidetch. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta Conductor, has premiered his compostion Milwaukee. Ralph is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, N.Y.C. His biographical profile appears in Who's Who in Entertainment and Who's Who in America. Ralph is a native Detroiter but now lives in Menomonee Falls.

Coriolan Duo
Coriolan Duo, composed of Scott Tisdel, cello; and Stefanie Jacob, piano.

Fine Arts Quartet - Ralph Evans and Efim Boico, violin; Yuri Gandelsman, viola; Wolfgang Laufer, cello; 770-384-0915, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Samantha George
Violinist Dr. Samantha George of Milwaukee performs with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and Wisconsin Conservatory of Music ensembles.

Curt Hanrahan
Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at UW-Milwaukee. He holds a BFA in Music Education from UWM and a Masters from UW-Madison in multiple woodwinds. As a freelance musician he has performed with the Milwaukee Symphony, Skylight Theatre and numerous Broadway productions and with such artists as Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Rosemary Clooney, Maureen McGovern as well as with the Doc Severinson, Cab Calloway, Jimmy Dorsey, Nelson Riddle and Harry Connick Orchestras. Curt Hanrahan, 262-681-0684, Racine.

William Helmers
Clarinetist William Helmers performs with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Present Music, Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, Florentine Opera and Sante Fe Opera during the summer. He is also on the faculty at UW-Milwaukee.

John Hibler
An accomplished performer on the flute, clarinet and saxophone, and maintains a busy performance schedule in a variety of settings. He was a member of the Melody Top orchestra for 23 years and performs with Broadway tours in Milwaukee and with The Milwaukee Rep's A Christmas Carol. Prior to retiring in 1999 he was Director of Bands at Brookfield East High School for 23 years. John is now a woodwind consultant to Hal Leonard Publishing Co. and an adjunct instructor at Wisconsin Lutheran College and Concordia University. 262-786-3839, Brookfield.

Danis Kelly
Principal Harpist with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. James B.Kinchen
Directs the Milwaukee Choristers, Dr. James B. Kinchen.

Dan Lawitts
Percussionist in many musical groups including Concord Chamber Orchestra, arranges and composes orchestral music, and has a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from State University of New York at Fredonia.

Todd Levy
Todd Levy is principal clarinetist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and of the Santa Fe Opera during the summer. He is also on the faculty at UW-Milwaukee. Biography (PDF 6k).

Bobby Lindsey
Directs the Milwaukee Police Band and South Milwaukee Municipal Band. Duty bugler at police funerals and memorials. Plays trumpet at Brown Deer United Methodist Church. Masters Degree in Human Services Managment and is working on doctorate.

Michael Lorenz
Currently on staff at the Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee where he serves as Staff Percussionist and Orchestra Conductor. Over the past 20 years he has performed a multitude of shows ranging from musical theatre to opera. From 1982 - 1992 he traveled the country extensively as the featured xylophone player with Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet Band. Highlights included appearances on the Today Show and at the White House.

James Mayer
Pianist and Musical Director for Brookfield Assembly of God Church Sanctuary Ochestra, 262-783-2900, Brookfield.

Amber Oosterwaal
Plays bassoon in many Wisconsin orchestras including Kettle Moraine Symphony, has a Master's Degree in Bassoon Performance from UW-Milwaukee, and is the Program Manager for the Milwaukee Youth Synmphony Orchestra.

Violinists of the Philharmonia Racine and Milwaukee Summer Philharmonia - Stephanie Young; Alissa Kortendick; Amy Norovich, Concert Master; and Elise Wagner (left to right) are at rehearsal in the Brass Bell Music Store. Amy was Concert Master for the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra for 2002-2004 and is also a magnificent pianist. She is attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Stephanie, Alissa, Amy, and a friend, are in their own string quartet.

The Prometheus Trio (1999)
Outstanding and challenging chamber music, Scott Tisdel, cello; Stefanie Jacob, piano; and Timothy Klabunde, violin. Scott and Stefanie are husband and wife.

Ron Reseigh
Disney, pops, standards and Dixieland organist at Organ Piper Pizza, 4353 S. 108th St. To get schedule call Organ Piper Pizza at 414-529-1177, Greenfield.

Josh Schmidt
Composes and writes music for many area Wisconsin theaters for performances and dances, Josh Schmidt.

Doc Severnson
Trumpet virtuoso and director of the Milwaukee Pops Symphony.

Elizabeth Sievert
Plays French horn in Wisconsin orchestras and teaches in Milwaukee. Elizabeth has a Bechelor of Fine Arts degree in horn performance from UW-Milwaukee and is pursuing her Master's Degree. Elizabeth Sievert, 414-550-1210, Milwaukee.

Deb Spaete
Wisconsin Public Radio's Higher Ground's Music Director, is a native of Central Wisconsin where she began studying piano at the age of five. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point where she majored in music. She currently resides in Madison where she maintains a busy schedule as a piano teacher, performer and consultant.

Rose VanHimbergen
Plays flute and piccolo in Wisconsin orchestras and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Flute Performance from UW-Milwaukee. Rose VanHimbergen, Appleton.

Stas Venglevski
Stas Venglevski, Milwaukee's wizard of the bayan accordion. CD: Adagio, Romance and Beyond. Showpiece by Eugene Derbenko; transcriptions of works by Mozart and MacDowell; four-movement "Bayan and Beyond," a concerto by Milwaukeean Dan Lawitts, performed with conductor Janet Millard and the Concord Chamber Orchestra; and two of Venglevski's own compositions. Stas Venglevski, 414-961-9803, Greenfield.

Bob Viviano
Plays trumpet in many groups and can repair any instrument by working at Cascio's. Bob Viviano, Milwaukee.

Steve Watts
Pianist, is a native of Missouri, but calls New York home. He has acted at Fireside and performed in numerous productions in Branson, MO, and played cabaret circuits in New York, Las Vegas and Palm Springs.

Christopher Wszalek
Director of Piano Studies at Milwaukee High School of the Arts since 2002 and works as their Forensics coach. Chris is a 1998 graduate of MHSA and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from UW-Madison. He is active in the Milwaukee theater community, providing music for First Stage Children's Theater, Off-the-Wall Productions, Renaissance Theaterworks, UWM Players, Waukesha Civic Theater and Concordia University. Chris also accompanies classes for the Milwaukee Ballet School.

Chris Zello
Clarinetist Christopher Zello is a clarinetist in the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra and Fox Valley Symphony of Appleton. His Contemplations CD contains selections found on many state contest music lists. Chris Zello, clarinet, Eb clarinet and bass clarinet, Milwaukee.

Bernard Zinck
French born violinist Bernard Zinck started his international career after winning the 1992 Yehudi Menuhin Trust Award in Paris. His eclectic repertoire ranges from the European Baroques to the German Romantics, the twentieth century Nationalists to the American Colonists, and Mr. Zinck is equally at ease performing on both baroque and modern violins. Now is on the string faculty of the UW-Milwaukee. Bernard Zinck, Milwaukee.