2012 Music Camps Staff

Kevin Collins

Middle and High School Music Camps Director

Kevin Collins, on the UW-Green Bay faculty since 1988, was appointed Director of Bands in 1995. He served as Chair of the Music Program from 1998-2003. During that time led the department's NASM re-accreditation efforts, as well as the planning for a substantial remodeling of music facilities at UW-Green Bay. He currently serves as chair of the Music Department.

Professor Collins directs the UW-Green Bay Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, and teaches conducting and studio low brass. In the summer, he directs the UW-Green Bay Band, Choral and Orchestra Camps. In 1998, he founded the "UW-Green Bay State Bound Honor Band" for students who have received outstanding ratings for solo performances at WSMA and MSBOA district festivals. Professor Collins is a frequent guest conductor, speaker, clinician and adjudicator, and has conducted honor bands throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest, as well as middle and high school bands, youth orchestras, community bands, collegiate, and professional ensembles.

He holds a Bachelor's degree from University of Michigan (Low Brass/Trombone Performance/Music Education), a Master's degree University of Texas-Austin (Wind Conducting) and has done additional study in instrumental conducting at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Prof. Collins will be the Wind Ensemble conductor and low brass instructor for the 2012 Senior High Music Camp.

 

Scott Wright

Middle School Music: Symphonic Band Conductor

Dr. Scott Wright currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Clarinet at the University of Kentucky. Prior to his appointment at UK in 2002, he served as the Professor of Clarinet and Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and he taught music for the public schools of Longview, Washington from 1987-97.

Dr. Wright received music education degrees from the University of Michigan and Arizona State University, and he received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in clarinet performance from Arizona State University. Former teachers include Robert Spring, James Pyne, John Mohler, Stan Stanford, and the late Evelyn Angerman.

Wright has been a frequent featured performer at the annual conference of the International Clarinet Association with appearances in Columbus, OH in 1998, in Ostend, Belgium in 1999, in Salt Lake City, UT in 2003, and in 2004 in Washington DC. During the summer of 2003 Wright traveled to Greece with the Metropolitan String Quartet (D.C.) for a series of chamber music performances featuring the music of Mozart, Brahms, and contemporary Greek composers. Wright spends his summers teaching at the Young Musicians and Artists Music Festival (Salem, OR) and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Summer Music Camp.

 

Laura Robinson

Conductor, Middle School X-Band

Laura Robinson is Director of Bands for the Escanaba Middle School. Besides her groups earning top ratings in the MSBOA festival process, she has been a finalist for MSBOA Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year. Laura received a Japan Fulbright Award which allowed her to travel and teach in Japan. Some of her school projects have been awarded top honors by the Michigan Education Association. Besides teaching, guest conducting, and judging, Laura plays Oboe and English Horn professionally. She is principal Oboe with the Marquette Symphony and a featured soloist. She also performs with the Sault St.Marie Symphony, Superior Festival Orchestra, and several local chamber ensembles. Laura earned her BM from Western Michigan University and MM from Northwestern University. She loves going to UWGB Band Camp!

 

Randall Meder

Middle School and Senior High Phoenix Chorale - Director

Dr. Randall A. Meder is Director of Choral Activities at UW-Green Bay, where he conducts the Concert Choir and Phoenix Chorale, and teaches courses in Choral Conducting and Literature. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Master's degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting and Literature from the University of Illinois. Dr. Meder has studied with Beverly Taylor, Fred Stoltzfus, Don Moses, Timothy Stalter, Scott MacPherson, Robert Fountain, and Robert Shaw.

Before coming to Green Bay he was Director of Choral Activities at NC State University, where he conducted the choral ensembles and taught sight-singing, choral literature and music history. Prior to his graduate studies he taught high school choral music for four years in Wisconsin, and has continued to work as a clinician with high school groups in Wisconsin, Illinois and North Carolina. Dr. Meder is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the American Choral Directors Association, the Conductors Guild, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society in Music.

 

Cheryl Grosso

Middle and High School Music Camp Percussion

Dr. Cheryl Grosso has been a member of the Music faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay since 1985. She has served as Interim Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Chair and Vice Chair of Arts and Visual Design, and Music Chair. She teaches studio percussion, contemporary percussion ensemble, new music ensemble, hand drumming ensemble, aural skills, and world music. She was awarded the honorable Frankenthal Professorship in 2005 and the Founder's Award for Excellence in Scholarship. Professor Grosso earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Iowa, Master of Fine Arts in Percussion Performance from California Institute of the Arts, and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Dr. Grosso studied western percussion with John Bergamo, Karen Ervin, Ron George, Thomas L. Davis, and Tele Lesbines. She studied non-western percussion with artists Pandit Taranath Rao, Amiya Dasgupta, Alfred and Kobla Ladzekpo, Sowah Mensah, Michael Spiro, and K.R.T. Wasitodiningrat.

 

Sarah Meredith Livingston

Voice faculty, Senior High Music Camp

Sarah Meredith, mezzo-soprano, has performed as soloist and recitalist throughout the Midwestern United States, and eastern and western Europe. She holds B.S. and B.M.E. degrees from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, M.M. from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 2 year diploma from the Hochschule fur Musik, Hamburg, Germany, and D.M.A. from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. She is currently Associate Professor of Communication and the Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. For a complete professional description of Prof. Meredith's work, please go to: www.uwgb.edu/music/faculty/choral/meredith.asp

 

Michelle McQuade Dewhirst

French Horn and Composition, Middle and Senior High Music Camps

She has taught at the University of Chicago, Oberlin Conservatory and Concordia University (River Forest, IL) and Daley College in Chicago

Michelle was a founding member of the Chicago Miniaturist Ensemble and has received the ASCAPlus Grant for four consecutive years. Her work is published by JOMAR Press www.jomarpress.com.

 

Courtney Sherman

Dr. Courtney Sherman will be teaching voice classes and the Musical Theater class for both the Middle School and Senior High Music Camps. For more professional information about Asst. Prof. Sherman, please select this link that will take you to the Music Dept. website.

www.uwgb.edu/music/faculty/sherman.asp

 

Adam Gaines

Jazz, Middle and Senior High Trumpet Faculty

Adam Gaines is an Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. In addition to teaching the trumpet studio, Dr. Gaines directs the Jazz Ensemble II and the New Music Ensemble, and teaches Jazz History and Brass Techniques. A native of Kentucky, Dr. Gaines has performed as a soloist throughout Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and at the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals in Europe. His work goes beyond playing the trumpet into the realm of arranging and composition. An example is his trumpet ensemble work "Fanfare and Images," which can be heard on the CD Passages on the Centaur label by his former teacher, Dr. Michael Tunnell. Dr. Gaines holds degrees from the University of Louisville (Bachelor of Music, 1999) and Ball State University (Master of Music, 2001 and Doctor of Arts, 2005). In addition to being a past member of the faculties of the Community College of Philadelphia, Montgomery County Community College, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania and Indiana Wesleyan University, Dr. Gaines has taught for the UW - Green Bay Summer Music Camps (trumpet and recording techniques) and the Milestones Jazz Camp in Pennsylvania.

 

Jill Schultz

Middle and High School Orchestra Conductor

 

Eric Hansen

Assistant Professor of Music at UW-Green Bay, Eric Hansen, will be teaching clarinet classes for the Middle and High School Music Camps. Eric Hansen is the clarinet instructor and assistant professor of music at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He teaches Applied Clarinet, Music Theory, Woodwind Techniques, Woodwind Ensemble, and directs the Phoenix Pep Band. He holds a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Kentucky where he studied with Dr. Scott Wright, and two Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from Arizona State University.

 

David Severtson

Dr. David Severtson, Assistant Professor of Music coordinates the piano program at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, with again be the summer music camp accompanist. He teaches studio piano lessons, keyboard musicianship, first-year ear training, and Survey of Western Music. Prior to arriving at UWGB, he taught at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

Jazz on the Bay

John Salerno

Camp Director - Jazz on the Bay, Saxophone and Improvisation - Senior High Music Camp

Professor Salerno teaches saxophone, composition, jazz ensemble and other jazz related classes. Under his direction, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Jazz Ensemble has performed at both the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals in Europe. As a saxophonist he has worked with a variety of notable groups and artists including The Spinners, The Jacksons, Engelbert Humperdinck, Roberta Flack, Joe Williams and many others. Dr. Salerno is a published composer and arranger, and has written works for a variety of styles and media. He is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator, judging at many jazz festivals throughout the country, including the prestigious University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festival. He directs the annual University of Wisconsin-Green Bay January Jazz Fest, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Summer Jazz Camp, two of the oldest and most popular jazz events of their kind in Wisconsin.

 

Evan Halloin

Jazz Camp - Bass

Evan Halloin returns to UWGB jazz camp as the bass instructor after having attended as a camper himself. He received degrees from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts (Bachelor of Music, 2006) and Rice University in Houston, Texas (Master of Music, 2009). Evan has performed with the Prana Trio, as well as with jazz artists Michael Caine, Ran Blake, Frank Carlberg, and David Fiuczynski. Equally at home in the world of symphonic music, Evan has performed as a substitute musician with the Chicago and Houston Symphony Orchestras. He is currently a member of the New World Symphony, located in Miami Beach, Florida.

 

Christine Salerno

Jazz on the Bay - Vocal Jazz Director

Christine Salerno is the director of the University of Wisconsin Green Bay Vocal Jazz Ensemble. This group and several of Christine's private students have received awards including "Outstanding Vocal Jazz Ensemble" at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival and Downbeat awards in the Jazz Voice category.

Christine has been a vocal jazz educator since 1982, teaching at The University of Northern Colorado, Florida Atlantic University, Western Michigan University, Palm Beach Community College and Lawrence University. She was the director of the 2001 Wisconsin State Music Association Honors Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the 2005 Pennsylvania All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Christine has also served on the judging panel for the Wisconsin State Composition Award competition.

Christine is a frequent guest clinician at high school and university jazz festivals including Millikin University, Boise State, Lawrence University, the University of Northern Colorado, and others. She has several published vocal jazz arrangements with the UNC Jazz Press, many of which have been performed and recorded by professional and college ensembles including Millikin University, Washington State University, Western Michigan University, the University of Northern Colorado, the University of Miami, and Roosevelt University which premiered her arrangement of "The Closer I Get To You" at the 2000 International Association of Jazz Educators Convention.

Christine is also a pianist/vocalist and composes for her Contemporary Jazz and World Music Group, "ZIJI," which has performed in such exclusive venues as the Elkhart Jazz Festival in Indiana, and the Neenah and Fox Cities Jazz Festivals in Wisconsin, among others. She has recorded and/or performed with Howard Levy, Chuck Loeb, Nelson Rangell, Eliane Elias, Kurt Elling, Billy Drews, Kip Kuepper, and many more.

 

Terry Iattoni

Jazz Ensemble Camp, Instructor - Drums/Combos

Terry Iattoni, an active performer and educator, has been playing percussion for over 30 years and teaching music for 25 years. Terry's performance credits include working with Richie Cole, George Graham, John Harmon, David Hazeltine, Geoff Keezer, Ellis Marsalis, WAMI Award Winner "The Mr. Lucky Syndicate," Jeff Pietrangelo, Chris Salerno and ZIJI, Toni Tennille, Allen Vizzuti, Ernie Watts, Sunny Wilkinson, top of the charts doo-wop group – "The Diamonds," and Green Bay jazz group, Open Interest. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and studied percussion with Cheryl Grosso and Roger Braun respectively. Terry has also received instruction from drummers Carl Allen and Matt Wilson. He provides clinics, master classes, and camp instruction throughout central and northeast Wisconsin. In his free time Terry also enjoys composing music and spending time with his wife and four children.

 

David Sawall

Jazz Ensemble Camp Instructor - Trombone

Dave Sawall will be this summer's trombone instructor for the Jazz on the Bay Camp. Currently Dave is the first call trombonist at the P.A.C. in Appleton. He has performed for over 35 New York touring Broadway shows including The Producers, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, and Spamelot. He has also performed many celebrities including Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, The Temptations and Aretha Franklinto name a few. Just this summer he has backed up Johnny Mathis, Frankie Valli, and Bobby Vinton. Even though Dave resides in Appleton he also performs in Milwaukee and Chicago as well. Dave has a long list of performance credits to his name. We look forward to working and for campers learning from Dave this summer.

 

Total Guitarist

Mike Tahlier

The Total Guitarist - Camp Director

As a graduate of Berklee College of Music, Michael holds a Bachelors Degree in Professional Music with an emphasis in Music Education. Enrolled on scholarship, Michael graduated Cum Laude in 2007. Teaching music since 2000, he has taught privately as a Berklee College off-campus instructor, has been apart of the National Musicians Workshop staff in Chicago, IL and has taken part in the UWGB Summer Camp since 2003. Studying under acclaimed musicians Hal Crook, Ed Tomassi and Jon Damian to name a few; Michael has learned a wide range of teaching styles. Aside from teaching, Michael is an active performing artist playing lead guitar with singer/songwriter, Tim Stopulos (Tim Stop). Michael's professional career has awarded him opportunities to share the stage with such bands/artists as: Howie Day, CCR, 9 Days (Story of a Girl), Girl Talk, Khari Parker (Destiny's Child, Beyonce, Boz Scagz). Tim Stop has just released their third full-length album entitled "Songs of Separation", with Michael on lead guitar.

Currently residing in Chicago, Michael is the owner/founder of "Musicians Workshop" a Chicagoland music-learning center located in Westmont, Illinois. Michael attended the UWGB Guitar Camp as a high school student and is so honored to be with this program as the camp director.

 

Augie A. Barnhart

The Total Guitarist Instructor/Musician

It all started with a small guitar that I received when I was 3 years old. At that time, my grandparents owned a small music joint and would play every Saturday. I would sit on stage and watch my Grandpa Augie entertain and would mimic his strumming on my new guitar. Folks got a kick out of seeing a 3-year-old strum in unison with his grandpa. That was the spark that ignited a life on stage. Seven years later I picked up a real guitar and began studying chord structure.

With the help of my mom, I learned basic open chords, followed by bar chords and major and minor scales. After five years of practice I was ready for a band. Music has been my soul's fuel for as long as I can remember. I grew up listening to old country, rock-a-billy, blue-grass, and classic rock.

These styles molded me into the player I am today. After playing with other musicians I have realized how important qualities like patience, melody, dynamics and awareness are in music and performance. I have also learned how to speak the language of music in order to better express ideas with band mates and fellow musicians. Because of my love of music and the stage, I have played in a dozen bands and have done extensive touring. Nothing beats life on the road with fellow band mates.

I have now been playing guitar for 17 years. I started teaching guitar seven years ago and developed a passion for it. Whether I am teaching one-on-one or in a group, the joy of learning how to teach and watching my students develop style and skill has always motivated me. Having taught many age groups which has given me the ability to adapt my teaching skills to make lessons exciting and beneficial for each student. This will be my third year as a guitar instructor at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay. The experience is truly unique and fun for everyone. I am looking forward to meeting and rocking with all of you.

 

Chris Clemente

Bass Guitar/Producer

Chris was recognized in Bass Player Magazine for his bass playing on the CD release of the Chicago band "Amazing Headgear." Chris released a CD debuting his own band, "Kick the Cat," featuring his contemporary jazz compositions and bass playing. The first of KTC's 3 CDs was lauded in Bass Frontiers Magazine as "...spirited and fresh." "Bassist Clemente funks, swings, and solos with style and ease..."

As a result of KTC's debut CD, Chris became an official "Famous User," clinician and product specialists for international bass company Warwick. In 2004, Chris was the featured Artist on Warwick's website. (www.warwickbass.com). In 2008 Wil Ramirez of Ramirez Bass built the Model "CC" bass guitar, which he helped to design and develop. Clemente was a featured Guest speaker at Northeastern University for its Contemporary Music symposium 1996 and Featured Artist at Northeastern University's New Music Concert performing an original composition on Solo Electric bass.

Chris performed as a musician in Tom Cruise's break out movie "Risky Business" on Warner Bros. and performed with Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson (Dream Girls and American Idol) on the Oprah Winfrey Show, 2007. A brief list of names with whom Chris has performed includes; Umpherys McGee, Drop Q, Jon Secada, Randy Brecker, Hiram Bullock, Percy Sledge, and The Coasters. Christian Howes, Bobby Flynn, Kanye West and Jennifer Hudson as well as other numerous artists of varied styles. He has toured parts of Scandinavia and the orient. Other Chicago groups Chris has supported include: Crawl, Drop Q, Kick the Cat, Tributosaurus, Ladies of the Canyon, Willow Creek, Ravinia Music Program, Andrea Amos Project, Day Jams.

In June of 2009 he received a Masters degree in Music from DePaul University. During the school year Clemente is a teaching artist for Ravinia. He is a contributing composer for Harpo Studio and Chicago Public Radio's Vocalo.org project. In 2010 Chris Clemente and his cohorts in Crawl were commissioned to compose and perform original music with the Elmhurst Percussion Ensemble.

 

Dennis Panneck

The Total Guitarist Instructor/Musician

An experienced professional performer and teacher, Dennis has played in many bands across the country and is currently the Band Director for LetMeBeFrank at the Meyer Theater In Green Bay. Dennis loves playing and teaching new musical concepts and ideas to all students.

 

 

 

 

Luke Polipnick

The Total Guitarist Instructor/Musician

Luke Polipnick is a Madison, WI-based guitarist who is becoming known for his genre-bending virtuosity. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Music degree in Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University, where he is a full Graduate Teaching

Assistant, and studies guitar under the tutelage of acclaimed virtuoso FareedHaque. His approach to the guitar explores timbre, ambience, motivic development, and extended techniques. He has performed on several international music festivals such as Spark (Minneapolis), Sonic Circuits (Washington D.C.), and Sound Field (Chicago), and has toured the country as a soloist and as a sideman in situations ranging from electronica to avant jazz to reggae. While an undergraduate at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Polipnick was honored with the Ida M. Vreelund award, which recognizes one student each year for outstanding achievements in the college of visual and performing arts.

 

Rich Stitzel

The Total Guitarist Instructor/Musician (Percussionist)

Rich Stitzel is a third generation professional musician and educator. He was trained in drums and percussion at the prestigious University of North Texas from 1990 to 1995. Rich has taught privately since 1990, as well as given master classes, clinics, and camps all over the country. He is the author of four-way independence book "Directions In Drumming," and has also put out two solo CDs of original compositions. Rich is also a teaching artist for Ravinia's "reach, teach, and play" outreach program where he visits the Chicago Public Elementary Schools and teaches jazz and classical music to K-3 grade.

Rich has always kept a very busy performing, recording, and touring career as well. He has toured all over the United States, as well as performed in Mexico, Canada, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and Sinai. He has worked with many artists in all genres including legendary soulstress Mary Wilson of the Supremes 2002, the Grammy nominated rocker Cathy Richardson (Jefferson Starship) 2004-2009, guitar genius Joel Hoekstra (Night Ranger) 2004-2009, Platinum selling and Grammy winning country superstar Miranda Lambert 2007, jazz violin whiz Christian Howes (Les Paul Trio) 2001, superstar saxman Cornelius Bumpus (Steely Dan) 2001, world music songstress Anne Harris 2004-present, transcendent folk/country artist Ernie Hendrickson, as well as a plethora of equally amazing (but less well-known) artists from all over the country, and countless world class musicians for recording and live work.

Rich is a founding member, writer, drummer, singer, actor, and artist for band/television show/cartoon/website/afterschool program "The Sparklemonkeys" as well as a founding member of Chicago groove fusion project "Crawl," improv house group "Orbium," do-it-all rhythm section "The Alliance," as well as a member of 12 piece jazz ensemble "Auraphone."

Rich's creativity, energy, knowledge, and professionalism allow him to maintain an extremely vibrant and diverse career in the music industry.

Mike Pinto

The Total Guitarist Instructor/Musician

Well-versed in a multitude of styles, Mike Pinto is in demand as a guitarist, composer, and arranger in Chicago and internationally. He performs and records with many groups and artists, including Crawl (original groove-fusion music), Auraphone (Mike's own 11-piece ensemble), Kosher Curry (funky electric jazz), The Sparklemonkeys (children's music), the Renegades (virtuosic fusion), Orbium (improv house music), Dayna Malow(acoustic country pop), the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen Band (Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage live), the Tom Matta Big Band, Mark Colby (Chicago jazz saxophone great), and the Becca Kaufman Orchestra (social event entertainment). In addition to performances at Chicago's top venues (Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Andy's, Metro, Double Door, Schuba's, Martyrs'), Mike has performed at major festivals and conferences in Italy, France, Germany, England, Malta, and Croatia. He recently traveled to Alabama for a concert with Brazilian jazz artist Luciana Souza and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with artists such as Jen Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Joel Cummins and Kris Myers (Umphrey's McGee), Peter Himmelman, and Regis Philbin. Mike is also an active writer whose commissions include compositions & arrangements for Mark Colby, the Rob Parton Jazztech Big Band, the Tom Matta Big Band, the Bob Lark Alumni Big Band, the City Lights Orchestra, the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble, and Elmhurst College’s Jazz Band, Gretsch Electric Guitar Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. Born into a musical family and raised in his parents’ music store, Mike has been playing guitar since age nine. He holds an undergraduate degree from Elmhurst College and a master's degree from DePaul University. Currently, Mike is a member of the jazz faculty at Elmhurst College, where he teaches guitar, improvisation, and arranging in addition to directing several ensembles (Lab Band, Gretsch Electric Guitar Ensemble, Electric Guitar Collective, and a jazz combo). Mike has a sincere love of music in all its expressions and enjoys sharing this passion.