Teply Award

2022 - William M. Hansen

Bill received a Bachelor of Arts degree from UW-Green Bay and his teaching certification from UW-Madison in speech and theatre.  He worked for the Manitowoc Public School District, primarily at Lincoln High School, for thirty-three years as speech and theatre teacher, international baccalaureate theatre instructor, theatre director, and technical theatre director/stage manager.  Bill retired in 2020 due to his wife’s illness.

Throughout his years in Manitowoc Bill fostered partnerships with the American Players Theatre in Spring Green and the Kohler Art Center.  The partnerships brought American Players Theatre workshops to Manitowoc as well as fall tours to Spring Green and Kohler Art Center performances to Lincoln High School.  Bill also served on the City of Manitowoc’s Crime Prevention Committee, worked with the Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers, and was a member of the City of Manitowoc Advisory Committee related to the Capitol Theatre.  He enjoyed acting and directing at UW-Manitowoc and being involved with the UW-Manitowoc College for Kids summer theatre program.  Bill was involved with the Children’s Center for the Arts annual fund raiser, “A Christmas Carol: Scrooge & Marley,” playing Marley opposite Jim Mellberg’s Scrooge for eight years under the direction of Mary Mellberg with original music by Wayne Wildman.  Lastly, he was the director and storyteller for the Hatrack Storytellers founded by Sally and David Semmes, and a member of the Christian Community Singers.

A former student, Nancy Leigh, shared these reflections: "Mr. Hansen touched the lives of hundreds of students during his time at Lincoln High School.  He was an integral part of the LHS theater, being behind the scenes at every event, performance, and presentation to ensure everything ran smoothly.  Mr. Hansen always fostered a safe and inclusive environment for his students to explore theater arts, while challenging us and encouraging us to excel.  His passion for teaching was evident in everything he did.  He taught students to be confident performers, competent technicians, and above all else, taught us to believe in ourselves, respect each other, and follow our dreams."  

Upon notification, Bill responded, “I am deeply honored to receive the Wes Teply Award and I am grateful to all, including many previous recipients, who have inspired me by their dedication to the arts and this community.”

2020 - Wayne Wildman

Over the years, Maestro Wildman has made an enormous contribution to the arts and the youth in the Manitowoc and Sheboygan communities. He composed music for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center’s summer productions, worked with the Sheboygan Community Players, composed a commissioned musical score for “Peter Pan,” and wrote the music for “A Christmas Carol” that has been used for years by Kathie Bundy’s production at the Capitol Civic Centre. Wildman gives generously of his time to accompany aspiring student musicians in competitions throughout the state.

Wildman was born in Sheboygan and has lived in the lakeshore area most of his life. He has dual degrees in music and religion from Lakeland College and an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a Leland Coon Fellow in Musicology. He taught and directed music and choir at the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan for many years. Wildman first accompanied and then directed the Lakeshore Chorale. He spent most of his musical career as Music Director of the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra and First United Lutheran Church in Sheboygan, where he continues as Music Director. Last year, Maestro Wildman retired after twenty-nine seasons conducting the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra.

An active, harpsichordist, organist, and pianist, Wildman has made solo appearances with the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra and the Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Green Bay Civic Orchestras. For six seasons, he performed as harpsichordist and pianist at the Washington Island Music Festival. He has also been heard on Wisconsin Public Radio and on the CD recording High Autumn, featuring Milwaukee Symphony clarinetist William Helmers playing the music of James Grant.

Wildman states, “Let me say how honored and grateful I am to receive the Wes Teply Award.” The 2020 Wesley Teply Community Service Award in the Arts will be presented to Wildman during the UW Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s “Winds of March” concert on Saturday, March 7^th. The concert is at 7:30 pm at the Capitol Civic Centre in downtown Manitowoc. Tickets are available by calling the Capitol Civic Centre box office at 920-683-2184 or purchasing online at cccshows.org.

2019 - Clipper City Chordsmen

The Clipper City Chordsmen have been chosen recipients of the 2019 Wesley Teply Community Service Award in the Arts. The award was established in 1999 by the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association to recognize individuals who have substantially contributed to the arts in the greater Manitowoc area. The first award was presented to Wesley Teply, followed by Sister Cecilia Burns, Conrad Daellenbach, Karl Miller, Jean Wolfmeyer, Jim and Susie Miller, Kathie Bundy, Sr. Dr. Lorna Zemke, Glenn Nelson, Paul and Barbara Stitt, Ron Stokes, David Bourgeois, Ron Kaminski, the Garth Neustadter Trio, Barbara Bundy-Jost, Michael J. Arendt, William Pappathopoulos, Sue Cechal, Sally Semmes and Majel Pinney-Henrickson.

The Clipper City Chordsmen barbershop chorus is a membership-based organization of male singers that practices, performs and has fun. The Chordsmen was founded in 1945 by O. H. “King” Cole under the direction of Milt Detjen. They currently have over forty members representing all ages and walks of life. The Clipper City Chordsmen perform locally including annual Spring, Summer and Christmas Shows as well as Singing Valentines in February and visitations to area assisted living/nursing homes and hospitals. They also perform with other choruses for special events and upon request.

Their mission states, “The Clipper City Chordsmen Chorus is an ever-growing, well-respected brotherhood of men who love to perform a cappella music in the barbershop style, preserving the heritage of the barbershop quartet. The Chordsmen strive to improve the quality of life for our members and our community through music education programs and family-friendly musical entertainment.” Dave Buss, Chordsmen Music Director stated on receiving the award;

"Being recognized with this award is a tremendous honor for us. The Clipper City Chordsmen have been singing in the Manitowoc area for almost three quarters of a century. Some of our members have been active for over 50 years. We try very hard to live up to our mission statement which includes supporting and encouraging music education in our schools. When young people are encouraged to use their voice in singing, it helps to give them the confidence to sing throughout their lives.” The Chordsmen donate both time and money to deserving organizations and charities. Through the Barbershop Harmony Society’s charity, “Harmony Foundation,” grants are awarded to support vocal music education in schools and communities. The Chordsmen also provide support to local music education using direct grants to area schools.

The 2019 Wesley Teply Community Service Award in the Arts will be presented to The Clipper City Chordsmen during the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s “Winds of March” concert on Saturday, March 2^nd at the Capitol Civic Centre. Several members will be in attendance to accept the award and will perform at the concert.

2018 - Majel Pinney-Henrickson

Majel was born in Sturgeon Bay and graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School. She attended UW Stevens Point following graduation and received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education with a K-12 teaching certification. She began her teaching career in the Sturgeon Bay Schools. After a short time in Sturgeon Bay she moved to the Manitowoc area, married Phil Henrickson and worked in the Manitowoc Public School District. She was hired as the chorus teacher at Wilson Junior High and taught there for twenty-eight years. She also directed the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus chorus and show choir for several years. The chorus performed with the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and the show choir was featured at Lakeshore Big Band concerts.

From a very young age, Majel was always “the teacher” and “in charge.” Those marvelous qualities are what helped thousands of students during her career. She was loved and respected by her students, who fondly referred to her as “Mrs. H,” or even “Princess H.” Majel was also loved and respected by parents, faculty and community members. Her love of teaching, imparted that love of music in her students and adults alike. Majel’s extra-curricular choir at Wilson, “Crescendo,” performed at Wilson’s choral concerts, as well as performing throughout the community, with frequent appearances at area nursing homes and other area venues. Her choral concerts at Wilson, complete with special lighting and slide shows featuring her students, were so popular that they were presented on two consecutive evenings for the parents and public, as well as a separate show for the student body. She was always a positive influence on the lives of others and loved sharing the gift of music with them. In her own words, “someone always has it tougher than I do.” Majel lost her battle to cancer in 2013, but her spirit lives on in so many of her students and friends.
 

2017 - Sally Semmes

Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association has chosen Sally Semmes as recipient of the 2017 Wesley Teply Community Service Award in the Arts. The award was established in 1999 by the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association to recognize individuals who have substantially contributed to the arts in the greater Manitowoc area. The first award was presented to Wesley Teply, with subsequent awards presented to Sister Cecilia Burns, Conrad Daellenbach, Karl Miller, Jean Wolfmeyer, Jim and Susie Miller, Kathie Bundy, Sr. Dr. Lorna Zemke, Glenn Nelson, Paul and Barbara Stitt, Ron Stokes, David Bourgeois, Ron Kaminski, the Garth Neustadter Trio, Barbara Bundy-Jost, Michael J. Arendt, William Pappathopoulos and Sue Cechal.

Sally was born and raised in Rockford, IL. She attended UW Madison and received degrees in Speech and English Education. During her teaching career Sally taught at Oshkosh High School, Madison East High School, Valders High School and Wilson Junior High. Sally furthered her education by attending workshops and classes at San Diego State University, Northwestern, UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus and Silver Lake College. After retiring from teaching she worked as the public relations secretary at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus.

Sally has two daughters. Melissa(Missy) currently lives in New Jersey. She is self-employed and followed her Mothers footsteps working in the field of dance. Laurie lives in North Carolina. She is an associate professor of Ethnomusicology at Appalachian State University. She too, continues her mother’s love of the theater by her teaching and French Horn performance.

Ms. Semmes kept busy with memberships with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Madison Theater Guild, Koehler Art Center and Oshkosh Community Theater. She also acted, directed and choreographed dramas and musicals at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus. In 1967, along with her late husband, Sally started the Hatrack Storytellers for her two daughters. Sally saw how children enjoyed the stories and wanted to continue encouraging young readers as well as stir their imaginations. They are a volunteer non-profit group that has brought the joy of books and reading to children and adults throughout Manitowoc County. Hundreds of hats are stored in bins in a Hatrack member’s home, waiting to brought out and used to bring smiles to the faces of others. The Hatrack Storytellers organization is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year in March. 
 

2016 - Sue Cechal

Retired music educator Sue Cechal has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association’s Wesley Teply Community Service Award in the Arts. Sue and her husband Michael have lived in Manitowoc for 30 years. She grew up in the Minneapolis area and received her undergraduate degree from St. Cloud State University (MN) majoring in oboe and instrumental music education. 

Sue retired after teaching high school and middle school bands for 36 years. She began her teaching career in Beaver Dam, WI and most recently was the band director at Valders High School from 1985-2011. She has served as a Wisconsin State Music Association adjudicator for almost 40 years, was on the executive board of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Band Association, and has been on three staff rotations for the Wisconsin State Honors Band and Orchestra. She has also taught private oboe students at the high school and college level. 

In retirement, she has been active doing volunteer work with local school music programs in the areas of marching show design and instruction, arranging, coaching student ensembles and advocating for music education. Sue is forever grateful that her daughter Erin has always generously accepted that her mother will always refer to her band students as “my kids.”
 

2015 - William Pappathopoulos

Bill Pappathopoulos, winner of the 2015 Wesley Teply Community Service Award in the Arts, was born in Milwaukee and attended Milwaukee Public Schools. He attended UW-Milwaukee then transferred to UW-Madison where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1966. While attending UW-Madison he was a member of the Concert Band and Marching Band. In 1973 he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from UW-Oshkosh. He worked for Wisconsin Public Service Corporation in the Wausau office and transferred to the lakeshore office in 1967. In 1974 he accepted a position as Director of Water and Light with the City of Two Rivers, where he retired in 2004.

Bill was a Life time member of American Water Works Association and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers where he served as Section Chairman from 1980-1981. He was also a 30-year member of the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin serving as President from 1980-1981, as well as a member of the Industrial Application Society. He was instrumental in the formation of Wisconsin Public Power Incorporated and served as Director and Secretary from 1976-1980, served on the Executive Committee from 1981-1983 and again in 2000-2004, holding the position of vice Chairman from 2003 to his retirement in 2004.

Bill was a founding member of the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Lakeshore Wind Ensemble in 1983, playing clarinet and bassoon until his passing in 2009. He was also a tenor saxophonist, clarinetist and founding member of Lakeshore Big band playing from 1990-2009. Bill played for several other musical groups including Skunk Hollow and Carptown Saxophone Conspiracy, Mystic Moods Band, Kingsman, Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra, Two Rivers Community Band, Wausau Symphony, UW-Milwaukee band as well as pit orchestras in the area and special occasions at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Two Rivers.

Bill was an active and founding member of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association. The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association was formed in 1987 to promote, nurture, and support the LWE. He was instrumental in the creation of the bylaws and constitution in the legal formation as a tax exempt corporation of the LWE and served as a founding member in the creation of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Endowment Fund serving as a member of the Endowment Committee until 2009. Bill was an advocate for the establishment of the LWE summer concert “Music under the Stars” series in Two Rivers.

Bill was a member of the Board of Directors of the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Foundation from 1986-1995. He also served as a citizen advocate with presentations to the Manitowoc County Board in support of the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus building projects of both Hillside and Lakeside Halls.

Bill passed his love of music on to his five children. Christopher played trumpet and piano while in school. Son Nicholas, alto saxophonist, and daughter Susan, low brass player, were members with the ensemble until they moved out of the lakeshore area. Daniel and Michael are longtime members of Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s clarinet sections and Michael plays tenor saxophone for Lakeshore Big Band as well.
 

2014 - Michael J. Arendt

As an educator, always striving to encourage and recognize young musicians, he established two scholarship opportunities for them. The Beatrice and Matthew Arendt Talentships (to be now known as the Arendt Family Talentships) were established in 1988 by Michael and his brother Peter to recognize UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus students. To date, 132 talentships have been awarded to UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus students. The talentship fund is administered by the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Foundation. The second opportunity for students is the Young Artist Competition, with the first competition held in 1989. Students throughout Wisconsin and from other states have competed, with the winners performing their solos with the wind ensemble in the “Winds of March” concert in addition to being awarded scholarship checks.

Professor Arendt was also instrumental in the establishment of the LWEA Endowment Fund in 2004, to establish long-term financial stability to the wind ensemble.

2013 - Barbara Bundy-Jost

Professor Michael J. Arendt, founder and conductor of the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Lakeshore Wind Ensemble, stated that the LWEA’ decision to present the award to Barbara was unanimous. He said, “As an artist and teacher, Barbara Bundy-Jost’s contributions to our area arts community have been extraordinary. Whether in the Manitowoc Public Schools or the Rahr-West, there are very few events or institutions where her impact hasn’t been felt. I’m delighted to be able to present the award to such a deserving person.”

Barbara Bundy-Jost was born and raised in Manitowoc, and has worked with the Manitowoc  Public School District, the Rahr-West Art Museum, parents and children of the community for the past twenty-five years. Her formal education includes art studies at UW-Milwaukee from 1976-78, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education from Silver Lake College in 1986, a Master of Arts degree in Education/Technology from Lesley University in Boston in 2000, International Baccalaureate North America Teacher Training in 2003  in Salt Lake City, and International Baccalaureate Creativity, Action, Service Training in November of 2011 in Portland, Oregon.

From 1986 through 2007, Barbara was an art teacher in the Manitowoc Public School District. She developed curriculum and taught art, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, computer-generated graphics, video editing and production, printmaking, jewelry, and crafts to students in grades K-12.  From 2000-2007, she was the Visual Arts Department Head in the MPSD, managing the budget and curriculum for K-12 education, and developed, organized and set up annual Youth Art Month displays, billboard competitions,  and the Kamogawa Art Exchange. She developed the Art Department focus for goal setting and staff development, interviewed and mentored new art teacher, and acted as liaison between the Administration and the art department staff. She developed EXCEL criteria and programming, and provided parents with information on available programming for children with a variety of artistic abilities beyond the classroom.

Barbara served as the Director of the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc from 2007-2010, developing curriculum and educational programming for the community. She developed and managed the budget, approved purchases, and oversaw personnel in that facility. As Director, she supported and helped develop initiatives such as Sputnikfest, Chairs for Charity, Community Art Exhibits, The Art Doctor, and the development of traditional and digital art programming through the museum’s Art Collection Education Curriculum.

Barbara returned to teaching in the MPSD in 2007, where she continues as an art teacher in grades 10-12, Currently she is a 21^st Century Communications and Advanced 21^st Century Communications instructor, the International Baccalaureate Visual Art Teacher, and Creativity, Action and Service Coordinator for the International Baccalaureate program.

Barbara describes her days as “filled with activities that inspire community youth to create, contribute and value the world in which they live.” She celebrates the work of area artists, and works diligently promoting art programming for all ages.

2012 - Garth Neustadter Trio

A five-time DownBeat Magazine award winner in the areas of composition, arranging, classical violin performance, and jazz saxophone performance, Neustadter was recently recognized as ASCAP’S 2011 Young Jazz Composer of the Year, appearing in December at the Lincoln Center, New York, performing an original work for soprano saxophone, percussion, and string quartet. His achievements have been profiled in USA Today, The Baltimore Sun, Film Music Magazine, The Chronicle of Higher Education, How to Achieve Success in College, Downbeat Magazine, and National Public Radio. He has received multiple awards from ASCAP, including the Morton Gould Award, Jazz Composer’s Award, and a 2011 film composition fellowship to Aspen, as well as multiple awards from the National Federation of Music Clubs. Most recently, he was awarded 2nd-Prize in the Transatlantyk Film Music Competition (Poland). He received his undergraduate degrees in Violin and Voice performance from Lawrence University, and is pursuing graduate studies at the Yale School of Music where he is Assistant Director of the Yale Jazz Band, a teacher’s assistant in graduate theory, and a music technology assistant. Garth has studied at Yale with Aaron Jay Kernis, Christopher Theofanidis, Martin Bresnick, and with Samuel Adler of the Juilliard School. He is currently under commissions by the Rochester Symphony Orchestra for an orchestral work to premiere in June 2012 and the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble for a concert work to premiere during the 2013 concert season. During his high school years, Neustadter was a featured soloist with the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and a member of the Lakeshore Big Band. He performed as a member and featured soloist with the Manitowoc Symphony, and was active in band, chorus, and musicals at Manitowoc Lutheran High School.

Neustadter and his parents, Gary and Kristen, have performed as a family trio, “The Garth Neustadter Trio,” for the past 17 years. They have performed extensively throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota and are known for their musical diversity. They have great memories of performing in Manitowoc’s sister city, Kamagawa, from the roof tops of Manitowoc’s city hall and library, and atop St. Patrick day floats! The Neustadter Trio was named winner of the 2010 Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra sponsored “Battle for the Baton.” Kristen has taught instrumental music in the Manitowoc Public School System for over 30 years. She is also an active church organist, accompanist, has a sizable private piano studio, and has managed the booking aspects of the Neustadter Trio. Gary recently retired from teaching for the past 37 years in the Two Rivers Public School District, Neenah High School, and Stevens Point Area Public Schools. Gary continues to give private lessons in the Manitowoc area and perform for wedding ceremonies.

The Neustadters have produced eight CDs which include “The Best of Garth,” “Garth Neustadter Trio,” “ I Believe,” “Classic Encores,” “ O Holy Night,” “Peace on Earth,” “Through the Eyes of Love,” and “John Muir in the New World.”

2011 - Ron Kaminski

Over the years Ron has consistently involved in a number of community-wide projects, most significantly the acquisition, funding and restoration of our “jewel of the Lakeshore,” the Capitol Civic Centre. He continued to serve as a member of its Board of Directors until this year, and currently remains a member of the Board of the CCC Endowment Foundation.

Ron also co-chaired the county-wide fundraiser, along with Armond Kueter, to restore the county Normal Teachers’ College on Michigan Avenue into the beautiful home of the Manitowoc County Historical Society. He was also the primary organizer of a local investment group that constructed the original Inn on Maritime Bay in 1985.

Ron has a long history of involvement and promotion of the arts. He founded The Sting’s “Jazz/Arts Festival” which donated 100% of its net proceeds to fund scholarships for local high school students interested in pursuing education in music and the arts. In 1989, Ron moved his Little Sandwich Theatre from the cozy environs of The Sting, which had seating for about twenty-five, to the meticulously restored Historic Forst Inn, where live theater and entertainment presentations continue to entertain audiences. Ron is known not only for his behind the scenes contributions, but also for his numerous on stage roles in countless Lakeshore area theatrical productions.

Ron is always quick to point out that his community involvement has had the much appreciated support of his wife Sharon and his children, twins Kris and Kelsi. He adds that his wife’s talents were primarily responsible for the decorating and renovation needs of his office, the Forst Inn, and his home, the original Charles Spindler home which has been restored to its 1892 grandeur.

While Ron is the recipient this award, he stresses that his success in community-wide projects is due primarily to the efforts of others who share his pride in his home community and all that it has to offer.

2010 - David Bourgeois

David moved back to Wisconsin in 1993, and taught music to grades kindergarten through sixth grade at Colby Elementary School. He was then encouraged by his alma mater, Mishicot High School, to head the school’s choral program in grades seven through twelve, a position he held for three years. While he enjoyed teaching the junior and senior high school students, his true teaching passion is working with younger children. He accepted a teaching position in the Manitowoc Public School District in 1996, and for the past seven years has been working at Riverview School, teaching general music to all of Manitowoc’s five year old kindergarten students. David infuses his kindergarten music classes with his own passion for music, including in the curriculum various styles of dance, thousands of memorized lyrics, creative and in-depth classical music units, daily hands-on musical instrument activities including a piano lab, xylophone lab, and an “Instrument of the Day.” He has an extensive personal library of books of children’s musical literature that he sings with his classes throughout the year. His students compose their own music to famous works of art in a simplified version of “Pictures at an Art Museum.” He also has marched with his students as they played accordions in Manitowoc’s Memorial Day parade. For David, music education does not stop in the classroom. He co-teaches a five lesson swimming unit for every kindergarten class that features music and dance in the pool.

Apart from his teaching career, David is well-known in the Lakeshore area and beyond for his many performances in musical theater. He is an accomplished actor, singer and dancer, and has an extensive and impressive performing resume in the arts. He has performed with many organizations, including the Fred Warring U. S. Chorus, Opera Colorado, the Pamiro Opera Company, Peninsula Players, Memories Dinner Theatre in Port Washington, the Little Sandwich Theatre, University Theatre in Sheboygan, Silver Lake College, and numerous leading roles in Masquers of Manitowoc. His three favorite roles have been the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance, Don Lockwood in Singing in the Rain, and Tony in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, which he performed an amazing eighty-three times.

David has been a featured vocal soloist with UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus’s Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and Lakeshore Big Band for many years, and is a member of the LWE’s percussion section, performing on all percussion instruments. He has served both musical organizations for several years in the capacity of vocal coach.

David is also an active composer, and recorded fifteen of his original songs in 2000 on a CD entitled “Music From My Life.” In 2007, he was commissioned by the Rahr West Museum to write the music for the theatrical portrayal of the children’s story, Journey of the Toys, based on the book of the same name written in 1934 by Ruth and William Rahr. In addition to writing the music for the production, David has performed the role of the stork in every performance of the play for the past three years. He received UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus’s Fine Arts Award in Music in 2008 in recognition of his contributions to the arts at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus and the entire Lakeshore community.

In his spare time, David enjoys running, biking, golfing, learning to play the violin, and gardening. He is currently co-president of the East Wind Garden Club in Cleveland, WI.

2009 - Ron Stokes

Mr. Stokes was born in 1932, and was educated in Milwaukee, attending Rufus King High School and UW-Milwaukee, where he received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Art Education. He taught art in Milwaukee Public Schools and in the Manitowoc Public School District for a total of 32 years. From 1970 until his retirement in 1990, he was Art Supervisor in the Manitowoc schools. He helped the Art Department move into the computer era, discipline based art education, and developed an award winning March/Youth Art Month program and exhibit which continues today. In 1970 he introduced a class at Lincoln High School, "The Arts in the 70s," which dealt with all of the arts, inviting musicians, dancers, artists, sculptors, writers, film makers, poets, architects, and others involved in the arts to contribute to the class. This class continued to be part of the curriculum into the 1990s. Mr. Stokes was a John Hays Fellow (Alternate) and a member of the J. Paul Getty DBAE Process Group. He was also the president and is currently treasurer of the Wisconsin Art Education Association. In 1967, he and his wife Dolly began the courthouse Square Art Fair in Manitowoc, an event which was held until the late 1980s.

From 1967 through 1970, he was the Director of Education at the Milwaukee Art Center and Director of a federally funded ESEA program, "Art: A Primary Source to Enrich Social Studies." Mr. Stokes has also been associated with the Rahr-West Art Museum Association and served on the museum's Board of Directors.

Since he retired, Ron has operated Gallery East and has been associated with Nasco International, a manufacturer of educational products and materials. He demonstrates products for teacher groups including the sixteen products he has worked on for Nasco. He also supervises interns and student teachers for UW-Green Bay and UW-Platteville. Ron also is a cultural arts judge for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.

Ron is an avid watercolor painter and occasionally teaches introductory watercolor courses for UW Outreach in northeast Wisconsin. His work focuses on the experimental side of the medium – seeing what can be done with the material. He has a love of large Wisconsin land and seascapes, featuring dramatic skies and warm lights sparking through the darkness. He includes seven stroke figure, standing, walking, or contemplating the world and nature. He states, "There is nothing you can’t do with the watercolor medium."

Ron Stokes is a member of the Wisconsin Watercolor Society, Green Bay Watercolor Guild, Wisconsin and National Art Education Associations, National Education Association, Wisconsin Education Association, and the Milwaukee Area Teachers of Art.

Ron is married to Maureen ("Dolly"), and their family includes a daughter Patricia and sons Michael and Ronald Jr., who resides in California. Ron describes his five grandchildren in this way: Alyssa, an artist in the bud; Evan, mechanical genius; Morgan, personality plus; Alex ("Ash"), computer whiz; and Ron Alexander, international "guru."

2008 - Paul & Barbara Stitt

Beginning in 1997, they instituted a food program in the Appleton, WI Alternative School, with cooks trained in how to purchase, prepare and serve fresh whole foods. Paul and Barbara underwrote the program for five years, and the results relating food to behavior, health and academic ability were so dramatically positive that the Superintendent and School Board required their food service to provide healthier foods to the entire school district.

Paul and Barbara sold Natural Ovens Bakery in 2007 and have retired to Virginia.

While in Manitowoc, Paul and Barbara were very active participants in cultural and civic affairs. They were members of the Capitol Civic Centre and were perpetual sponsors of the Capitol's “Capitol Affairs,” the special annual fund-raising event for the Capitol. They were supporting members of the Rahr-West Museum and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. They were members of the Pinecrest Historical Society, and participated in the parade celebrations of the Civil War, at times with their Belgium horses pulling an antique “water wagon.” Paul and Barbara were members of the Manitowoc Public Library and also the Manitowoc Symphony. Barbara served on the Chamber of Commerce Board for three years, and was the recipient of the Athena Award in 1989. Barbara started the Festival of Flowers in 1987, which included a Garden Fair in June and a Garden Walk of six beautiful gardens the third Saturday in July, which attracted over 500 people. Paul and Barbara also sponsored gardening workshops each year at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus or at Roorbach’s and Hartman’s Town and Country Greenhouses. The Master Gardeners have continued the Garden Walk every other year, and the annual Garden Fair attracts about 5000 people the second weekend of June every year.

Barbara contacted Mayor Crawford and Terry Growcock, then Chairman of the Chamber Board, regarding the need to have a visitor’s center located near the interstate so travelers could be aware of the area’s attractions. Mayor Crawford later told Barbara that the beautiful airy building that was built as the center was inspired by Natural Ovens Bakery. Barbara served on the board of the Manitowoc Area Visitor & Convention Bureau (MAVCB) for ten years, and was chairman for two of those years. Paul and Barbara hosted many lunches/tours/presentations for the Chamber of Commerce, and Barbara served on the Chamber Board for three years.

Barbara and Paul have been ardent supporters of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble. Barbara commented that “we strongly felt the LWE was as good as anything on Broadway, and loved it from its inception. It was our joy to put a platform for Mike so he didn’t fall off during his vigorous directing” - the wrought iron ‘guard rail’ with the music staff on Professor Arendt’s podium was a gift from the Stitts - “and we purchased several needed instruments for the ensemble in its early days.”

In 1989, Paul and Barbara Stitt enthusiastically embraced a program proposed by Professor Michael Arendt, which would encourage talented young musicians. This program evolved into the Young Artist Competition, which is sponsored by the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and was supported by a grant from Natural Ovens Bakery, Inc. from the competition’s inception in 1989 through 2007.The annual competition attracts talented young musicians from throughout the state of Wisconsin, and has also included students from Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and New York. The winners of the high school and college divisions receive scholarship checks and are also featured soloists in The Winds of March concert with the wind ensemble. During their years of supporting the competition, Paul and Barbara’s contributions to the Young Artist Competition exceeded $40,000, which have provided scholarships to 56 students.

Reflecting on the selection of Paul and Barbara Stitt as this year’s recipients, Professor Michael Arendt stated, “When the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble was still a ‘toddler’ in 1989, Paul and Barbara Stitt recognized the viability of the many programs we were trying to establish. One in particular was our very successful Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association’s Young Artist Competition. Thanks to the Stitts and their support, from the very beginning until 2007, dozens of talented young players, local, state, and out of state, were able to compete for meaningful scholarship prizes and perform with the LWE. I will be forever grateful for the trust Paul and Barbara had in us to create, maintain, and succeed with such an important endeavor. Because of them, this program will continue and flourish. They are indeed deserving of our Community Service Award since our future is in our youth, and they have made a major difference in the lives of so many young musicians.”

2007 - Glenn Nelson

Glenn Nelson received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from St. Norbert College, and a Master of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He has earned credits beyond his degrees from VanderCook College of Music, Chicago, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Mr. Nelson began teaching in Mishicot in 1962. He and his wife Rose have made Mishicot their home since then. In 1988 he was selected Teacher of the Year by the Mishicot High School Staff. He retired from teaching in 2000, after thirty-eight years as an instrumental music instructor for Mishicot Community Schools. There are presently over thirty-five of his former students who have made music their profession.

His professional affiliations include: the Wisconsin Music Educators National Conference, the National Education Association, the Wisconsin Education Association, the Mishicot Education Association, the American Federation of Musicians, and the Wisconsin Bandmasters Association, of which he is a past president. He has served as a low brass clinician for the UWGB Summer Music Clinics, and has been active as a judge for the Wisconsin School Music Association. Glenn spent several years on the WSMA selection committee responsible for selecting music for solo, ensemble and band competitions.

His performing credits include a wide variety of instrumental groups. He has played bass in the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and tuba with the Green Bay Packer Band, He has also performed with the UWGB Communiversity Band, Shrine Circus Band, Gail Shepherdson Dance Band, and the Old Mapleton Circus Band. He has performed in many area dance bands, and played for the Alice in Dairyland Pageant. Glenn is presently performing with two local groups, the Newtonburg Brass Band and the Z-Brass Quintet.

Glenn is a long-time member of the Two Rivers Municipal Band. He played tuba and was assistant conductor for nineteen years. In 1981 he was appointed conductor, and is looking forward to his twenty-seventh year of leading the band in the summer of 2007.

The Mishicot Area Growth and Improvement Committee, M.A.G.I.C., presented Glenn with the GENIE Award for outstanding community service in 1993. He is active as an usher at the Capitol Civic Centre and as a volunteer at the Two Rivers Ecumenical Pantry and the Church of Holy Cross.

2006 - Sr. Lorna Zemke

S. Lorna Zemke, an internationally recognized Kodaly music educator, has chaired the Department of Music at Silver Lake College from 1971 to 1994 and has been the primary designer and teacher in the Kodaly programs at Silver Lake. Before beginning her graduate studies at U. S. C. in the mid 1960s, Sr. Lorna was the music specialist at San Roque Elementary School in Santa Barbara, CA, where working with Katinka Daniel, they piloted one of the first Kodaly programs in the U. S. Her master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation were among the first Kodaly-related studies published in English. Sections of the dissertation are published under separate titles and form source material in the method still used today.

Under her leadership, the Silver Lake College Department of Music developed the first U. S. undergraduate Kodaly Music Education degree; and 18-credit graduate Kodaly Certificate program; co-operative master’s degree programs with UW-Green Bay, with UIW-Milwaukee, with the University of Oklahoma-Norman, with Webster University, St. Louis, with the University of Nebraska at Omaha; and established a Master of Music in Music Education with a Kodaly Emphasis degree at Silver Lake College.

An experienced teacher at all levels, Dr. Zemke has taught music education for many years. She has presented workshops and clinics at colleges and universities throughout the United States and has demonstrated and lectured at more than 100 professional music education, early childhood, and pre- and peri-natal conferences in the U. S. and abroad.

Sister Lorna Zemke was co-founder of the Midwest Kodaly Music Educators of America, and later served as president of the same organization, which has the distinction of being the oldest official Kodaly organization in the world. She co-chaired the first national Kodaly Conference and later served as president of the national organization, OAKE; she was among the five Americans invited to Hungary in 1972 to help plan the first International Kodaly Conference.

In 1984, Sister Lorna initiated a “Music for Tots” program at Silver Lake College, which currently has more than 400 children enrolled each semester. In November, 1986, Sister Zemke established classes at Silver Lake College for expectant parents titled Lovenotes.: Music for the Unborn Child. She has presented papers on this program at the National Organization of American Kodaly Educators Conference, at the Early Childhood Seminar of the International Society of Music Educators in Brisbane, Australia, and presented a paper on music as a bonding force between parents and the unborn child at the International Kodaly Symposium in Athens, Greece. Her publication “LOVENOTES: Music for the Unborn” is used throughout the world. The "LOVENOTES" publication with accompanying CD has been translated into Korean. Sr. Zemke is vice-president and charter member of the International Music Society of Prenatal Development and former editor of its quarterly newsletter.

Sister Lorna Zemke has received many honors and awards for her professional service, leadership and performance in the field of music education. Among them are the first national “Outstanding Achievement Award” presented by the Organization of American Kodaly Educators at Philadelphia, and Honorary Life Membership from the Midwest Kodaly Music Educators of America and the from the Organization of American Kodaly Educators. In 1996 Sr. Lorna received the Distinguished Service Award for meritorious Service and Outstanding Leadership to Music Education in Wisconsin from the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, and in October, 2000, she received an “Outstanding Teacher” recognition from the National Association for Music Education. She has also received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Organization of American Kodaly Educators, the National Pastoral Musician’s 2004 Music Educator of the Year Award, and in 2005, the Religious Service Award from the Wisconsin Council of Catholic Women. Dr. Zemke has published many articles and has collaborated on many books in a variety of aspects and levels of music education.

2005 - Kathie Bundy

Kathie’s involvement in the community has been extensive. She has been a member of the City Hall Development Committee and served on the Manitowoc Re-Development Committee. She has served as a volunteer for the United Way, and been a member of the Board of Directors of the Manitowoc and Calumet County Library. She is a life-long member of the Friends of the Library and a member of the Rahr-West Museum. She is a graduate of the Manitowoc Police Academy, and has served on the fund raising committee for the Domestic Violence Center, as well as being a past board member of the DVC. Kathie has served as president of the Manitowoc City Center, and also has been a Director of the Manitowoc/Two Rivers Chamber of Commerce. She is the co-founder and president of the “Brain Foundation,” organized to promote understanding of mental illness and health. She has been a campaign volunteer for the Cancer Care Center. She is a charter member of NOW (National Organization for Women), and has been a featured speaker for numerous women's groups throughout the years.

Kathie served as a member of the Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors, and as a member and chair of the Manitowoc County Highway Commission, Legislative Review Committee, and is Chair of the Human Service Board.

Kathie has appeared in numerous local productions during the last three and a half decades, including Masquers, the Little Sandwich Theatre, UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus, and her own company, K. B. Productions. She has also directed many shows and revues. She most recently directed the Masquer’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” which was performed at the Captiol Civic Centre. She has served on all committees and held all board positions with Masquers. She is a charter member of the Capitol Civic Centre’s Board of Directors, and was a major fund-raiser for the Society to Preserve the Capitol Civic Centre. She was the producer of “The Final Curtain,” which was the kick-off to the Capitol’s fund-raising, and also the producer of “The Opening Curtain,” which was the first production at the newly renovated Capitol Civic Centre. She was producer and general chair of The Brainstorm Follies, and served as Board Director of the Children’s Center of the Arts. She has been a Heart-a-Rama Producer/Director for 26 years. Kathie is one of the founders of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Irish Fellowship Club.

She was a past winner of the Clipper City Chordsmen’s Harmony Award, and the winner of the Chamber of Commerce Athena Award in 2002.

A native of Manitowoc, Kathie is the mother of five children and has eight grandchildren.

Professor Arendt commented that “for many years Kathie Bundy has had an impact on virtually every area of artistic endeavor in the Manitowoc area. From the Masquers to the LWE, Kathie has consistently demonstrated her commitment to this community and the importance of the arts for the aesthetic and cultural well being of our citizens. Without bias, she has worked tirelessly in support of any and all organizations in our community needing her support and encouragement. Because of her many contributions, I can’t think of anyone else more deserving of this award. It will indeed be a pleasure for me to present it to her.”

2004 - Jim & Susie Miller

Both of the Millers have been active as accompanists for students in solo/ensemble competitions, and have given private piano and voice lessons to countless students.

Audiences of numerous musical theatrical productions have enjoyed the Millers’ contributions over the years. Jim performed in “Mame,” which the Masquers presented in 1969, and also in “Kismet” and “Anything Goes.” He has served as director for three of their musical productions, “Guys and Dolls,” “My Fair Lady,” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” Jim also had the lead in “Music Man” for the Lakeshore Players, and he and Susie were the two-member cast in “I Do, I Do” at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus. In addition to his community theater involvement, Jim has directed over twenty productions at Lincoln High School.

Susie has starred in “The King and I” and “My Fair Lady,” both produced by Masquers, and was a cast member in the Little Sandwich Theater’s production of “Nunsense.” She is the director of a special chorus, the Steamboat Belles, which will appear in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: The Broadway Musical,” the Capitol Civic Centre's fund raising musical. The musical, directed by Jim, will be presented in April.

Jim and Susie currently sing with Appleton’s White Heron Choral, and recently co-founded a madrigal-type group in Manitowoc called the Maritime Chamber Ensemble. They have directed church choirs, and also have taught at Lakeland and Silver Lake Colleges. They directed the YMCA Boys Choir for fifteen years.

They have been involved with the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Lakeshore Wind Ensemble for many years. For several years the YMCA Boys Choir performed as part of the LWE’s “Festival of Christmas.” The UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Chorus, directed by Susie, has also sung at many wind ensemble concerts over the years, and Jim and Susie themselves have been featured vocal soloists with the ensemble. In December of 2003 their Maritime Chamber Ensemble sang with the wind ensemble at its “Festival of Christmas” performances.

Jim recently won the Morris Hayes Award for excellence in the choral arts, which is the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association’s highest award. Jim and Susie are members of that organization, as well as VoiceCare Network, and Music Educator’s National Conference. They are the parents of four grown sons.

2003 - Jean Wolfmeyer

Jean’s credits include choreography for beauty pageants, fashion shows, musical comedies, original dance revues, floor shows, lecture demonstrations, and religious choir work. Her dancers have appeared at the Rahr- West Art Museum, Pinecrest Historical Village, the Senior Center, the Manitowoc Tourism Show, Ethnic Fest, River Walk, at numerous other community events, and at several UW -Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble concerts, most recently dancing to Peter and the Wolf. She has taught teachers at various Dance Masters and National Dance Association conventions in Chicago, Oshkosh, Madison, and DesMoines. And of course, tne of the highlights ofthe Christmas season in Manitowoc for the past 27 years has been her full-length production of The Nutcracker. Jean Wolfmeyer has a Student Dance Company and established a Dance Scholarship Fund in 1984 for students wishing to enter pre-professional training. Since 1984, 112 grants totaling over $56,000 have been given to forty-three young dancers. Many have become professional dancers, here and abroad, and others are college dance majors or studying at performing arts high schools and summer dance programs. Twenty-three alumni of the Jean Wolfmeyer School of Dance currently are career dancers in companies in the U.S., and four more will be entering the dance world this year or next. Former students have performed in ballet companies in Milwaukee, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Houston, and Seattle, with the Rockettes, and on Broadway. Many of her students have been inspired by Jean to also become dance teachers.

Jean has received numerous awards, including the Lakeshore Cultural Award, the YMCA Service to Youth Award, and the Chamber of Commerce’s Joseph Schmitt Award. She is a 1999 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Dance Council. In 2002 Jean received the inaugural Teacher of the Year Award from the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, which was presented to Jean for her exemplary efforts toward emphasizing the importance of pursuing continuing dance education.

Michael J. Arendt, Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus and conductor of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble, stated, “Jean has set the standard for dance in the Manitowoc area for many years. The number of her students who have established themselves as professional dancers is impressive. Because of her artistic excellence, she has given Manitowoc an art form that will be appreciated for years to come.”

2002 - Karl Miller

In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and was assigned to an Air Force Band for the first part of his enlistment. He returned to Madison and graduated with departmental honors. After deciding to work with orchestra during his teaching career, he studied violin with Cecil Burleigh. He later received his Master of Music Degree in 1954 from UW-Madison.

From 1949-51 he taught orchestra in the Eau Claire Public School system. He then moved to Manitowoc, where he taught until his retirement in 1987, teaching orchestra, harmony, string technique, and music appreciation in the Manitowoc Public School District. He also organized the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra and conducted it for 3S years. He shared his musical expertise as an ad hoc instrumental instructor at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus and Silver Lake College. Mr. Miller also scripted and announced the Sunday Symphony program on radio station WOMT. Mr. Miller has served as President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American String Teachers Association and President of the Manitowoc Civic Music Association.

Mr. Miller is a member of the trumpet section in both the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Lakeshore Wind Ensemble, joining in 1988, and the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Lakeshore Big Band. He also enjoys listening to symphonic and jazz music. His other interests include sailing and tennis. Karl and his wife Betty reside in Manitowoc. Their family includes son Mark, and son and daughter-in-law Kurt and Kathy and their two daughters, Allison and Lauren.

2001 - Conrad Daellenbach

Mr. Daellenbach enrolled in the University of Wisconsin, earning both his Bachelor and Master Degrees in music from UW-Madison. He began his career in music education by teaching band and orchestra for eight years in Barron, Wisconsin, followed by seven years in Rhinelander before coming to Manitowoc. In each of those cities he organized a six-week summer band program. In Manitowoc he established a sixth grade program for beginning band students, meeting with the students in the morning before school. He also initiated a solo and ensemble contest for music students in grades six through nine. As an example of his dedication as a music educator, he spent one period daily in a junior high, giving up his study hall period to do so. When Mr. Daellenbach began teaching in Manitowoc, the high school band was small and performed in class C. The band eventually had to be divided in two because of the number of students enrolled. “Mr. D.” also held technique or lesson classes weekly, and he directed the pep band, organized a dance band, and directed other small ensembles which met outside of regular school hours.

In each of the cities he taught, Mr. Daellenbach also directed church choirs, and in Rhinelander he organized an adult male chorus. In Manitowoc he directed the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus chorus for five years until a full-time music instructor was hired.

While teaching, he furthered his own music education by frequently attending two-week summer band clinics. These clinics were held at different colleges, including the University of Wisconsin, Vandercook College of Music, and the Eastman School of Music. For five summers he was in charge of the trombone sections for both bands and orchestra at UW-Madison summer band clinics.

Mr. Daellenbach performed with the UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Lakeshore Wind Ensemble for fourteen years as a member of the trombone section. Professor Michael J. Arendt, conductor of the LWE, stated that“Conrad has had a profound impact on so many people during his long career. The number of students he touched, who still have music as an important part of their lives - and many who have become music educators themselves - speaks highly of him as a music educator. I thoroughly enjoyed the many years Conrad performed with the LWE and I treasure the professional relationship that we maintained for so long.”

With a full and rewarding life as a musician and music educator, Mr. Daellenbach finds his ultimate joy is in having three musically talented children, Roberta and Rosemary, who are both music educators, and Charles (Chuck), who is also a music educator and who is a founder of the renowned Canadian Brass.

2000 - Sister Cecilia Bryns

Sister Cecilia was the choral director at Roncalli High School for four years. She was the choir director of the Men's Choir at St. Boniface Church for over thirty years, and also served as the choir director of the children’s choirs at St. Boniface for many years.

She has accompanied countless Lincoln High School students in their performances at district and state solo and ensemble music competitions. She has helped potential college music majors and minors prepare for their college careers. Through the years, Sister Cecilia has written many recommendations for her students for musical and non-musical endeavors, including applications for Kohl Scholarships and applications to medical school.

 

1999 - Wesley Tepley

Mr. Teply was a lecturer in applied piano at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus and also taught innumerable private students. He was one of the founding members of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association, which was incorporated in 1987, and was the first Vivace level donor to the LWEA, which provided seed money for the association to become established. While a member of the association he served as vice-president and was a prime mover in LWEA fund-raising, including co-ordinating the Alan Bonde concert at the Capitol Civic Centre in 1989.