2008 Winners

Jeremiah Willson, son of Mark and Linda Willson, won the college division of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association’s 2008 Young Artist’s competition with his performance of Chaminade’s “Concertino” for flute. Jeremiah is currently a junior at Maranatha Baptist Bible College where he majors in flute performance. He is the flute section leader of the Symphonic Band.

Jeremiah’s musical experiences prior to college are both unique and impressive. The first 18 years of his life were spent in Brazil where he was homeschooled and received no formal music training.  For Christmas 2001, Jeremiah received a CD of flute music from his parents. This sparked his interest in flute and he began to teach himself to play. With the freedom of a flexible school schedule, Jeremiah swapped academic learning for musical instruction for a time. This jump start into the world of music allowed him to begin playing violin and piano music on the flute. His arrival at Maranatha in the fall of 2006 marked the beginning of his official music instruction. Three semesters of flute lessons have been completed by Jeremiah under the instruction of Mary Wilkosz.

The Young Artist’s Competition was Jeremiah’s first flute competition. He had the Chaminade piece learned in only two short months, having started working on it in September.

After graduation, Jeremiah hopes to go on to Graduate school and perform in an Orchestra. His ultimate goal is to teach private flute lessons and possibly theory at a collegiate level.

Matthew Griffith, age 16, is a junior at Sheboygan North High School. He is first chair clarinet in the school’s Symphonic Band and in the UW-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble I, and co-principal clarinet of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Senior Symphony. He was selected for the WSMA State Honors orchestra in 2008 and the State Honors Band in 2007, and performed at the WMEA State Convention in Madison both years. In 2008, Matthew received an Exemplary Soloist Award at the WSMA State Solo-Ensemble competition for his performance of Rossini’s “Introduction, Theme and Variations.” In addition to winning the high school division of this year’s Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association’s Young Artist Competition, Matthew was also the winner of the 2008-2009 UW-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble concerto Competition (performing as featured soloist with the ensemble on March 1) and received Honorable Mention in the MYSO Senior Symphony Concerto Competition (performing in the Honors Recital on April 26). In addition, in 2008 he received the Mattie P. Reiss Scholarship from the Sheboygan Music Club, and performed a recital at their honors banquet in October. Most recently, Matthew was selected as a winner of the 2009 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist auditions, and will perform von Weber’s “Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra” on the “Stars of Tomorrow” concert as soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on March 27.

Matthew began taking clarinet lessons in sixth grade with Dr. Jill Hanes, principal clarinet of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, and in May, 2008, began studying with Todd Levy, principal clarinet of the Milwaukee Symphony and the Santa Fe Opera. He has attended music camp at UW-Madison, where he was in honors ensembles in both middle school and high school, and was selected to perform in the Student Honors Recital in 2006, and at UW-Green Bay, where in 2008 he was presented an Outstanding Camper Scholarship as a member of the Honors Wind Ensemble.

 In addition to his musical activities, Matthew enjoys math and computer programming, and is a member of his school math team and the Future Business Leaders Association student organization for which he has competed at he regional, state, and national levels. In 2008 he won 5^th place in the nation in Desktop Applications Programming at the FBLA National Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia. Matthew plans to pursue majors in clarinet performance and computer science in college.

2007 Winner

PHILLIP DOBERNIG, son of Jim and Jan Dobernig of Mukwonago, won the high school division of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Asssociation’s 2007-08 Young Artist Competition with his performance of “Concertante for Alto Saxophone and Symphonic Band” by Clare Grundman. Phillip is a junior at Mukwonago High School where he holds the principal alto saxophone chair. He is also the principal alto saxophonist for the UW-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble and the Youth Wind Orchestra of Wisconsin which is hosted at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

            Phillip began learning to play the saxophone from his father at the age of ten, and has progressed steadily in the art of the concert saxophone since then. He began augmenting his private saxophone study at the age of fifteen, coming under the tutelage of saxophone pedagogue and authority Professor Larry Sheets, with whom he currently studies. Playing the alto, soprano, tenor and baritone saxophones, Phillip regularly lends his saxophone voices to area youth wind ensembles, community bands, high school musicals, and the Mukwonago High School Jazz Band.

            To date, Phillip has earned two Wisconsin State Music Association Exemplary Soloist Awards at the WSMA State Music Competitions for his performances of the Paul Creston “Sonata for Saxophone and Piano, Opus 19” and “Chanson et Passepied” by Jeannine Rueff. In addition to winning this year’s Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association’s high school concerto competition, Phillip was also the winner of the UW-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble’s 2007 Concerto Competition and the Youth Wind Orchestra of Wisconsin’s 2007 Young Artists’ Concerto Competition. Phillip has won saxophone chairs in both the WSMA’s State Honors Band and State Honors Orchestra.

            In early 2007, Phillip had the rare opportunity to play for the legendary French master of the concert saxophone, Jean-Marie Londeix and attend master classes held by the imminent Professor of the Bordeaux Conservatory. After high school, Phillip plans to pursue college educational opportunities in music and saxophone studies.

2006 Winners 

         Emil Hudyyev, a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music won first place in the college division with his performance of Carl Maria von Weber’’s “Concertino” for clarinet. Second place was won by Alanna Rynish, a junior majoring in music education at St. Norbert College. She performed the second movement of Paul Creston’s “Concerto for Alto Saxophone.”

            In the high school division, Shannon Connors won first place, performing Cecile Charminade’s “Concertino for Flute.” She is a senior at Green Bay East High School, and plans to attend UW-Stevens Point, majoring in early childhood education with a minor in music. Second place in the high school division was won by Sadie Cisler, a senior at Lincoln High School, Manitowoc, performing the first two movements of Richard Strauss’ “Concerto No. 1 for Horn.” She is also planning to attend UW-Stevens Point, and will major in horn performance.         

2005 Young Artist Competition Winners

             Molly Lindemann, a senior Music Performance Major at UW-Stevens Point, won first place in the college undergraduate division, performing the first movement of Reinhold Gliere’s “Horn Concerto.” Second place was awarded to Kliment Krylovskiy, a senior Music Major at the Manhattan School of Music, Brooklyn, New York. He performed the first movement of Carl Maria von Weber’s “Clarinet Concerto No. 1.”

            In the high school division, De Pere High School freshman Jeiran Hasan won first place with her flute solo, the third movement of Mozart’s “Concerto in G.” Runner-up in this division was Kyle Siegrist, a student at Green Bay Preble High School, who performed the first movement of Eric Ewazen’s “Sonata for Trombone.”

2004 Competition Winners Announced

           Tristan Eggener, a junior at Lawrence University, was the first place winner of the college division. He performed “Concerto for Bass Tuba” by Ralph Vaughn Williams. A Green Bay resident, he won the high school division of the Young Artist Competition in 1998-99.  The second place winner was Molly Lindemann, a Valders native, who is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She performed “Concertpiece” by Saint-Saens.
            The first place winner in the high school division was Kristin Welke, a sophomore at Ashwaubenon High School. She performed a clarinet solo, “Concertino,” by Carl Maria von Weber. The second place high school winner was Michael Bjella, a student at Stevens Point Area High School. Michael performed “Introduction  and Samba,” a solo work for alto saxophone written by Maurice Whitney.
           
            Judges for the competition were Professor Kay Gainacopulos from UW-Oshkosh, Professor Craig Hurst, UW-Waukesha, and Marilyn Scherer.

TOP PHOTO:  Back - Arendt, Hurst, Gainacopulos.  Front - Lindemann, Eggener
BOTTOM PHOTO:  Back - Arendt, Hurst, Scherer, Gainacopulos.  Front:  Bjella, Welke

MATTHEW BOREEN, winner of the college undergraduate division of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association's 2004 Young Artist Competition, is originally from Green Bay and graduated from Southwest High School in 2002. He has studied the clarinet for almost ten years. Currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, he is majoring in music education and performance, and studies clarinet with Rebecca Tout. He had previously studied with Dr. Scott Wright, who is currently the clarinet professor at the University of Kentucky. He also has a private studio where he teaches clarinet. Matt is principle clarinet in the UWGB Wind Ensemble and clarinet choir, while also playing tenor saxophone in the UWGB jazz ensemble. Matt has performed as principle clarinet in the Wisconsin State Honors Band in 2001, with the Fox Valley Youth Symphony, the Green Bay Youth Symphony, and with his own jazz combo, Frequency 4. The last two years, Matt has been selected for UWGB's Student Honors Recital, and last year won first place in the Northeast Wisconsin Arts Council Competition. In April, 2004 Matt will be performing with the UW-Marinette Wind Ensemble as a guest soloist.

Matt will be applying for the 20th anniversary of the summer programs at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO, where he would have the opportunity of studying clarinet with world renowned clarinetist, Jon Manasse. Boreen will also audition for the 2004 ClarinetFest in Washington D.C.

GARTH NEUSTADTER, Manitowoc, is the son of Gary and Kristen Neustadter. Garth began the study of the piano at the age of four with his mother, and has studied piano for the past eight years with Charles Bouc, Manitowoc.

Garth performed as a saxophone soloist with the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble in March, 2002 as high school division winner of the 2002-03 Young Artist Competition, and currently is a member of the UW-Manitowoc Lakeshore Big Band. He has appeared as a violin soloist on two occasions with the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra, and will be a featured soloist in the 2004-05 season.

Garth has had many unique performing opportunities, including a sponsored trip to Kamogawa, Japan, where he performed at various venues on the piano, violin, and saxophone, an appearance as a saxophone soloist of the National Anthem at a Milwaukee Brewers' Game, and three performance appearances at the Governor's Mansion in Madison, Wisconsin.

Garth has produced two CDs and performs on a regular basis with his parents for various events throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Garth was the 2003 Everson Scholar for the state of Wisconsin, which entitled him to a full scholarship to the Interlochen National Arts Camp Summer Session, Interlochen, Michigan, where he performed in the violin section of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, lead alto saxophone in Jazz Band I, and was one of six violinists selected to the Valade Honors Program.

As a junior at Manitowoc Lutheran High School, he is president of the junior class, and participates in the MSLHS Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, Lancer Singers, Jazz Band, and Praise Band. Garth's present apprearance is altered in preparation for his lead role as Jean ValJean in the upcoming MLHS production of Les Miserables, May 12-17.

Upon graduation, Garth hopes to pursue a double major in music performance and recording production.

BRENDA LUCHSINGER, winner of the college undergraduate division of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association's 2002 Young Artist Competition, is a native of Manitowoc and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1999. Currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, she is majoring in Horn Performance and Instrumental Music Education, and studies horn with Dr. Patrick Miles. She had previously studied with Professor Michael Arendt and with Dawn Kloida. Brenda is principal horn with the UWSP Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Horn Quartet, and Horn Choir. She currently performs with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, and has previously performed with the Green Bay Civic Symphony, the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble, the Lakeshore Big Band, the Marshfield Symphony, the Manitowoc Symphony, Silver Lake College Wind Ensemble, Manitowoc Marine Band, Stevens Point City Band, Peter Quince Performing Company, and Kidzarts.

While in high school she won positions for the Wisconsin High School Honors Band in 1997 and the Honors Orchestra in 1998. She performed with the UW -SP Horn Quartet at the 2002 Midwest Horn Workshop. In June, 2002, she attended the Trans-Atlantic Horn Quartets Summer Seminar at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where she studied mainly with David Ohanian and Michael Thompson. She plans to return to the T AHQ Seminar this summer at the University of Alabama, and compete in the American Horn Competition at the University of Alabama. She is planning to attend Kendall Betts Horn Camp in Lyman, New Hampshire, this summer and also plans to compete at the International Womens Brass Conference at Illinois State University. Brenda holds memberships in the International Horn Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Collegiate Music Educators National Conference, and the Alpha Alpha chapter of Delta Omicron.

ROSS LAURENT, was the winner of the high school division of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble's 2002-03 Young Artist Competition. He was a junior at Green Bay West High School at the time of the competition. Ross has played trombone for six years. He is an active member of his high school music program, participating in the West High Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble. Ross currently performs with the Green Bay Youth Symphony, the Green Bay Civic Symphony, a community jazz band, and is a member of a Green Bay area jazz combo, The Jazz Savants. Ross was selected by audition to participate in the 2003 State Honors Jazz Ensemble. He has participated in the Birch Creek summer music camps, the UW-GB summer music camps, and the St. Norbert college summer music' camps. He plans to major in trombone performance in college. Ross has been studying trombone with Dr. Bruce Tychinski, Professor of Music at St. Norbert College, for the past two years.

Kristina Edwards, winner of the college division of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Associations 2001-2002 Young Artist Competition, is a 2000 graduate of Wausau West High School. As a high school student, she participated in jazz music camps at UW-Whitewater the summers of 1998 and 1999. Kristina attended UW -Marathon as a college freshman, studying saxophone with Jeff Erikson. As a student at UW- Marathon she received an instrumental music scholarship and also the Wausau Area Music Teachers Association Scholarship. She performed in the UW-Marathonjazz and symphonic bands from 1998-2001 on saxophone and horn. As a sophomore music major at UW -Manitowoc, Kristina performs on alto saxophone with the UW-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and also the Lakeshore Big Band. She was a recipient of a 2001-2002 Beatrice and Matthew Arendt Talentship Award. She currently studies saxophone with Perry Suszek. Kristina plans to pursue her music degree at UW -Oshkosh.

Garth Neustadter, son of Gary and Kristen Neustadter and a freshman at Manitowoc Lutheran High School, was the winner of the LWEA's 2001-2002 Young Artist Competition. Garth has studied the violin and piano for twelve years and soprano, alto and tenor saxophone since the age of eight. Garth has been a member of the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra for five years and has appeared as a solo violin performer with that orchestra in 2001, as well as with the Green Bay Civic Symphony in 2001 as the Young Artists' Concerto winner. He has attended Interlochen Arts Camp on a partial scholarship from the Manitowoc Symphony for the past three summers, where he has performed in the first violin section of the Intermediate Symphony Orchestra and played lead alto sax in the Intermediate Jazz Ensemble.

In 2001 and 2002, Garth was selected as one of nineteen semi-finalists in the Lennox Young Artists International Concerto Competition in Dallas, Texas. He also competed in the Tri-State Concerto Competition in LaCrosse, WI in 2001 and 2002, winning the instrumental division and placing fourth and third place respectively overall.

Garth participates in his school band, choir and jazz band, and played a lead role in the MLHS production of "Guys and Dolls" in April 2002. He has received first ratings at the State Solo and Ensemble competition, in solo saxophone, violin, piano, and vocal performances for the past two years. In the spring of 2001, Garth was one of fifteen soloists statewide to be awarded a Wisconsin State Music Association summer camp scholarship based on an outstanding violin performance and audition at the state solo and ensemble festival. He also received auditions for vocal and saxophone performance.

This past summer Garth and his parents performed at several venues in Manitowoc's sister city, Kamogawa, Japan. While in Japan, Garth performed this evening's solo with the Kamogawa Wind Ensemble. Garth produced his first CD, "The Best of Garth," in the spring of 2001.

Haicong Ni, co-winner of the college division of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble's 2000-2001 Young Artist Competition, was born November 27, 1979, in Beijing, China. He began studying piano at the age of four, and at twelve enrolled in the Beijing China Central Conservatory of Music. His teachers there included Feilan Li, Yuan Ling, Pingguo Zhao, and Hua Chang. In 1999 he received a full scholarship from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he studied with Beverly Hassel. In 2000, Haicong Ni received a full scholarship to Butler University, in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he currently is a junior, majoring in Piano Performance. At Butler he was studying with Panayis Lyras, the Silver Medalist in the Sixth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He has taken Master Piano Classes with many noted pianists, including Vladimir Feltsman and Joseph Banowets.

Haicong Ni won ftrst prize in the Xinjhai Cup Piano Performance in 1987, 1989, and 1991, and the rust prize in the Performance of Western Music Instrument Competition in 1991. He also won first prize in the Performance of Western Music Instrument of Beijing First Festival of Art in 1991. At the University of Oshkosh, he won the 1998-99 Willcockson Prize in the Arts.

His concert performances include the Small-Star Piano Concert held in the Beijing Music Hall and Tianjin Music Hall in 1991, and a performance in the All-Over-the-World Piano Concert in the Beijing Music Hall in 1992. He performed the Schumann Piano Concerto in the Music Hall of the Beijing China Central Conservatory of Music in 1996. In 1999 he was an Honor Recitalist at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Music Hall.

Sara Kind, winner of the High School Division of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association's 2000-2001 Young Artist Competition, had been playing the saxophone for seven years. She was a senior at Oshkosh West High School, where she was actively involved in the music department. She was a member of the Oshkosh West High School Wind ensemble and the Oshkosh West High School Jazz Ensemble, and had been a featured soloist with both. She also participated in pit orchestra and jazz combo. Sara had studied saxophone with Charles Keane from 1997 to the present.

Sara was selected, on the basis of audition, to be a member of the 1999 and 2000 Wisconsin State Honors Bands. She received Honorable Mention at the 2000 Madison Concerto Competition last year, as well as being a finalist in the 2000 Milwaukee Young Artist Auditions and the 2000 Fox Valley Concerto Competition. She had also earned numerous awards at district and state solo and ensemble festivals. She lead a saxophone quartet at her school and also studied piano. Sara planned to pursue a career in music performance and music education.

Rosemary Markestad, was in her fourth year at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she was principal flute with the UWM Wind Ensemble. For two years she was also principal flutist of the UWM Symphony Orchestra, and in 1999 was its concerto competition winner, performing Ibert's "Concerto for Flute."

Rosemary was studying with Professor Robert Goodberg at UWM. She began playing the flute in fifth grade and has since studied with Suzan Duzinsky, Janice Bjorkman, Robin Fellows, and Paul Doebler. A graduate of East Troy High School in 1997, Rosemary soloed with her high school Symphonic Band, performing Chaminade's "Concertino" during her senior year. She was a member of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra for five years, including co-principal of the Senior Symphony for two years. At UWM she also played with the Silmaril Woodwind Quintet for two years and this past February performed "A Lindisfarne Rhapsody" with the UWM Symphony Band as a winner of the UWM Bands' concerto competition.

Rosemary was at the time of the competition pursuing a degree in Music Education and was a private flute teacher. After graduating from UWM she planned on either becoming a band director or continuing her education in graduate school to major in Music Performance.

AMANDA LACEY, was the winner of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association's 1999-2000 Young Artist Competition College Undergraduate Division. A resident of Oostburg, Wisconsin, Ms. Lacey graduated from Oostburg High School in 1997. While in high school she studied clarinet with Richard Tengowski. She won numerous first place awards in district and state solo and ensemble music competitions, and was selected as a member of the Wisconsin State Honors Band as a senior. Also proficient in piano, Ms. Lacey was selected, on the basis of auditions, to perform piano at Badger State for three consecutive years. Badger State is sponsored by the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association.

Ms. Lacey was a junior at the time of the competition clarinet major at St. Norbert College in DePere, WI. She studies clarinet with Dr. Frederick Schmidt, and also studies piano with Elaine Moss. She is the principal clarinetist with the St. Norbert Wind Ensemble, and is the lead tenor saxophone in the St. Norbert Jazz Band. Following graduation, Ms. Lacey planned to attend graduate school to obtain her master's degree, and eventually a doctorate. She would also like to establish a private teaching studio in her home and to continue to perform on a regular basis.

ELSBETH DREWS, winner of the LWEA's 1999-2000 Young Artist Competition High School Division, resides in Shorewood, and was a senior at Shorewood High School at the time of the competition, where she was a member of the band, orchestra, and chorus. She had studied with Marie Sander, from 1996-98, and with Carol Meves, from 1998 to the present time.

In 1999, she was a member of both the Wisconsin State Honors Band and National Flute Association High School Flute Choir in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been a member of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble from 1997, and is currently the principal flute. She has also been a member of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra from 1996 to the present time, beginning with the Junior Winds in 1996. In 1998, she was the principal flute with their Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 1999, became the principal flute in the Senior Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Drews is also concert mistress of the MYSO Chamber Flutes, having been a member since 1996.

Ms. Drews attended UW-Whitewater Flute Camp in 1998, and the UW-Madison music camp in 1996 and 1999. While in high school she had performed in the State Solo and Ensemble Competition, winning ten first place awards at the state level. She was named Outstanding Soloist in State Competition in 1998. She has been awarded a four year full tuition scholarship for UW-Madison.

RYAN GRUBER, was a third-year student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied with Douglas Hill. He is pursuing degrees in Music Performance and Political Science. He is also a member of The Madison Brass, an Artist-in-Residence for the State of Wisconsin. The quintet performs and teaches in concert halls and schools throughout the Midwest.

A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Mr. Gruber began his studies at the age of 11. In high school, he performed with the UWGB Wind Ensemble, and served as principal horn of the Green Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra and Wisconsin State Honors Orchestra. He also served as an extra/assistant principal horn with the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. His primary teachers included Laurie Fisher-Bonvallet and James DeCorsey.

In 1995, Mr. Gruber won the Trustee's Scholarship Competition at Lawrence University, and was offered a named scholarship by the Eastman School of Music. Upon commencement as a National Merit Scholar and valedictorian, he chose to begin his undergraduate work at Northwestern University. While there, he worked with Gail Williams, Associate Principal Horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

In June, 1997, Mr. Gruber was invited to the International Horn Society Symposium in Rochester, New York, as a finalist in the Philip Farkas Solo Competition, an international contest open to hornists under 25. In January, he was a finalist in the WAMSO (Minnesota Orchestra) Young Artists' Competition in Minneapolis. There, he performed at Orchestra Hall for, among others, Music Director Eiji Oue. This spring, he will appear in recital in St. Paul, Minnesota, in conjunction with the Schubert Club of St. Paul and WCAL radio, and in May 1998, he toured Europe with the UW Symphony Orchestra.

CORYNN EGGENER, was a junior at Ashwaubenon High School at the time of the competition. She had played the clarinet for six years and was a student of Dr. Frederick Schmidt of St. Norbert College. She was a member of her school's Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Combo, Pit Band, and Show Choir Combo. In addition to playing clarinet in these ensembles, she also plays alto, tenor, and soprano saxophone.

Ms. Eggener was a member of the Green Bay Youth Symphony and has performed with the Green Bay Civic Symphony, Green Bay City Band, Wisconsin State Honors Band, and UW-GB High School Honors Band.

She has won numerous honors and awards at State Solo and Ensemble Festivals, including a full tuition scholarship to a UW-GB Music Camp. In 1996 she performed the "Stamitz Clarinet Concerto No.3" with the Green Bay Youth Concert Orchestra at the Weidner Center. In that same year she was featured as soloist performing the Mozart "Concerto (K622)" with the Camerata Fiorentina (chamber orchestra).

As the 1997 winner of the Fox Valley Symphony Youth Concerto Competition, she performed Von Weber's "Concerto No.1" at the Picard Auditorium on May 10, 1997, with the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra. She also performed at the Weidner Center on March 14, 1998 as the winner of the Green Bay Youth Symphony Concerto Competition.

BRETT DIMMER, The collegiate winner of the 1996/97 competition, Mr. Dimmer will graduate in May from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree, and will complete his student teaching in the fall of 1998. Last year Mr. Dimmer also won the UW-GB Concerto Competition, and soloed with the UW -GB Wind Ensemble. He continues to perform on trumpet in the UW -GB wind and jazz ensembles as well as the concert choir. He has gained experience as a music educator while participating in the Goals 2000 project at Seymour Middle School, where he helped teach brass and conducted the sixth grade band.

KELLY BIESE, The first winner of the separate high shcool division, Ms. Biese graduated in May, 1997, from Wrightstown High School She is continuing her studies at St. Norbert College, where she is pursuing a degree in Music Education, with certification in instrumental and general music. She studies euphonium with Dr. Sharon Huff at St. Norbert College, and performs with the St. Norbert College Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble. During the summer months, she also performs with the DePere City Band.

TYSON WEHRMEISTER, Mr. Wehrmeister, a student at St. Norbert College and native of Kenosha, performed his winning tuba solo with the wind ensemble in the spring of 1996. From August, 1996, through January, 1997, he continued his musical studies in England. He graduated from St. Norbert College in May, 1997, and is currently student teaching at East DePere High School. Upon completion of his student teaching, he will be certified to teach instrumental music in grades K-12.

JENNIFER SMITS, A graduate of Preble High School and an alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc, Ms. Smits graduated from St. Norbert College in May, 1997, with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. While attending UW-Manitowoc she was a member of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and Lakeshore Big Band. At St. Norbert College she performed in the wind ensemble, symphonic band, jazz band, and clarinet choir. Ms. Smits teaches music in the Green Bay School District. She is the Principal Clarinet in the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and also is a member of the St. Norbert Community Band. She is actively involved in the Northeast Wisconsin Education Convention. She also teaches clarinet and saxophone.

KATIE KRETSCHMAN, Ms. Kretschman, a native of Verona, Wisconsin, received a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in May of 1996. She was the 1996 Neale-Silva Young Artist winner, and performed a live recital on Wisconsin Public Radio. She was the third place winner of the 1997 International Trombone Association Lewis Van Haney Orchestral Trombone Competition. Currently she is a member of the Madison Symphony and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and performs regularly with the Blue Mounds Chamber Brass. She is also active with many other locally based groups, including the hard rockabilly band MadTrucker. Ms. Kretschman also maintains a private teaching studio in Madison.

JOEL SNAVELY, At the time of the competition in 1994, Mr. Snavely was a student at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater. As the first place winner that year, he performed a saxophone solo with the wind ensemble. He graduated from UW-Whitewater, and is the band teacher at the middle school in Muskego, Wisconsin. He is also active in numerous performing groups in the Milwaukee area.

BRIAN SWANDER, Brian Swander, from Ramsey, Minnesota, graduated from Lawrence University with a double major in Oboe Performance and Computer Science. In May, 1997, he earned a Master's Degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He resides in Seattle, Washington, and is employed by Microsoft as a Software Design Engineer. His musical performance plans include participating in a wind ensemble comprised of Microsoft employees.

NANCY LUCHSINGER, A senior at Lincoln High, Manitowoc, when she won the competition, Ms. Luchsinger attended UW-Green Bay for her freshman year, then transferred to UW-Eau Claire. At UW-Green Bay she performed in several ensembles on bassoon, baritone, and bass trombone. At Eau Claire she performed in symphonic band, jazz band, woodwind quintet, and with the Chippewa Valley Orchestra. She was also a member of the University Symphonic Orchestra, playing Principal Bassoon and contrabassoon. She graduated in May, 1997, with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. Nancy Luchsinger-Leigh resides in Manitowoc, and is Office Manager at Cook's Comer. She is Principal Bassoon in the LWE, plays bass trombone in the Lakeshore Big Band, and is a member of the Manitowoc Marine Band.

KELLY W0WZINSKI, Ms. Wowzinski was also a high school student when she won second place in the 1993 competition. She graduated from Waterford Union High School in 1994, and enrolled at Lawrence University. She will graduate in May, 1998, with a Bachelor's Degree in Flute Performance. While at Lawrence, she has been active as a member of the Lawrence Symphony and the Collegium Musicum. Ms. Wowzinski plans to attend graduate school, pursuing a Master's Degree in Flute Performance.

ROBERT WILCOTT, A student at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay at the time of the competition, Mr. Wilcott is currently employed at Cellcom in Green Bay. He is pursuing his Bachelor of Music Degree, and plans to attend graduate school. The trombonist had performed in the UW -GB Wind Ensemble and various smaller ensembles. Presently he performs with the Green Bay Symphony and in numerous other Green Bay area performing groups.

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ALLEN STERWALT, Clarinetist Allen Sterwalt was a sophomore at UW -Stevens Point, and an Applied Music major, when he won second place in the Young Artisits' Competition. He graduated from UW -Stevens Point and continued his studies at DePaul University. He received his Master's Degree from that institution.

ERIC BARNHILL, was the winner of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association's third Young Artists' Competition, and subsequently performed with the wind ensemble on October 19, 1991. At the time of the competition, Mr. Barnhill was a student at Madison West High School.

After graduating from that high school, he attended and graduated from Haverford College, in Philadelphia. He received his master's degree from  New York's famed Julliard School, where he received a teaching fellowship and collaborated with numerous prominent young artists.  He now directs the Music Skills program at the Music Conservatory of Westchester, NY where he also teaches piano.

Mr. Barnhill has performed in recital from coast to coast in the United States, including over a dozen appearances at New York's Lincoln Center. He has also performed abroad in noteworthy concert halls such as Canada's Salle Tudor, France's Salle Cortot, and on Italian television.

Past and current teachers include Zitta Zohar, Seymour Lipkin, Jerome Lowenthal, Keiko Sato, and Renato Premezzi. His past and present chamber music instructors include Ronald Copes, Felix Galimir, Lynn Harrell, and Lawrence Lesser

MICHELLE LYNN DAVIS, Ms. Davis had earned a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor in 1989. At the time of the competition in 1990, she was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Institute of Chamber Music. After receiving her Chamber Music Certificate from UW-Milwaukee, she attended Northwestern University, where she received a Master of Arts Degree in Bassoon Performance. She then accepted a position with the Cape Town, South Africa Symphony. At that time there were two symphony orchestras in Cape Town, which have since merged and have become the Cape Town Philharmonic. Michelle Lynn Davis Coleman is the Principal Contra-Bassoonist and Sub-Principal Bassoonist for the Cape Town Philharmonic. She also teaches bassoon and piano.

BRENDA MALZAHN, Saxophonist Brenda Malzahn Winkler graduated from St. Norbert College, and is now in her sixth year of teaching band at the Franklin Middle School in Green Bay. She also teaches privately, with students in saxophone, clarinet, and piano. She is active in several performing groups, including the well-known DePere dance band - The Brass Factory, the St.. Norbert Community Band, and the Heritage Wind Symphony in Green Bay.

LYDIA VAN DREEL, The first winner of the Young Artists' Competition, a native of Manitowoc, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991 with a Bachelor of Music Degree. She received a Master of Music Degree from The Julliard School, New York, in 1993. She worked as a free-lance musician in New York City until the spring of 1996, when she won her current position with the Florida West Coast Symphony as Co-Principal Horn. She resides in Sarasota, Florida.

REBECCA STAKE, Second place winner in 1989, performed on French Horn. She was a student at Lawrence University. Previous to her solo performance with the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble, Ms. Stake was the winner of the Fox Valley Symphony League Youth Solo Competition and a finalist in the 1988 Milwaukee Symphony League Young Artist Competition, and was a featured solo performer with both symphonies. 

If you are interested or know someone that might be interested in participating in a future Young Artists' Competition please visit the information page for competition brochure and application in PDF format.