Benjamin Browne - Trumpet

Benjamin Browne was born in Waukesha and raised in Oconomowoc. Ben began studying trumpet at an early age and continued studying throughout his childhood with Dave Reul, a nationally recoginzed music teacher. His studies took him tio the Univeristy of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and the Univeristy of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, where he graduated with his Batchelor of Arts in Music degree. Ben has studied with Andrew Naumann, Dr. Robert Kase, Ron Blais, Wayne Cook, Kevin Hartman, and John Hagstrom of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His principle teacher has been Dennis Najoom, Co-Principal of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Professionally, Ben has played with the Racine, Sheboygan, Waukesha, and Festival City Symphony orchestras. He is also an active freelancing trumpeter in the Greater Milwaukee area. Abroad, Ben was Principal Trumpet of the Festival Orchestra of Punta del Este, Uruguay, South America. Mr. Browne is currently Principal Trumpet with the Philharmonic of Montevideo, Uruguay.

Mr. Browne performed the Prayer of St. Gregory by Hovannes with the West Bend High Schools Philharmonic Orchestra at their October 16, 2000 concert.

Albert Asch - Guest Conductor

Albert Asch, Professor Emeritus of Music at the Univeristy of Wisconsin - Washington County, started the Moraine Symphony Orchestra as a public service activity when the Univeristy opened its doors in 1968. Mr. Asch, a native of Kentucky, came to Wisconsin from Wichita State Unveristy in Kansas where he taught oboe, music education, and directed the concert band. Mr. Asch's orcherstra experience includes the Louisville Symphony, the Wichita Symphony, and the Urbana Champer Symphony. In addition to his high school teaching at duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Asch has has taught at the Univeristy of Louisville and the Univeristy of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Although oboe is Mr. Asch's orchestra instrument, he has played clairnet in the Academy Quintet, bassoon in the Univeristy of Illinois Wind Ensemble, and saxophone in various dance bands and theater productions. In addition to conducting the Moraine Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Asch was also conductor of the Lakeshore Concert Band from 1977-1995. Mr. Asch recived his Batchelor's and Master's degree from the Univeristy of Kentucky and recived is Doctoral degree from the Univeristy of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Mr. Asch conducted the Concerto for Oboe and Strings by Cimarosa with the West Bend High Schools Philharmonic Orchestra at their October 16, 2000 concert. He will also guest conduct Ases Death from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 on the October 15, 2001 concert.

"It is a genuine pleasure working with your string groups. The students are courteous, attententive, and show excellent musical training. I look forward to working with them again." - Mr. Asch

Daniel Stewart - Oboe, English Horn

Daniel Stewart recived both his Batchelor's and Master's degrees from Michigan State Univeristy in East Lansing, and has pursued docoral study at the Univeristy of Wisconsin in Madison. He taught in the Michigan public schools and has been on the faculties of Michigan State Univeristy's Youth Music Program, the New Englans Music Camp, and Birch Creek Music Center. He has performed with the American Wind Symphony, the American Baller Theater Orchestra, the National Orchestra Association of Carnegie Hall, the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood, and many other orchestras in the state of Wisconsin including the Green Bay Symphony, Pamrio Opera, and LaCrosse Symphony. Presently, in addition to being Professor of Oboe at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Mr. Stewart is on the faculty of the Wausau Conservatory of Music, principal oboist of the Central Wisconsin Symphony, and member of the Wisconsin Arts Quintet.

Professor Daniel Stewart performed the Concerto for Oboe and Strings by Cimarosa with the West Bend High Schools Philharmonic Orchestra at their October 16, 2000 concert. He also performed as a guest soloist on English Horn in Aaron Copland's Quiet City with the Philharmonic Orchestra at their January 14, 2002 concert.

"It was a really enjoyable experience to work with the young people of the West Bend High Schools Orchestra. The students were eager, attentive, and well-prepared. The community of West Bend should be very proud to have a high school orchestra of this caliber!" - Mr. Stewart

Steven Edwards - Guest Conductor

Professor Steven Edwards is the Musical Director if the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, the principal chorus of the Louisiana Philharmonic. A graduate of the Univeristy of Illinois, Professor Edwards has conducted throughout the United States, including the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, and is a frequent guest conductor of the Louisiana Philharmonic. He is also the founding member of the Superior String Alliance and is the Musical Director of the Superior Festival Orchestra. Currently, he serves as the corrdinator of vocal studies at Delgado Community College and has recently conducted two performances with the Gulf Coast Opera Co. in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Professor Steven Edwards was the guest conductor at the January 8, 2001 concert. He conducted the Harmonious Blacksmith Suite by Handel with the Virtuosi Orchestra and the Brook Green Suite by Holst woth the Philharmonic Orchestra. He also conducted the final movement of Mendelssohn's Symphony #5 with the WBHS Symphony Orchestra.

Danis Kelly - Harp

Danis Kelly is listed in "Who's Who in American Music." Her parents started her music education when she was six and by her teens she had learned to play the paino, cello, and the harp.

At age 18, Ms. Kelly was awarded a full scholarship to the famous Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. By the time she was twenty she had performed at the White House and nearly every state in the U.S. She did advanced work at the Cleveland Institute of Music and upon graduation was invited to become the principal harpist of the Flordia Symphony Orchestra in Orlando.

Through national aduitions in 1969, Ms. Kelly was selected as principal harpist for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and remains in that capicity. With the MSO she has toured the U.S., Europe, and Japan and was the featured soloist duting the 1998 turing season. She has also performed numerous times at Carnegie Hall.

For the past 30 seasons during the summer Ms. Kelly has been the principal harpist for the famed Santa Fe Opera.

Ms. Kelly has performed as a soloist with symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, and ensemble groups, including the Cleveland Orchestra (under George Szell), the Atlanta Symphony, the Cincinatti Symphony Orchestra. the Oklahoma City Symphony, and the Tacoma Symphony. She has been heard as solosit on National Public Radioas well as classical radio stations across the country. Her impeccable musicianship has been recognized by critics nation wide with adjectives such as "superb, dazzling, and masterful," "brillant, exquisite," and "utter mastery of control and technique."

Ms. Kelly performed the Serenade for Flute, Harp and Strings by Howard Hanson with the West Bend High Schools Philharmonic Orchestra at their October 15, 2001 concert.

"I am really looking forward to joining the students in West Bend to present this unusal piece. Mr. Kraly is imaginative and ingenious!" - Ms. Kelly

Paul Doebler - Flute

Paul Doebler graduated from the Juilliard School of Music with Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in flute. He studied with the late Arthur Lora at the Juilliard School and with Jack Wellbaum of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Doebler is presently Professor of Flute and Musicianship (Music Theory) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, flutist of the Wisconsin Arts Quintet, and principal flutist of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Director of the Point Music Camp and the Pointer Pep Band.

Performing as a recitalist each year at UWSP, Doebler has also performed with numerous chamber groups and orchestras in New York, New Jersey and Wisconsin; he was a flutist with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, New York. Doebler was an invited performer at the National Flute Association conventions in Denver, Colorado and St. Louis, Missouri. He is a frequent performer on Wisconsin Public Radio.

Actively involved with UWSP's International Programs, Doebler has twice lead the "Semester in Britain" program based in London. While there in the Fall of 1994, he presented a flute recital at St. Georgels, Hanover Square. During the Fall semester of 1999, Doebler, as a member of the City of London Choir (COLC), sang at St. Martin-in-the-Fields and St. John's, Smith Square. Additionally, as a member of the COLC, he sang with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Alexandra Palace, Royal Festival Hall, and the Abbey Road Studios.

"The 'Serenade', by American composer Howard Hanson, is one of the most beautiful works in the all of the flute repertoire. To have the opportunity to perform it with harp and string orchestra is an exciting one, indeed. I very much look forward to working with the students in the West Bend Orchestra this October." -Mr. Doebler

Samantha George - Violin

Samantha George is the Associate Concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. She holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Connecticut. Ms. George has performed throughout the United States, including the Hartford Symphony, Raleigh Symphony, Idaho State Civic Symphony, Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, Moraine Symphony, Waukesha Symphony, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Since joining the Milwaukee Symphony in 1999, Ms. George has performed twice for the students at West Bend High Schools.

"I really enjoy coming to West Bend and performing for the orchestra students. It's always an enjoyable time and I appreciate the musical ideas that your orchestra students are trying to achieve." - Ms. George

"For Samantha to take the time out of her busy schedule and want to come and perform for these students, I simply can't thank her enough. She's a great musician and role model for any serious student of music." - Mr. Kraly

Alan Baer - Tuba

Alan Baer currently holds the position Principal Tubist with the Milwaukee Symphony. He was formerly the Principal Tubist with the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra as well as the Louisiana Philharmonic.

Mr. Baer's performing credits include recording with the Cleveland Orchestra under Vladarnir Ashkenazy, performances with the New Orleans Symphony, the Los Angeles Concert Orchestra, the Ojai Festival Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Alan Baer began his undergraduate work at Indiana University of PA where he studied with Dr. Gary Bird. Mr. Baer completed his Bachelor of Music degree with Roland Bishop at the Cleveland State University Institute of Music and holds a Master of Music degree from California State University, Long Beach, where he studied with Tommy Johnson. Currently Mr. Baer is the Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is the Director of the Tuba - Euphonium Ensemble.

Mr. Baer performed the Concertino for Tuba by George with the WBHS Philharmonic Orchestra at their January 14, 2002 concert.

Alex Jokipii - Trumpet

Alex Jokipii has held the position of Principal Trumpet with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra since 1998. A native of Escanaba, Michigan, Mr. Jokipii's earliest training in music began at the age of twelve when he took his first lesson on the B-flat trumpet his mother had kept from her days in the high school band.

Alex began his advanced musical studied at the Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in trumpet and music education, during which time he studied trumpet with Stephen Jones and Scott Thornburg. As a part of his undergraduate curriculum Alex enrolled at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, where he studied for a year with Timofei Dokschitzer, the celebrated Principal Trumpet of the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra. After retuning from his European study and travel, Mr. Jokippi completed his studied at WMU which awarded him a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. Upon graduation, he matriculated to the Juilliard School of Music at Lincoln Center in New York City where he studied with Chris Gekker and Philip Smith of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

At the conclusion of his graduate study at Juilliard, Mr. Jokipii was awarded a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance, after which he was accepted into conservatory's doctoral program. But before he could fully pursue his new DMA curriculum, Mr. Jokipii was engaged by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra where he held the position of Principal Trumpet from 1996-1998. During that time he also performed with the Spoleto Festival Brass Quintet and the Charleston Brass Quintet and served on the performance faculty of Charleston Southern University as Adjunct Professor of Trumpet.

With regard to other venues, Mr. Jokipii has appeared as a soloist at the 1992 and 1994 International Trumpet Guild Conferences and has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Helsinki Philharmonic, the Florida Orchestra, and the.Savannah Symphony. After a nation - wide search in 1998, Mr. Jokipii was awarded the position of Principal Trumpet with the Buffalo Philharmonic.

Mr. Jokipii performed the Polyphonic Vairations for Strings and Trumpet by Nelhybel and the Quiet City by Copland with the WBHS Philharmonic Orchestra at their January 14, 2002 concert.

Adrien Zitoun - Cello

Cellist Adrien Zitoun joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in 2001. Prior to the MSO, Mr. Zitoun was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 1999-2001, serving as principal in his second season.

In 2001, as a member of the Eusia String Quartet, he was awarded the Grand Prize and First Prize at the prestigious Fischoff Chamber Music Competition.

In his native land of France, Mr. Zitoun studied musicology at the University of Sorobonne in Paris for one year, before being accepted into the National Superior Conservatory of Music in Lyon. At this time, he also played with the Ensemble Orchestral de Mâcon and Symphony Orchestra of Lyon-Villerbanne and taucht at the Privas and Brignais School of Music.

In 1996, he obtained scholarships that enabled him to continue his music studies in the United States. Here, Mr. Zitoun earned his Artist Diploma and a Masters of Music from Indiana University.

Mr. Zitoun performed the Two Pieces for Viloloncello solo and String Orchestra with the WBHS Philharmonic Orchestra at their October 21, 2002 concert.

Joseph Schlefke - Guest Conductor

This year marks Joseph Schletke's first full season as Music Director of the Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra after receiving the appointment in December 2001 and serving as the Apprentice Conductor for the two preceding years. In addition to the MPO, he is also the newly appointed Music Director for the Heartland Symphony Orchestra, which serves the communities in central Minnesota.

Recently, Joseph spent two year's as Associate Conductor for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, working with both the Symphony Orchestra and Concert Orchestra and acting as Principal Conductor of the Chamber Orchestra. In 2001 he toured with the GTCYS Symphony Orchestra to China, where he conducted them in performances in Beijing and Shanghai. This past year he was a guest conductor for the Buffalo Community Orchestra (MN), as well as Interim Instructor of Music at Ausburg College, teaching conducting and early music history. He was also recently with The Minnesota Opera for three seasons acting as music director and conductor of the Midwest Educational Tour, conducting their touring productions of Madame Butterfly, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Barber of Seville and serving as Orchestra music director for the Faerie Tale Opera program.

In 2000, Joseph was invited to be an Assistant Conductor for the Berkshire Opera Company in Massachusetts. He has worked with the Great Lakes Opera Company of Milwaukee and has been the Assistant Conductor for The Minnesota Opera, The Moraine Symphony Orchestra, and the Lakeshore Symphonic Band. Further, he is a frequent lecturer and clinician around the area, working with adult and youth orchestras and educating people of all ages about music.

Joseph holes the degree of Master of Music with an emphasis in orchestral conducting from the University of Minnesota, where he served as a conductor for the Opera Theater, conducted the university orchestras, and premiered a number of student compositions. He has participated in workshops with the American Symphony League and the Conductors Institute of South Carolina. Joseph earned his B.M. from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and is native of West Bend, Wisconsin.

Mr. Schlefke conducted the Reverie for String Orchestra and Sonata No. 4 with the WBHS Virtousi Orchestra and Great Gate of Kiev with the WBHS Symphony Orchestra at their January 13, 2003 concert.

Erin Higuchi - Viola

Erin Higuchi has been a section violist in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 1998, and since 2000, principal violist of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra. Before moving to Milwaukee, she was a member of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in Washington D.C. In addition to her orchestral experience, Ms. Higuchi enjoys playing chamber music as often as possible; she was violist of the Arianna String Quartet in 1994 when they were awarded Grand Prize at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, as well as First Prizes at both Coleman and Carmel competitions. Ms. Higuchi was also violist of the Miro String Quartet in 1996, and she is currently violist in the Milwaukee String Quartet. Ms. Higuchi has been spending her summers up north since joining the Washington Island Music Festival in 1999. This summer will also include chamber music coaching and performing at the Green Lake Music Festival, where the Milwaukee String Quartet will be in residence.

Ms. Higuchi performed the Talin with the WBHS Philharmonic Orchestra at their January 13, 2003 concert.