Eau Claire Music School Instructors

Here at the Eau Claire Music School, dedicated and experienced teachers
make learning an instrument fun. We cater to a wide variety of instruments and
learning styles. Call today, and tell us about your musical goals. We'll match you
with the instructor that best fits your needs.

SHAWN SMETS
Program Director

Shawn is responsible for implementing new programs, organizing events, communicating with our members, and meeting the needs of everyone at the Eau Claire Music School.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in Elementary Education   Professional Musician Since 2007   Instruments: Plays Over a Dozen Different Instruments Including Guitar, Drums, and Accordion   Interests: Tutor, Coach, Camp Director, Outdoor Enthusiast, and Music Lover

DANIEL SULLIVAN
Music Lesson Instructor

Daniel has been performing throughout the US and Canada since 2003. He teaches piano at Immanuel Lutheran High School and College and general music to grades 1-8 at Messiah Lutheran School.

Education: Doctorate from Juilliard in Organ Performance, Master's Degree from Yale in Organ Performance, and Bachelor's Degree from Oberlin Conservatory in Organ Performance and Music Theory   Professional Musician Since 2003   Instruments: Piano, Organ, Music Theory, Counterpoint   Interests: Bible, Family, Nature, and Arranging Music   danielsullivanorgan.com

PHIL CIRCLE
Music Lesson Instructor

Phil has spent more than 20 years writing and performing around the nation. He coaches students ranging from absolute beginners to working professionals in guitar, voice, the art of songwriting, and aspects of the music business. He also conducts workshops for kids and adults alike. Phil has released several original albums, all of which have received critical acclaim and national attention.

Education: Bachelor's degree from Columbia College - Chicago in Music Composition and Performance (Magna Cum Laude)   Professional Musican Since 1989   Instruments: Guitar, Voice, Electric Bass, and Ukulele   Interests: Writing for Magazines, Writing Plays, Acting, History, and Cooking   philcirclemusic.com

CATHY REITZ
Music Lesson Instructor

Cathy can help you realize your voice’s fullest potential, whether you are beginning or advanced. She has decades of experience teaching jazz, classical, musical theater, and solo/ensemble singing. She has taught private lessons, classrooms, and choirs. She performs with the Master Singers of Eau Claire as well as fronts big bands and jazz combos. She also performs in many regional theater productions.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from St. Norbert College in Music, Master's Degree from UW-LaCrosse in Education, National Board Certified Teacher   Professional Musician Since 1973   Instruments: Voice   Interests: Directing the DeLong Middle School Choir and the Chippewa Valley Community Choir; Performing Classical, Big Band, Jazz, and Musical Theater; Enjoying Her Children and Grandchildren; Crafting; and Reading

PETER PHIPPEN
Music Lesson Instructor

Peter Phippen is an innovative performer of flutes of the world. Researching the performance technique and history of his vast collection of aerophones led him to bring this knowledge to concert stages, educational facilities, workshops, and artist residencies across the US and Europe. He has earned nominations for a Grammy Award as well as three Native American Music Awards. Peter's educational and entertaining program covers the folklore and history of world flutes.

Education: Studied at Berklee College of Music - Boston, Massachusetts   Professional Musician Since 1968   Instruments: Native American Flute and Native American Style Flute, World Flutes, Electric Bass Technique, and Improvisation   Interests: Night, Wind, Sunny Days, Woods, Thunderstorms, Antique Bamboo Flutes, His Children and Grandchildren   www.reverbnation.com/peterphippen www.peterphippen.com

JUDY WILLINK
Music Lesson Instructor

Judy has taught choir, private voice, piano and general classroom music in public schools for over 30 years. She is a frequent performer in community theater productions around the area, and has appeared professionally on stage. She currently sings in the Master Singers of Eau Claire, and performed in concert tours to Rome, Paris, and London with this group. Judy performs keyboard and Native American flute for special occasions, festivals, church events, and supper clubs.

Education: Graduate studies at University of Minnesota-Minneapolis and Conservatory of Music at University of Missouri-Kansas City and Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in Music Education   Professional Musician Since 1972   Instruments:  Piano, Voice, and Native American Style Flute   Interests: Board of Directors for Eau Claire Children’s Theatre Choral Ensemble Singing, Native American Music, and History Composition

BRUCE HERING
Music Lesson Instructor

Bruce Hering doesn't FEEL like he's been a music teacher for 30 years, but everyone keeps telling him it's true. His bands have won dozens of regional festival Best Band awards in the Midwest, and have been selected seven times to the national jazz festival, Essentially Ellington, in New York City. His students have performed with the Count Basie Band, Wynton Marsalis, Maynard Ferguson, and many others.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in Music Education   Professional Musician Since 1980s   Instruments:  Trumpet   Interests:  North High School Band Director, He lives on Lake Wissota with his wife Jamie and his two dogs Buddy and Mister.

ADELYN STREI
Music Lesson Instructor

Adelyn writes songs, plays guitar, and sings in local indie-rock band Adelyn Rose. She has released an EP and is recording a full length album on which she plays acoustic and electric guitar, piano, clarinet, flute, and sings. As a University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire student, she studied jazz and classical saxophone and winds as well as played in Jazz Ensemble 1 and Symphony Orchestra.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in Liberal Studies   Professional Musician Since 2007   Instruments: Guitar, Voice, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, and Songwriting   Interests: Writing, Recording, Performing, and Teaching Music   www.facebook.com/adelynrose adelynrose.bandcamp.com/album/ adelyn-rose-ep

SHAWNA EILTS
Music Lesson Instructor

Shauna has taught general music and choir in the schools for 12 years. She studied piano pedagogy with Helen Marlaishe, and is currently teaching choir at Northstar Middle School.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University in Music Education and Piano Performance   Professional Musician Since 1997   Instrument: Piano   Interests: Teaching Piano, Soccer Games and Riding Bike

SHARON SEYMOUR
Music Lesson Instructor

Sharon has taught general music from elementary through high school, jazz studies, marching band, and music theory in the Fond du Lac and Eau Claire Area School Districts.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in Music Education   Professional Musician Since 1973   Instruments: Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, and Music Theory

JEFF JAWORSKI
Music Lesson Instructor

Jeff studied classical guitar at the University of Wisconsin - Waukesha and University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. Jeff is a frequent performer around the Chippewa Valley.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay in Music Applied   Professional Guitar Teacher Since 2004   Instruments: Guitar

DAVE POWER
Music Lesson Instructor

Dave has played with Meridene, Duncan Ninja, UW - Eau Claire Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble 1, The Robert Baca Jazz Orchestra, Nnenna Freelon, Benny Golson, and Alexandre Tharaud.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in Music-Liberal Arts   Professional Musician Since 2005   Instruments: Percussion and Drums   myspace.com/meridene myspace.com/davecpower

BEV WARD
Music Lesson Instructor

Bev took private lessons as an adult and taught with her instructor for several years. In 2000, she opened The Music Lesson Center which eventually became the Eau Claire Music School.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in Music Education   Professional Musician Since 1980   Instrument: Piano

LAURIE LAU
Music Lesson Instructor

Laurie currently teaches in the Fall Creek School District, directs the Squires Band at Messiah Lutheran School, and teaches piano and flute at Immanuel Lutheran High School and College.

Education: Master's Degree from Ohio State University in Flute Performance and Bachelor's Degree from Minnesota State University - Mankato in Instrumental Music Education   Professional Musician Since 1988   Instruments: Piano and Flute   Interests: Performs with the Chippewa Valley Symphony and Trillium Flutes

SHANE LEONARD
Music Lesson Instructor

Shane's diverse musical resume and experience teaching improv comedy, high school English, and theater make Shane a passionate educator and performer. Beginning drum lessons at age of five with Milwaukee jazz greats, he continued percussion studies through college, learning banjo, guitar, mandolin, piano and fiddle along the way. Shane has studied with masters of Appalachian and Southern traditional music. He also taught American roots music and West African drumming summer courses at Yale University.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in English Education   Professional Musician Since 1999   Instruments: Percussion, Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, and Fiddle   Interests: Performing with His Bands (Kalispell, Stoop Singers, and Gryn Gryn), Hiking, Camping, and Soccer

OLAF LIND
Music Lesson Instructor

At the age of four, Olaf began playing violin with the London Suzuki Group in London, England. After moving to Washington DC, he continued his studies of violin and viola with members of the National Symphony Orchestra. At 15, he became a member of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra in Dubuque, Iowa and spent the last two years of high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Olaf has played violin and viola in the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra, numerous string quartets, and improvisational groups spanning rock 'n' roll, blues and jazz.

Education: Interlochen Arts Academy, Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in Philosophy   Professional Musician Since 1990   Instruments: Violin and Viola   Interests: Classic British Roadsters, Literature, Film, The Space Between the Notes

ANDREA BLAESER
Music Lesson Instructor

Andrea has taught private piano lessons for 13 years. She has worked with students of all ages from preschool through adults. She is the staff accompanist at Hope United Methodist Church and also accompanies at church services and weddings for several other area churches.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Elementary/Middle Education   Professional Musician Since 1998   Instruments: Piano   Interests: Music, Reading, Sewing, and Spending Time with Family and Friends

LORI KIMBLE
Music Lesson Instructor

Lori has worked as a private piano and vocal instructor, elementary general music teacher, church choir director, and with a non-profit music and jazz education organization. Lori most enjoys working with children and adults at the beginning and intermediate levels.

Education: Master's Degree from Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff in Education and Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in Music Education   Professional Musician Since 1979   Instruments:  Keyboards and Voice

META HILSON
Music Lesson Instructor

Meta started taking piano lessons when she was seven and studied with Dr. Alexandre Dossin at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire after high school. She accompanies at church services and weddings.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in Music (Cum Laude)   Professional Piano Teacher Since 2007   Instruments: Piano

PAUL BRANDT
Music Lesson Instructor

Paul has played with Meridene, Adelyn Rose, The Gentle Guest, and University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Jazz ensembles where he studied jazz piano under Scott Currier.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in Political Science   Professional Musician Since 2005   Instruments: Piano and Guitar   myspace.com/meridene

ELIZABETH HART
Music Lesson Instructor

Elizabeth Hart is an accompanist and solo performer in the Chippewa Valley. She teaches high school French for many school districts through CESA 10 and Wisconsin Virtual School.

Education: Doctorate from State University of New York - Buffalo in French, Master's Degree from the University of Massachusetts in Comparative Literature, and Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in Music and Piano Performance   Professional Musician Since 1988   Instruments: Piano   Interests: Music, Literature, Education, Foreign Language, Culture, and Her Children

HEATHER SCHULTZ
Music Lesson Instructor

Heather began taking piano lessons at the age of ten and has served as an active liturgist and accompanist throughout the years. She is a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from Viterbo University in Music Performance, Piano Pedagogy Emphasis (Summa Cum Laude)   Professional Musician Since 2007   Instrument: Piano and Voice   Interests: Composition, Music Theory, Church Music, Choir, and Reading

DEAN LANGBY
Music Lesson Instructor

Dean has been a cellist in community orchestras since high school, and has played with numerous traveling Broadway shows at the Weidner Center in Green Bay. He has backed up musicians as diverse as Smokey Robinson, Aaron Neville and Melissa Manchester. Currently, Dean is a member of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from Carleton College in English   Professional Musician Since 1983   Instruments: Cello and Violin   Interests: Gardening, Organizing, Playing Fiddle for Barn Dances, and Home-Schooling One of His Two Daughters

ZENON WOJCIK
Music Lesson Instructor

Born in Hamburg, Germany to Polish refugees, Zenon arrived in the US in 1957. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, as a self-described "child of the 60's". Zenon attended a catholic school where he was introduced to the accordion. He stopped playing after college, but picked it up again around the turn of the century. In 2006, he formed a klezmer band.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from the University of Washington in Prosthetics and Orthotics (Currently working as a certified prosthetist for a private practice in Eau Claire)   Professional Musician Since 2003   Instruments:  Accordion   Interests:  Music, Fishing, Restoring Old Accordions, and Raising Four Children

MINDY PETERSON
Music Lesson Instructor

Mindy Peterson has enjoyed music her whole life, but began formal training during her high school years. Specializing in vocal and general music, she has experience playing piano, trumpet, french horn, and guitar, as well as singing.

Education: Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point in Music Education   Professional Musician Since 2006   Instruments:  Piano and Voice   Interests:  Kindergarten and 1st Grade Music Teacher in the Chippewa Falls School District

SAMANTHA ANGELL
Music Lesson Instructor

Samantha is a talented high school musician who just joined our school in 2009. She came to us highly recommended. She loves working with beginning violin students.

Education: High School Senior   Professional Musician Since 2009   Instruments: Violin