KATHLEEN WOJCIK-MAY

Kathleen taught vocal music for many years in Waukesha, Wisconsin. There, she directed elementary and high school choirs, taught music classes, wrote arrangements, and toured annually. Teaching included dance, song, improvisation, Orff-Schulewerk and music literacy in the Kodály Method. She has organized 1,200-voice music festivals, prepared students for solo/ensemble work in state and city contests, and coached adults in theater and choral music. She has been a faculty member at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Carroll University, Mt. Mary University, Milwaukee Public Schools Outreach program, and the Indian Community School.

Kathleen is co-founder of Milwaukee’s Center for Strings and the Wisconsin String Teachers Association Elementary String Camp. She was trained in traditional teaching techniques at the University of Wisconsin and in Suzuki Education by Sister Noraleen Rettinger at Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, WI. Vocal experience includes singing with the Milwaukee Symphony Chamber Singers, the Bach Chamber Choir, the Milwaukee Archdiocesan Choir, and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus. Solo work includes concerts, weddings, club work, and background music for documentary films. She is a church cantor. Her published works include educational textbooks - Holding on to Childhood: Perry Publications, Children Sing, Children Play: Hal Leonard Corporation - as well as articles, choral arrangements and elementary school music curriculum. She has lectured at the Music Educators National Conference, the Organization of American Orff Teachers, International Conferences of Kodály Educators, the Florida State Teachers Convention, Wisconsin Early Childhood Conferences, and Waukesha and Milwaukee Public Schools. She has worked as an artist-in-residence and has given teacher workshops. Kathleen was named Teacher of the Year in 2012 by the American String Teachers Association.

Currently, Ms. Wojcik-May is the Executive Director of MUSIC MAKERS, the Strolling Strings of Wisconsin, a unique group of student-apprentices and professional musicians, who play public and private events together, such as dinner parties, receptions, outdoor festivals and ceremonial gatherings. She also writes arrangements for the group, conducts, and is often the piano accompanist. In addition, she teaches Strings at schools and other studios. In Music, she holds a B.Ed. and an M.E.P.D; she holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Integrated Psychology, is a certified Breathworker, and a member of the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance.

PHILIP GORDON

Phil joined MUSIC MAKERS in 1989. Since graduation, Phil has served as a rehearsal coach and associate director. Phil recently completed his Masters of Library & Information Science at UW-Milwaukee.

He is an expert care-giver for Alzheimer’s patients who live at home, and hopes to continue his education in both literature and care for the elderly. In his spare time, Phil loves to read, listen to music, cook, and go to Brewers games. Phil’s favorite authors are Louise Erdrich, William Faulkner, and Thomas Pynchon. Some of his favorite musicians include, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Los Lobos, and the great jazz violinist, Stephane Grappelli. Phil’s favorite foods to eat are snow crab legs and paella, and among his favorites to cook are chili, jambalaya, and pork shoulder from his homemade smoker, an odd-looking contraption made from two large terra cotta pots. Phil loves MUSIC MAKERS for reasons too numerous to mention.

But most importantly, he is grateful that music remains a part of his life, and for the opportunity to work with great students who readily accept the challenges that each new year brings. They have worked hard and should be proud of themselves. Finally, Phil would like to thank Kathleen, for pouring more of herself into MUSIC MAKERS than anyone can ever appreciate. MUSIC MAKERS would not be what it is without Kathleen’s dedication, patience, and grace, to say nothing of her incomparable musical talents and ability to teach young people. Phil always looks forward to the next great event with MUSIC MAKERS.

PETER A. BAIME

Flamenco guitarist and Emmy Award winning composer, began his studies with Nino Bernardo in the U.S. and in Moron De La Frontera and Madrid, Spain with the legendary gypsy guitarists Diego Gastor and Paco Gastor.

He began his performance career in Chicago in 1965 and has been a senior faculty member of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music since 1969. In 1996 Mr. Baime also joined the faculty of Cardinal Stritch University. In addition to teaching, he has performed more than 2,500 concerts in public schools since 1965 under the auspices of Young Audience Inc., the Wisconsin Arts Board, Urban Gateways of Chicago and as a free lance performer. He has contributed to many Public Radio and Television broadcasts over the past 20 years in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, California, Virginia and Oregon.

Since 1993, he has written, performed and recorded six documentary scores for Bandana Productions. Mr. Baime has concertized extensively in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with additional concerts in Spain, Canada, Italy and Mexico. He has worked regularly in Chicago since 1986 performing in concert, stage shows and clubs. He has recordings on the Dr. Black and Narada labels and has commissioned several contemporary and now-published works for classical guitar.

Mr. Baime has been nationally recognized in both artistic and academic circles. Since 1985 he has been awarded public recognition certificates from the Hispanic Fraternity, the Drug Enforcement Administration of Chicago, USA Department of Veteran Affairs, Chicago, National American Loyola Chapter, Boys and Girls Clubs of Milwaukee, Kagel Elementary School and the United Community Center, Milwaukee for his contributions to the Hispanic Community. In October, 2000, he won an Emmy Award for the National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences for his original score in Indigenous Always.

Peter has been a part of MUSIC MAKERS, in various capacities, since the early 1990’s.

BRADLEY HARTNEY

Bradley has been performing and teaching violin in the Milwaukee area for over 15 years and recently earned Master of Music degrees in violin performance and violin pedagogy from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts. He enjoys performing as a pit musician and has been engaged professionally by In Tandem Theater, Falls Patio Players, Waukesha Civic Theater, Bay Players, Broccoli Theatricals and Encore Theater Company, Rogue Stage Theater, and Concordia University for various stage productions.

Bradley is passionate about playing and teaching music from a broad range of composers. While the violin is often characterized as an ‘old’ instrument - suited to standard ‘classical’ fare - Bradley believes that presenting under-appreciated and oft-unexplored repertoire provides a wonderful way to change that perception of the violin. By performing pieces by black composers or by seeking out the work of female composers, Bradley allows students and audiences to connect with music in a different, perhaps more personal, way. As the saying goes: representation matters, and Bradley continues to advocate for the inclusion of underrepresented artists so that the music presented on stage reflects the people in our communities. Recent projects include performances of William Grant Still’s Suite for Violin and Piano, Florence Price’s Elfentanz, and Amy Beach’s Romance.

Bradley is Associate Director for MUSIC MAKERS: The Strolling Strings of Wisconsin where he teaches string students ages 8-18 the art of performing off the concert stage. In his capacity as Co-Director for WISTA Summer Orchestra Camp, Bradley has served on the board for the Wisconsin chapter of the American String Teachers Association, and as the primary on-site mentor to the aspiring string teachers who are counselors at the camp. In addition to performing for hire and with community theaters, Bradley served as concertmaster for the Atlanta University Center-Wide Orchestra and the Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra, and a mathematics teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools and Wisconsin Virtual Learning

Bradley began his studies at Milwaukee Center for Strings with Janet Christopolus and later with Nancy Maio before attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. In Atlanta, he studied violin and chamber music with Spelman College professor Roumena Georgiava. At the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Bradley studied violin pedagogy with Darcy Drexler, and violin performance with Bernard Zinck. He holds degrees from Morehouse College (B.S.), Cardinal Stritch University (M.B.A.), and the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (M.M., M.M.).

LINDA PSCHEID

In February 2005, I came to my first Music Maker gig as an extra chaperone. Eighteen years later, I'm still with the group helping out in whatever way I can. Usually, I am watching the door, making sure our members arrive safely. Several years ago I noticed they were often hungry. I began to bring treats which our musicians seem to enjoy.

On our retreats, I am the chief cook and bottle washer. During the pandemic, Kathleen and I created a summer day camp in my backyard carefully observing covid restrictions. Last year, I styled all the table- scapes for the spring concert, made picnic luncheons for various playdates, toted books and stands wherever they were needed. I keep in mind all known allergies and medical conditions; who is a vegan or a pescatarian, and who is lactose intolerant. Should a musician need a ride or just need someone to listen, I am there.

Before retirement I worked for BMO Harris banks, first in branches doing everything but mortgage and manage and the last 15 years in the Business Analysis department.

These young people have enriched my life, and, I hope our group has helped to enrich theirs.

JANE RINKA

Jane has been a long-time orchestra teacher in the School District of Waukesha, serving students at all grade-levels, and is co-founder of the Waukesha String Académie.

She is Past-President of the Wisconsin String Teachers Association. She had been, for over 20 years, the Executive Director of the WISTA Elementary Orchestra Camp, a project she inspired and of which she is a co-founder. That camp has served thousands of children in grades three through six over the years; many have returned as counselors in their high school and college years.

Jane has been a member of the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra as a Violinist practically since its inception.. Jane has played a number of World Premiers with this Ballet Company, including, Mirror, Mirror, Alice, Dracula, Peter Pan and this year, Beauty and the Beast. Everyone should come to the Ballet, especially when there is a live Orchestra; it is more than one can imagine.