Milwaukee Center For Strings
 

Faculty at MCS

Beth Bender, Cello

Beth Bender holds an M.M. in Cello Performance from the Conservatory of Music at University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a Performer’s Certificate in Chamber Music from UW-Milwaukee. Her teaching experience is extensive, holding positions with Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Waukesha Area Youth Orchestras, as well as performing with the Waukesha, Racine and Festival City Symphonies and the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra. Outside of cello performance her special interest is Chamber Music and she hopes to create a summer chamber program at Center for Strings.

Janet Christopulos, Violin

Janet Christopulos holds a B.A. from Alverno College, and an M.A. from the University of Detroit. She received Suzuki training from the summer workshops at UW-Stevens Point, and studied violin with Sr. Noraleen Retinger at Mt. Mary College. A former member of the Milwaukee Civic Orchestra, Mrs. Christopulos has been teaching the Suzuki method since 1983, and was the Director of the Center for Strings from 1990-2001. She was cited in Wisconsin Magazine as one of 12 Women in Wisconsin Making a Difference (January, 2002).

Jonathan Landis, Violin/Viola

Jonathan Landis received his early training at the Wisconsin Conservatory and the String Academy of Wisconsin under the instruction of Mimi Zweig. This training was augmented by intensive summer training at Indiana Univeristy and the National Orchestral Institute of Maryland. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and his teachers include Ralph Evans, Efim Boico, Yuri Beliavsky, and Jerry Homer. He has performed with many area professional orchestras including Racine, Kenosha, Wauksesha and Festival City Symphony Orchestras as well as recording with Rick Forkes on the CD “Suitable for Framing.” Jonathan also plays the electric violin in a band with heavy metal musicians. He teaches the Suzuki Method to younger children as well as older beginning adults and is eager to share his love of the violin and viola with students at Center for Strings.

Nancy Maio, Violin

Nancy Maio is a professional freelance violinist in the Milwaukee area. She received Violin Performance degrees from UW-Madison (B.M.), and Boston University (M.M.). Mrs. Maio is an active performer with several local orchestral groups, owner of the music contracting agency Elegant Music Services, and a member of the Celtic band, the Wise Maids.

Lo-Ann Trembley, Violin/Viola

Lo-Ann Zhora Trembley holds a B.A. cum laude from the University of Toledo, the M.Div. from the Chicago Theological Seminary, and an M.A. from Marquette University. She was trained in violin pedagogy, with Suzuki emphasis, by Sr. Noraleen Retinger at Mt. Mary College, and student-taught under nationally-recognized clinician Kathleen Wojick-May. The Assistant Director of Music Makers, she is also Co-Pastor of Broken Walls Christian Community, an urban multicultural ministry with special concern for persons who happen to be mentally challenged. Along with her husband, Lo-Ann is the author of four books, including their most recent title, The Gratitude Attitude.

Kathleen Wojcik-May, Director Music Makers

Kathleen Wojcik holds a B.Ed. and an M.E.P.D. in Music Education from UW-Whitewater and is a certified Kodaly, Orff Schulewerk and Early Childhood teacher. She was trained in traditional teaching techniques at Whitewater and in the Suzuki Method by Sr. Noraleen Retinger. She is a Co-Founder of the Milwaukee Center for Strings and the WISTA Elementary Orchestra Camp. Kathleen has authored several textbooks in music education and has lectured throughout the U.S. Performance venues include the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and Chamber Singers, solo concerts, back-up for documentary films as well as providing music for weddings and other events.