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.
June Schenk, Violin
June Schenk received a B.F.A. from UW-Milwaukee, and an M.M. with Kodaly emphasis from UW-Whitewater. She furthered
her training by studying the Suzuki method at UW-Stevens Point and the Rolland method with renowned pedagogue Mimi Zweig.
A dedicated teacher, June taught music in the Milwaukee Public Schools for twenty years. She was a violinist and manger
of the Bach Chamber Orchestra, and has studied with Abram Loft and Jerome Franke.
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.
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