artistic staff

James Smith, WYSO Music Director & Youth Orchestra Conductor, is on the faculty of the UW-Madison School of Music where he is Director of Orchestras and Conductor of the University Opera. A graduate of Southern Methodist University and the Cleveland Institute of Music and the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship for advanced study in London, England, Mr. Smith began his career as a clarinetist. He performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Miami Philharmonic and appeared as a soloist, performing Copland’s Clarinet Concerto with the Empire Sinfonietta, under the baton of Aaron Copland himself. Prior to his appointment at UW-Madison, Mr. Smith taught at the State University of New York –Fredonia, where he co-founded a faculty-student chamber orchestra. He has enjoyed his position with WYSO for 22 years. Photo by Katrin Talbot.

Thomas Buchhauser, WYSO Associate Music Director & Philharmonia Conductor, holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from UW-Madison and retired in 1999 after 33 years as Director of Orchestras for Memorial High School and Jefferson Middle School. Mr. Buchhauser has been chairman of the Wisconsin Honors Music Project and has received Distinguished Service Awards from the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference, Madison Metropolitan School District and the Wisconsin String Teachers Association. In 1993 the National School Orchestra Association elected him Director of the Year. He received the first Rabin Youth Arts Award in March 2001. This is Mr. Buchhauser’s 24th season with WYSO.

Christine Mata Eckel, Concert Orchestra Conductor, is
a native of Fairfield, CT, where her own youth symphony
experience culminated with a performance at New York City’s Carnegie Hall. She holds both a Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree with distinction in music education from UW-Madison. During her studies, Ms. Eckel performed and studied at music festivals in Switzerland, Italy and in the United States. While attending UW-Madison, she earned numerous scholarships and awards including the Steenbock Scholarship in Music. Ms. Eckel has served as conductor of the Concert Orchestra since 2000 and served as woodwind sectional coach for WYSO prior to her appointment as conductor. She teaches at two Madison area schools, plays in a local woodwind quintet, and maintains a private clarinet studio.

Mark Leiser, Sinfonietta Conductor, earned a Bachelor’s degree in music education from UW-Stevens Point and has taught string music in both the U.S. and Canada. In the past, he served as an orchestra director in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Beaver Dam Unified School District and the Madison Metropolitan School District. Mr. Leiser is currently the director of the middle and high school orchestras in the Watertown Unified School District. In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Leiser has been active as a conductor for musical theater, the Watertown Area Chamber Orchestra, and the Beaver Dam Area Orchestra. He is the first conductor of WYSO’s Sinfonietta, established in 1993.

Vicki Peterson Jenks, Percussion Ensemble Director

Carina Voly, Chamber Music Director

Karen Atz, Harp Program Director

Dan Brice, Brass Choir Director

administrative staff

Marie Breed, Executive Director, joined WYSO's administrative staff in 2004. A native of northern Michigan, she obtained masters degrees in music education and music performance (conducting) from Michigan State University. She spent 14 years teaching band at educational levels from elementary school to undergraduate students. She spent the last six of these years as Director of Bands at Muskego High School and the last five as Music Coordinator for the Muskego-Norway School District (in addition to teaching), and at the same time, earned a Master of Business Administration. Before coming to WYSO, Marie managed an educational publication line for Hal Leonard Corporation, a major publisher of print music. She is an active bassoonist and guest conductor.

Joseph Bernstein, Operations Manager, received his masters degree in percussion performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since his graduation, he has remained an active performer with the nationally touring Celtic rock band "The Kissers", the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and the Madison School of Ballet. Recently, Joe began teaching Jazz History, History of Pop/Rock and Music Theory at Madison Area Technical College. In addition, Joe has been teaching a private percussion studio since 2000.

Mark Lundin, Marketing and Communications Manager, received BA degrees in Music and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He worked for the Department of Music and Theatre Arts as an administrative and ensemble assistant for four years. During this time he also supervised the nationally acclaimed UW-Eau Claire Jazz Festival and coordinated the 2005 Salute to the Big Bands event. Mark also served on the Board of Directors for The Master Singers of Eau Claire.