Faculty

Ben Hans

Percussion

Ben received his Bachelors of Fine Arts Music and Professional Business Marketing from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. He has taught percussion for 13 years. Teaching a variety of styles including orchestral, rudimental, jazz, funk, rock, latin, mallet percussion, hand percussion and auxiliary percussion. Ben is also an instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College and is a composer, author, proofreader and arranger for Hal Leonard Publishing.

Larry Kaplin

Guitar
Larry Kaplin-Larry is an advanced guitarist who has been teaching guitar and playing in local bands for over thirty years. Larry works with students of all ages and levels from beginner to advanced. Techniques that Larry features in his lessons include flat and finger picking, and styles he is fluent in include Rock, Jazz, Latin, Blues, Classical, Country, and Chord-Melody Style and arrangement.

Elaina Grinwald

Violin:

Elaina has been teaching at the Academy for 3 years. Her extensive performance background includes 6 years orchestra experience as well as solos, trios, quartets, and chamber orchestra. Elaina is passionate about violin and has completed course work at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She is well liked by her students.

Hillary Johns

Piano, Voice and Trumpet:

Hillary has studied music for years with experience in choral, vocal jazz, a cappella,
ensembles, musical theatre and sings professionally. She was a member of the
2000 Wisconsin School Music Assn State Honors vocal jazz group and has sang
the national anthem at a 2001 Milwaukee Bucks game. She has performed in
numerous jazz clubs in Europe and South America. Hillary has been teaching
professionally for 5 years.

Charles Mayer

Drums and Guitar

Jan Snowden

Piano and Organ

Jan received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin Milaukee. She has 35 years experience at West Granville Presbyterian Church. She has taught in the West Bend area for 19 years and is regarded as one of the finest teachers in the area. She is passionate about her students and has a very warm caring personality.

Skip Collins

Guitar Banjo Anything with Strings

Skip has over 40 years of instrumental experience and over 30 years as a professional musician and teacher. Skip brings a broad base of technical, practical, theoretical, and creative subject matter to the study of guitar and banjo. Fields of study include Acoustic steel string, fingerstyle and flatpick styles, Electric Rock guitar, Jazz guitar, 5 string banjo, scruggs & melodic styles.

Laura Schulz

Piano and Voice:

Laura earned a degree in Elementary Education. She has taught music in schools, directed adult and children’s choirs, and founded and directed handbell choirs. In addition to private lessons, Laura serves as church organist and choir accompanist. She has been with the Academy for 2 years. Laura is well liked by all of her students and is qualified to teach all levels and ages.

Lee Smith

Guitar, Classical Style, Electric, Banjo, Mandolin, Harmonica

Lee studied at Delgado Community College in New Orleans. Likes Baroque, Figured Bass and all things Bach.

Jay Tamez
Guitar - Voice - Songwriting - Recording

Spanish Flamenco, Classical, Fingerstyle, Rock, Blues and R&B
My writing reveals my feelings and emotions. Some of my songs are true accounts of the past. Others reflect the way I look at life or events.

Rachel Tolkinen

Clarinet, Flute, Alto Saxaphone, Piano:

Rachel earned her Bachelor of Arts in Clarinet performance at Wisconsin Lutheran College and her Masters of Music in Clarinet Performance at the University of Nebraska. She has taught private clarinet lessons for 7 years and has worked with private schools as clarinet choir director, section leader and teacher. Rachel has an extensive performance background with orchestra, band, ensembles, marching band and chamber groups. She enjoys doing solo recitals and performances.

June Uebelacher

Piano:

June is a seasoned Piano Teacher with extensive experience. She has taught Hundreds of students in the West Bend area over the years. June is a very Warm caring person and works hard to get her students to excel at piano. Her students score well in competition.