Alumni to premiere new film “All That Glitters” in the Milwaukee Film Festival
PSOA alum Noah Meister (BFA 2021, Film) is set to screen his debut film “All That Glitters” at this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival.
“All That Glitters” follows a high school student named Christopher as his life is turned upside down by a drug deal gone wrong. Meister and his cinematographer, Evan Sawyer (BFA 2021, Film), sat down with Tiffany Ogle and Molly Fay on TMJ4’s The Morning Blend to talk further on the subject.
“I wrote this story about an important time of my life,” Meister says. “I think this is an important time of a lot of people’s lives.”
To watch the show or read the article, visit TMJ4.
Musical theatre head Sheri Pannell awarded with Black Excellence Award
In February, Sheri Williams Pannell (Associate Professor, Theatre; Area Head, Musical Theatre) received a Black Excellence Award in the “Women in Music” category, being recognized for her decades of contributions to the musical theater community.
Black Excellence Awards
Every year, the Black Excellence Awards honors extraordinary African Americans in Milwaukee across arts, education, business, and more.
“I was absolutely elated,” said Pannell, reflecting on receiving her award. “There are so many African American women who are doing great work in musical theater. To be selected was just so uplifting.”
The organization was founded in 1985 by Nathan Conyers, Louvenia Johnson, and Luther Golden, who were instrumental to Pannell’s love of musical theater.
Specifically, Pannell considers Golden her “stage father” as he encouraged her to perform in her first professional theater experience, a production of Showboat at Washington Park in Milwaukee.
“He saw something special in me and he encouraged me,” said Pannell. “He took my hand and we went out to perform. A spark was lit, and he was a part of that.”
These founders made a lasting impact on Pannell, making this award even more meaningful.
“Knowing now that I’m a part of their legacy through the Black Excellence Awards is something I could never have dreamt,” said Pannell. “I’m grateful that I’m able now to impact young artists as a member of the faculty at the Peck School of the Arts, as they did for me.”
Pannell’s career and education approach
Throughout her illustrious career, Pannell has made significant contributions to Milwaukee’s Black and musical theater communities. Among them was Pannell’s production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Skylight Theatre in 2006. This marked the first time Skylight hired a Black director, she recalls.
“I felt a pressure to make sure that whatever I did was performed with excellence,” said Pannell. “Sometimes when you’re the first, you’re opening the door and holding the door for the next person, so you want to do it well.”
Another career highlight, Pannell noted, was in 2017 when she was commissioned to write a play about Milwaukee’s African American community titled Welcome to Bronzeville.
All her experience has been brought back to PSOA, where she mentors members of her community both on and off stage, encouraging young artists to “go all out” and learn as much as possible.
“When I find students who have that passion and drive and a really fine work ethic, I will always get behind them and promote them,” said Pannell. “I love seeing them develop and grow not only while they are here at PSOA but when they graduate, being able to fulfill themselves and work full time as an artist.”
Serving as a UWM faculty member has been a perfect fit for Pannell, as she recognizes that PSOA is the place for the next generation of performers and creators to hone their craft and achieve great things.
“I believe in making yourself accessible and available to the students so that they get a chance to get to know you beyond the classroom,” said Pannell. “They have an opportunity through their training at Peck School of the Arts to really fulfill their dreams.”
Story by Jason McCullum ’25
Complex staging brings “Curious Incident” to life for PSOA Theatre Department’s season closer
The Peck School’s 2024-25 theatre season ends this week with “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” a critically acclaimed Tony and Olivier Award-winning play by Simon Stephens based on the novel by Mark Haddon.
Directed by Ralph Janes (Teaching Faculty III, Theatre Education & Directing; Area Head, Theatre Education), this play features a complex staging that immerses the audience in the mind of the main character, Christopher, and allows theatre students to enhance their skills as performers.
The staging of “Curious Incident”
The stage setup of “Curious Incident” is a large part of PSOA’s approach to telling this story and navigating its complex topics.
“There’s a lot of ‘tech’ to do with this show, and part of that is because the show comes from Christopher’s mind,” said junior JoHannah Wiggins. “There are a lot of different moving pieces and a lot going on.”
The tech Wiggins is referencing includes a collection of TVs that hang above the stage, five screens with projections surrounding the stage, and a large ramp that extends from stage left to the audience.
Throughout the show, the screens show what is happening on stage from different perspectives, including Christopher’s via a body cam. Actors operate the rest of the cameras that capture the show on stage.
“We’re taking a lot of the tech stuff into our own hands,” said Wiggins. “Almost all of us are almost always on or near stage and always engaged in it… It’s been a long time since a contemporary, tech-heavy show has been on Mainstage.”
Skylar Staebler in rehearsal | Photo by Cameron Wise ’26 (BFA Film)
This setup has provided a fresh experience for the cast and crew, with Wiggins noting how it has been a positive opportunity for everyone to learn and grow.
“While it’s uncomfortable at times, we’ve really jumped in and embraced it,” said Wiggins. “There are a lot of different people collaborating to bring this together.”
With so many set pieces for actors to get comfortable with, the crew has played a vital role in ensuring a smooth production. Junior Autumn Gill, who plays Christopher’s teacher Siobhan in the show, specifically praised the work of the stage managers in bringing this show together.
“The stage managers are amazing,” said Gill. “They’ve made sure that we know our blocking so when we went into the space, I was like ‘Oh, I know this.’”
“Curious Incident” has also benefited from an excellent director in Janes, whom Gill has also been highly appreciative of through this process.
“Ralph is one of my favorite people to work with,” said Gill. “He has genuinely been the best guiding hand in this crazy theatre world… He took time out of his day to do accent work with me. You can’t really get that one-on-one time anywhere else.”
Preparing to work with the tech
To mirror the professional theatre world, students did not step on stage and work with the show’s technological aspects until two weeks before opening. While this can prove stressful for some, Gill and her fellow cast members were taught to be well-prepared to ensure a smooth transition.
“This is the most prepared I’ve felt for a show,” said Gill. “We were off book by spring break, which was only two weeks into production… It’s felt like I could go on and do a Broadway show tomorrow.”
Gabe Rodriguez in rehearsal | Photo by Cameron Wise ’26 (BFA Film)
To help prepare, theatre students had the stage setup taped out in their rehearsal space so they could get used to the staging. Sophomore Zane Kurs, one of the actors who plays Christopher, described how these preparations were crucial to getting familiar with the production.
“Finally getting onto our set, there’s a sense of familiarity,” said Kurs. “It’s less strange for me than one might expect because while this is my first time on this ramp, I feel like I’ve walked it hundreds of times.”
For many, including Kurs, the professional atmosphere of this production has made the whole experience more exciting and fulfilling.
“We’re doing this as close to the way as it’s going to be in the field while still being given the chance to learn,” said Kurs. “We want to get prepared for that professional practice while still learning, as that’s what we’re here to do… I find it really helpful.”
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” opens on April 30 and runs through May 4, 2025, at the Mainstage Theatre. For more information and tickets, visit the PSOA events calendar.
Story by Jason McCullum ’25
Dance alum Davalois Fearon premieres new work at 2025 Vision Festival in New York City
PSOA alum Davalois Fearon (MFA 2016, Dance) is set to premiere her new dance piece “Up/right” at the 2025 Vision Festival in New York City.
In an article written by A.A. Cristi for Broadway World, Fearon gives more depth about her newest dance piece and the inspiration behind it. As part of her Finding Herstory Project, “Up/right” explores how racial segregation impacts the art of dance in America, featuring cross-cultural movements and non-Western African diasporic forms.
The piece incorporates many elements of Black culture and art, being heavily influenced by Fearon’s sociocultural background and Afro-Jamaican-informed contemporary dance style.
Guest choreographer Katy Pyle brings a fresh and positive approach to ballet to Springdances 2025
Springdances: Revel & Reckon opens on Thursday, April 24, and features work from NYC-based artist and choreographer Katy Pyle alongside UWM Dance faculty.
Pyle is an accomplished dancer and the founder of Ballez, a New York City ballet company that restages classical dances to promote LGBTQ+ narratives. They visited UWM in the spring semester to work with our dance students ahead of Springdances.
‘Four days in which everyone was all in’
Springdances proved to be a perfect opportunity for Pyle to reset a work they created during the pandemic, which was previously only presented via livestream from an empty theater.
Reworking it in 2025 was a positive experience for Pyle. They feel this new version reflects the chaos a lot of students may be feeling now.
“Because of the current moment… I condensed all the audition solos into one chaotic mad scene in which everyone is auditioning at once,” said Pyle. “This feels more like this moment, when everyone I know feels threatened.”
When dance students work with guest artists, they typically have a condensed schedule. While some could perceive this as difficult, Pyle stays productive and uses the finite time together as a way to bond with students.
“I think there’s something really precious and sacred about a condensed work period, in which everyone’s sole focus is on what we’re creating together,” said Pyle. “It was only four days, but it was four days in which everyone was all in!”
During their four-day workshop, Pyle reunited with former colleague, Dawn Springer (Teaching Faculty I, Dance), whom Pyle met during an informative period at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon returning to New York, Pyle entrusted Springer to continue preparations with PSOA students.
While Pyle was grateful to have a trusted advisor to continue their work, they also placed trust and confidence in the PSOA dancers, all of whom impressed Pyle.
“I loved getting to work with the dancers, to play, to experiment, and to connect,” said Pyle. “These are really generous and receptive young artists, and I’m very grateful to them!”
Katy Pyle (left) works alongside student dancers | Submitted photo
‘Art is a necessity‘
Much of Pyle’s work through Ballez and beyond seeks to update classical ballets. This approach was brought to PSOA as Pyle worked with students to see ballet in a positive light.
“We were able to share stories both good and bad about ballet, and I think that really helped with performance quality for the dance itself,” said junior dance student Isaac Robertson. “To me, Katy’s work is all about radical self-expression and love for your community.”
Robertson expressed gratitude for working with Pyle, believing that the opportunity to work alongside guest choreographers can have lasting impacts on a student’s career.
“Not only do we get to work with more diverse artists, but we make connections, sometimes life-long connections,” Roberston said. “The people you meet in college can sometimes be the most important.”
Another student who expressed gratitude in their working relationship with Pyle is junior dance major Brooke Allison “BA” Parkinson.
Similar to Robertson, Parkinson’s past with ballet became a major part of the process in working with Pyle, which helped them feel more comfortable about the piece.
“Though the process was fast, Katy took the time to discuss our personal experiences with ballet in relation to our identities,” said Parkinson. “They placed how the choreography looks and how it feels to embody dance on the same level, encouraging us to think about how we can make ballet both physically and mentally as comfortable as possible.”
Parkinson praised Pyle for promoting the limitless possibilities that are available in the arts.
“Art is a necessity, it’s not some frivolous thing we do or see to pass the time; it’s created to express oneself and connect with others,” said Parkinson. “Not only can guest artists lead to future career opportunities, they give us exposure and insight as to what is possible in the arts.”
Springdances: Revel & Reckon premieres five bold new dance works that capture the beauty and contradictions of contemporary life with choreography by Katy Pyle and UWM Dance faculty Dr. Mair Culbreth, Maria Gillespie, Ishmael Konney, and Gina Laurenzi. Springdances: Revel & Reckon opens April 24 and runs through April 27 at Kenilworth Square East.
Alum Kathryn Henry named one of 10 finalists in 2025’s Paris Opera Competition
Kathryn Henry (BA 2016, Music), a soprano, was named one of 10 finalists in 2025’s Paris Opera Competition, a biennial competition devoted to discovering and helping promote early-career opera singers.
Henry began auditioning for the competition in late 2024. After months of preparation, she was announced as a finalist, one of only two artists from the United States to be selected among the international pool of applicants. She is set to perform for the Paris Opera Competition in November.
docUWM documentary among the many PSOA connections to Milwaukee Film Festival lineup
Several alums, students and faculty are screening films this spring as part of the 2025 edition of the Milwaukee Film Festival. The Peck School of the Arts is excited to highlight the incredible work that our filmmakers and artists are bringing to the Milwaukee community. We’ve rounded up some PSOA connections among the festival selections.
Brady Street: A Portrait of a Neighborhood
One of this year’s most anticipated offerings is Brady Street: A Portrait of a Neighborhood, a feature-length documentary made by docUWM. The film chronicles the rise, fall, and rise again of one of Milwaukee’s most popular neighborhoods.
Brady Street was directed by Sean Kafer (Teaching Faculty II, Film; Program Director, docUWM) in collaboration with Brady Street Business Improvement District. More than 80 students and alums worked on this project as part of PSOA’s docUWM program, an endeavor that Kafer describes as “energizing.”
“It wasn’t just about making a film; it was about building relationships with each other and with the Brady Street community,” said Kafer. “That collaborative spirit is what made the storytelling so rich and meaningful.”
One of Kafer’s standout collaborators was Emanuel Zander, who worked on the film while a student. After two years in the making, Zander is excited for the documentary to resonate with the festival audience.
“I really hope the audience takes away the sense of community. Not just the community that is shown in the film, but connections that they have of their own,” said Zander. “I hope they seek out ways to make those connections stronger to make our communities stronger.”
Kafer also collaborated with Georgia Didier, a student who felt a personal connection to the film as she was living in the Brady Street neighborhood while the film was being made.
“Brady Street is such a gem in the Milwaukee community,” said Didier. “It’s the place where I grew as a filmmaker. For me, this film is very personal, and I’m just so happy I get to share a part of my growth with the rest of my community.”
Brady Street: A Portrait of a Neighborhood will screen at the Oriental Theatre on May 2 and at the Downer Theatre on May 4 and 7.
All That Glitters
Noah Meister (BFA 2021, Film) is bringing his feature debut, All That Glitters, to the Milwaukee Film Festival.
This coming-of-age film follows Christopher, a high schooler whose frustrating suburban life accidentally leads him to a drug deal gone wrong. Christopher must face the consequences of his dangerous actions.
All That Glitters screens at the Downer Theatre on April 29 and 30 and the Oriental Theatre on May 1.
Fresh Values
Fresh Values is a short film co-directed by Drew Durepos (MFA 2018, Film) and Isaac Brooks (Lecturer & Technical Assistant, Film).
The film, set in the near future, follows an urban food co-op that adopts AR technology in an effort to save their struggling store. The strategy proves too successful.
Fresh Values screens during The Milwaukee Show II.
Full Out
Sarah Ballard’s (Lecturer, Film) short film follows high school cheerleaders fainting en masse as the result of a nineteenth-century hospital in France that hypnotized patients to reproduce the symptoms of hysteria for public audiences. Full Out is the first in a suite of films that investigates historical accounts of mass hysteria.
Full Out screens before Baby Doe.
Heart Shaped
Co-directed by Grace Mitchell (Lecturer, Film) and Sofia Theodore-Pierce (MFA 2021, Cinematic Art), Heart Shapedexplores seven guests staying at a themed hotel.
Heart Shaped screens during The Milwaukee Show I.
Home-land: Hmong American Women
Directed by Pader Xiong (BFA 2024, Film), Home-land: Hmong American Womenis a stand-alone short film related to the Home-land video installation exhibition. Xiong’s short explores the identities of Hmong American Women.
Home-land screens during The Milwaukee Show I.
Mandatory Bathroom Break
Directed by Alyssa Sue Borkowski (BFA 2021, Film), Mandatory Bathroom Break is a short film about a moving truck employee awaiting the most important call of his life while actively on the job.
Mandatory Bathroom Break screens during The Milwaukee Show II.
The Phalanx
The Phalanx is a lyrical, experimental film that explores utopian aspirations from the point of view of a community guided by principles of harmony. Directed by Ben Balcom (Assistant Professor, Film), this short film was shot on the former site of Ceresco, a nineteenth-century agrarian commune in Ripon, Wisconsin.
The Phalanx screens during The Milwaukee Show II.
Black Lens Series
The popular Black Lens Series presents genre-varying short films that reflect the relationship between Blackness, tension, and conflict. Ty Williams (BFA 2020, Film) is the lead programmer for Black Lens and selected the short films that will be shown this year.
The Milwaukee Film Festival runs April 24, 2025 to May 8, 2025 at the Oriental and Downers theaters.
Story by Jason McCullum ’25
EDITOR’S NOTE: This list is accurate and as comprehensive as possible at the time of publication. If we missed a PSOA connection, please accept our sincere apologies! Contact us, and we’ll gladly update the article.
Future FVANG student named emerging artist by local publication
Ben McMillen, a senior student at White Bear Area High School entering PSOA’s Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres this fall, was recently featured as an emerging artist by Press Pubs.
In the article written by Logan Gion, McMillen speaks on his preparation and dedication to pursue his dreams of directing. He also shares how theatre helped him get to where he is today.
“As I go into a career doing this sort of thing, it’ll be a lot of help to get this early experience,” McMillen said.
UWM alum Sarah Tramonte (BFA 2017, Art) spoke with Sandy Reitman from the Shepherd Express about her new start-up business, Tramonte Food & Styling Co.
Tramonte Food & Styling Co. offers a wide range of services, including recipe tasting, in-studio food product photography, restaurant food photography, food styling, cookbook photography, menu planning, and private dining.
“I went to UW-Milwaukee for graphic design and minored in photography. For my senior showcase project, I developed my cookbook,” Tramonte says. “Thinking this would be the perfect piece to exhibit photography and design, I quickly fell in love with the food aspect of the project.”
Shepherd Express previews “A Room Shaped Story” produced by Dance lecturer and alums
Dan Schuchart (Teaching Faculty III, Dance; BFA 2004, Art) is working with PSOA alumni and Wild Space Dance Company members Kaetlyn Altmann (BFA 2019, Dance) and Ashley Ray Garcia (BFA 2022, Dance) to produce “A Room Shaped Story,” a multi-narrative piece about transitions through time and space and the connection between mind and body.
In the article written by John Schneider for Shepherd Express, Schuchart speaks on the motivation and collaborative work for the show.
“Ashley would start something, I would pick it up and work on it, and Katelyn would take it and continue it, maybe build a beginning or fill in a middle,” said Schuchart. “We’d pass it between the three of us, so it has different voices, different intonations and emphasizes.”
“A Room Shaped Story” will run from April 18-19 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theater.
Broadway World: New play by theatre alum set to premiere at Br!NK New Play Festival
Emmy-nominated writer Maria Pretzl (BFA 2014, Film; BA 2014, Theater Studies) will have her play, “Naked Tuesday,” featured at Renaissance Theaterworks’ eleventh annual Br!NK New Play Festival.
The story follows the exploits of a writer, an actor, and a writer’s assistant as they are forced to share an apartment in New York City. The performance is directed by Jess Yates.
“Naked Tuesday” will premiere at the Br!NK New Play Festival on May 17. To learn more, visit the article written by A.A. Cristi for Broadway World.
Shepherd Express provides an in-depth perspective on MFA Exhibition
Art & Design MFA 2025 graduate students Mich Dillon, Howard Leu, Tanner MacArthur, Andrew McConville (BA 2013, Art), William Justice “Bucko Crooks” Mueller II, and Rachel Sanders exhibited work in “Shape and Shadow,” a showcase of talent and effort that blends academia and art. Each artist’s work takes on personal narratives and perspectives in their own respective medium and style.
Shane McAdams for Shepherd Express provides an in-depth perspective on the processes and motivations behind each individual artist’s work, calling the exhibition a reminder “of the potential of academic nurture to prepare students for the real world.”
Outside the Bachs, co-founded by music alum, surpasses $10 million in client revenue
Outside The Bachs, a music studio development company owned by UWM PSOA alum Kelly Riordan (BA, 2017, Music: Clarinet Performance) and business partner, Isak Peterson (BA, 2015, Economics), announced that their business has surpassed $10 million in client revenue.
Riordan and Peterson founded the company in 2021 with the goal of educating private music teachers on how to successfully run a lesson studio business. Since its creation, Outside the Bachs has reportedly supported over 500 private studio owners with professional services, business strategy, marketing, and enrollment systems.
Student-run MUFF gives film students experience in the business of the arts
The UWM Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres will present the Milwaukee Underground Film Festival (MUFF) this week. One of PSOA’s most popular courses in the film program, MUFF is a student-run film festival devoted to screening independent, artist-driven films.
Not only does MUFF provide an opportunity for filmmakers to gain exposure in the Milwaukee film community, but it also offers students experience in the business side of the arts.
The business of the arts
MUFF is offered to film students as a three-credit, twice-weekly course that satisfies their requirement to obtain an internship or another form of community engagement during their time at PSOA. Many students are drawn to take MUFF as it provides practical, hands-on exposure into running a film festival.
“It doesn’t really feel like a class,” said senior student Sophia Stezala, who is minoring in film. “It feels like I’m clocking into a job, but in a good way.”
Student organizers are divided into three teams: community outreach, film screening and selection, and design and marketing.
Stezala is part of the community outreach team, working alongside senior film major Anders Waage. Both took MUFF out of a desire to learn more about the production and business-oriented aspects of the film industry.
“I thought it would be really interesting to have experience from the inside to see how a festival is built up,” said Waage. “I wanted to get a feel for how to present films professionally.”
The community outreach team tackled the logistical aspects of running a festival, including securing new locations and sponsors. Other teams took on tasks such as logo and website design, film lineup curation, and more.
No matter the task, MUFF gives students a special opportunity to not only learn about the business side of the arts but to work practically, enhancing their learning.
“I can learn all day about how to use a camera but if I’m not there actually using it, then I’m not fully learning,” said Stezala. “The ins and outs of running a festival cannot be taught without actually doing it.”
Something that goes into ensuring the success of a yearly film festival is creating a distinct product from years past. Because of that, the MUFF team worked to develop a theme for this year’s festival that reflects the time artists are creating work.
“The identity of the film festival takes on the collective identity of our filmmakers and the time period,” said Stezala.
The result for MUFF 2025 is a theme that reflects modern cyber threats, including AI and new technology.
Still from Archipelago of Earthen Bones – To Bunya by Malena Szlam
The MUFF mission
MUFF falls during a busy for the Milwaukee film community. To carve out its own distinctive space for film offerings, MUFF selects films that reflect PSOA’s commitment to producing experimental, artist-driven cinema.
“We offer opportunity to artists that do not always get that kind of platform to showcase their work,” said Waage.
MUFF selection is typically made up of non-narrative work aimed at celebrating new artistic forms and amplifying unheard voices.
The collaborative environment necessary to produce MUFF also helps reflect PSOA’s values, as the MUFF student body works with one another to ensure the festival is produced as professionally as possible.
“A big part of the artistic community is collaboration,” said Waage. “Being a part of that collaboration to help other people present their work and see how impactful that can be is really valuable.”
Still from Eurydice in the Underworld by Felicity Palma
Milwaukee Underground Film Festival runs through April 19. Visit the PSOA Events Calendar for more information.
PSOA professor and alums receive 2025 Civic Music MKE awards
Civic Music Milwaukee has announced its 2025 award recipients, and there are several honorees with ties to the Peck School of the Arts. Timothy Klabunde and Dr. Zachary Durlam will receive Citizen Awards, while Trinny Schumann and Cassie Wilson were recipients of the organization’s Education Awards.
Citizen Awards
Timothy Klabunde, who studied violin at UWM, will receive the Lifetime Achievement in Music award. After 44 years, Timothy retired from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, where he served in both violin sections and finally as Assistant Principal Second Violinist. He began his full-time employment there at the age of 23.
Additional accolades include holding the title of Concertmaster for the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, being a soloist for the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, and being a member of the teaching staff for Cardinal Stritch University.
He spends his retirement mentoring and advocating for young musicians in the Milwaukee area programs he has helped create. A Milwaukee native, Klabunde attended UWM in the 1970s, taking up violin and studying under the members of UWM’s Fine Arts Quartet.
Dr. Zachary Durlam (Associate Professor, Choral Conducting; Director, UWM Choral Activities) will receive a Distinguished Citizen Award as a professional in the arts. Durlam serves as UWM’s Choral Activities Director, director for the Master Singers of Milwaukee, choir director for Grace Lutheran Church in Grafton, and former president of the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association (WCDA).
Under his direction, UWM’s Concert Chorale has been spotlighted at numerous conferences. Along with this, his direction has also led to the Concert Chorale performing with Italian vocalist Andrea Bocelli on his 2021 “Believe” tour and UK rock band The Rolling Stones at Summerfest in 2015.
Klabunde and Durlam will receive their awards on May 7 at Live at the Ivy, a free community event showcasing musicians and community leaders from around Milwaukee at the Ivy House in Walker’s Point. All proceeds from the event go towards Civic Music MKE’s youth programming. To read their full biographies, visit Civic Music MKE.
Education Awards
Trinny Schumann
Choral director Trinny Schumann (MM 2014, Music) is honored as the 2025 recipient of the Music Teacher of the Year award. Schumann received her BA in music from Carthage College, going on to receive her master’s in music from UWM in 2014. After her time at UWM, she became the Choral Director at Nicolet High School, as well as the advisor for Nicolet High’s Tri-M Music Honors Society and the Music Director for North Shore Congregational Church.
In her pursuit to bring music into community spaces, Schumann founded Dominican High School’s North Shore Catholic Music Festival and Nicolet High School’s North Shore Vocal Arts Day. She is an active member of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, where she continues to connect music to the community.
Cassie Wilson
Cassie Wilson (BFA 2006, Music Education) is a lifelong lover of music and the recipient of the General Music Instructor Certificate. After graduating from Peck School of the Arts in 2006 with a BA in Music Education, she went on to teach music in Cedarburg, WI.
After eighteen years, Wilson still has a passion for what she does and for working with students. She currently teaches over 400 students at Thorson Elementary School. In her free time, Wilson pursues her love of musical theater by holding the title of Youth Music Director for the Falls Patio Players in Menomonee Falls, WI.
Schumann and Wilson were honored on March 9 at the 2025 Educator Awards Reception and Presentation. To read their full biographies, visit Civic Music MKE.
Founded in 1918, Civic Music Milwaukee is a community arts organization that serves musicians in the greater Milwaukee area by providing resources such as scholarships, performance opportunities, award programs, and coaching opportunities to the community. For the past nine years, the organization has been led by Executive Director Nancy Herro ‘80, who earned her BA in Music Education from UWM.
