La Crosse Area Youth Symphony Orchestras

1st Violin
Margit Severson

2nd Violin
Jessica Kalember

Jessica is a recent graduate of UW-L. She was awarded her Bachelor of Science in instrumental music education and is a state certified teacher. She has volunteered and worked for organizations which include: WISTA Elementary Orchestra Camp, UW-L String Academy, Hamilton Elementary Community Partnership fro Strings, La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and the WMEA Solo and Ensemble Competition. She commits herself to professional development as an active member of the American String Teachers Association, the National Association for Music Education and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Ms. Kalember is a violin and viola instructor at the Viterbo Preparatory School of Arts as well as at SSE Music Studios. Jessica enjoys working with students of all ages and is committed to providing an enjoyable and fulfilling musical education.

Viola
Kris Jenkins

Kris has a B.S. from UWM. She has been the violin instructor at Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School and also the Viroqua Public Schools for 6 years. Ms. Jenkins teaches private violin, viola, cello and piano lessons. Kris has been in instructor for the Viroqua Strolling Strings and the Wisconsin Strolling Strings. She is the church organist for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua. Ms. Jenkins has been a member of the 1st violin section with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra since 1977.

Cello
Mary Beth Vach

Mary Beth Vach has a BM in Cello Performance and Education from Viterbo University. She has held positions as principal cellist with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, cello instructor at Wartburg College - Waverly, IA, UW-La Crosse, La Crosse Youth Symphony, executive director of the Hiawatha Valley Chamber Music Festival and performed with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony. Mary Beth also had a private cello studio for many years. She is married to clarinetist Jim Vach and has four children. She is currently a string teacher in the La Crosse Public Schools, a member of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Riverside Classical Trio.

Bass
Troy Birdsong

 After graduating from the UW-Eau Claire in 1992 with a Bachelors of Music Education, Troy went to the University of Louisville to pursue a Masters of Music in double bass performance. After completing that degree in 1994, Mr. Birdsong lived in Lexington, KY and was a freelance bassist, performing in such orchestras as the Owensboro (KY) Symphony, West Virginia Symphony, Louisville Orchestra and the Lexington Philharmonic. In 1993, Troy received a fellowship to the Aspen Music Festival. He performed in the Round Top Music Festival during the summers of 1994 thru 1996. He began teaching orchestra in the Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, KY. In 1998, Mr. Birdsong moved to Onalaska where he lives with his wife Sharolyn and their three children. In addition to teaching in the School District of Holmen, Troy is also the principal double bass and Assistant Conductor for the La Crosse Symphony and has performed with the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra and the Rochester Symphony. He also plays jazz gigs with various musicians in the La Crosse area. Mr. Birdsong graduated from Holmen High School in 1986 and is an alumni of the LYSO!

Flute
Vicki Bigley

Vicki has over 30 years of teaching privately in her studio as well as serving as adjunct flute instructor at UW-La Crosse for over 19 years and at Winona State University for 3 years. She is a long-standing faculty member of LYSO serving as flute coach for both the Philharmonic and Youth Symphony. Her bachelor and master's degrees are from UW-La Crosse with postgraduate studies at UW-Madison and the University of Illinois. She has studied flute with Robert Cole (Philadelphia Orchestra and UW-Madison), the late Bernard Birnbaum (San Antonio Symphony) and Emil Niosi (Minnesota Orchestra). Vicki is a 30 plus year member of La Crosse Symphony, having served as principal flute for 15 years. She is a long-standing member, flute section leader and board member of the La Crosse Concert Band and also performs extensively with the Riverside Classical Trio and Rosewood Trio. Vicki has been, for many years, an active member of the National Flute Association and the Upper Midwest Flute Associaition.

Woodwinds
Jeff Copp

Bassoonist and High School Band Director, Jeff Copp teaches and performs throughout the tri-state area, with students achieving top positions in both Wisconsin and Iowa honors programs. He teaches at La Crescent High School where in April of 2009 he toured and performed in our Nation's Capitol with nearly 100 band students. His groups have achieved Excellent and Superior ratings in national competitions.

Percussion
Branden Steinmetz

Branden is currently a Music Education major with percussion emphasis at UW-La Crosse. In addition to helping the LYSO, he gives private lessons, as well as works with area school drumlines.