La Crosse Area Youth Symphony Orchestras

Wind Specialist
Alex Vaver 

Violin/String Specialist
David Phipps

Dr. Phipps is a longtime member of the La Crosse Symphony. Currently, he is the viola instructor
at UW-L and teaches at Reed Music Studios in Onalaska. He is an active freelance artist in the
tri-state area.

Viola
Brad Lebakken

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
Karyn Quinn

Karyn Quinn, is an active bassist and clinician. She has served on the music faculties of Michigan Technological University and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she currently teaches bass, music theory and directs instrumental jazz ensembles. She is in great demand as a freelance bassist in both classical and jazz settings. As an orchestral bassist she has performed as principal bass with the La Crosse Symphony, Keewenaw Symphony and in the section of the Cheyenne Symphony. Karyn has performed in concert with many jazz artists including Diane Schuur, Ernie Watts, Clark Terry, James Williams, Red Rodney and Kurt Elling. Currently she performs with the Great River Big Band and The La Crosse Jazz Quartet. Karen was the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship to study with bassist, Rufus Reid and has also performed in master classes for Gary Karr. She was a finalist in the 1997 International Society of Bassists Jazz Bass Competition. Karyn is an active member of The International Society of Bassists, and The International Association of Jazz Educators. Her method books for beginning bass students, Bass Sessions, are published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company. She received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Master's degree in String Bass Performance and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado.

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.

Oboe
Mariah Olson

Mariah (Forster) Olson is a former member of the La Crosse Youth Symphony Orchestra and studied oboe technique and repertoire with Mary Beth Hensel from 1992-2001. In addition to playing the oboe, Mariah is also an accomplished pianist and vocalist. Mariah is a graduate of UW-L and received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science in 2000 and her Master's Degree in Business Administration in 2003. Throughout her collegiate studies, Mariah played with the UW-L Symphonic and Chamber Orchestras under the direction of Mr. Alden J. Hoefer. She also got the incredible opportunity to travel to Europe and play in various countries with the UW-L Orchestra. Mariah was also employed by Viterbo in the Bright Stars Orchestra and many other musical ensembles. She has also played in the La Crosse Choral Union Orchestra, the La Crosse Concert Band, the La Crosse City Band, a Winona State University Chamber Orchestra and numerous other ensembles. In addition, she was a volunteer and paid oboist and pianist for area church and school ensembles. Mariah also taught oboe lessons to students from a number of local high schools and middle schools. Mariah currently lives with her husband, Troy, in Winona but is originally from Galesville, WI.

Clarinet
Greg Balfany

Dr. Greg Balfany is Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at UW-L. He is active as a performer and music educator, giving workshops, clinics and guest performances throughout the Tri-state area. His UW-L responsibilities include clarinet and saxophone instruction and directing UW-L's nationally recognized Jazz Ensemble I. His quartet, The La Crosse Jazz quartet, has been a mainstay of the regional jazz scene for the past two decades appearing regularly at local festivals and clubs.
Dr. Balfany has performed extensively as a clarinet and saxophone soloist in both classical and jazz contexts. He has served as both principal saxophonist and clarinetist with the La Crosse Symphony and has soloed on both clarinet and saxophone with the La Crosse Concert band. He has performed with Randy Brecker, Bob Minzer, Red Holloway, Al Grey, Bob Hope, Frank Wess, Red Skelton, Marv Stamm, Kurt Elling, Clark Terry, Ed Shaughnessy and many others. Greg directs and performs with the Great River Big Band, Western Wisconsin's Jazz Repertory Orchestra.

Bassoon
Jeff Copp

Jeff currently teaches High School Band at La Crescent High School and maintains a studio of the Tri-State Area's most aspiring bassoonists. In addition, Jeff is bassoon faculty at UW-L and has taught at the UW Summer Music Clinic. Performing engagements have included the La Crosse Symphony, Opera Roanoke, Charlottsville, VA Symphony and Quintessence Woodwind Quintet. Jeff also manages the La Crosse Concert Band and has directed the Da Capo Concert Band.

French Horn
Steve Michaels

Trumpet
Tom Brown

Mr. Brown received his undergraduate degree in music education and Masters degree in performance at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and is currently a Doctoral candidate at U W Madison where he is pursuing a degree in trumpet performance. Mr. Brown is proud to be teaching trumpet at UW-L. Currently he is on call and performs throughout the country with Five By Design and performs locally with the Eau Claire Brass Works Brass Quintet. He also has worked as a music educator in the public schools since 1981, and has considerable performance experience as a lead trumpet player in professional and semi-professional big bands. Mr. Brown has studied with Dominic Spera, Bob Baca, John Aley and Bill Adam. He has toured with the Russ Morgan Big Band as well as the Guy Lombardo Big Band under the direction of Al Pearson. In regional bands, Mr. Brown has played lead trumpet extensively with The Water St. Big Band, Prime Time Big Band and the Great River Big Band. In the summers of 1985 and 1986 Mr. Brown worked as the lead trumpet for the Cedar Avenue Big Band out of Minneapolis. In June of 1993, Mr. Brown enjoyed performing with the Clark Terry All Star Big Band (Marshal Royal, Musical Director) and playing in the trumpet section under the expertise of Snooky Young. Mr. Brown has also appeared with numerous high school and university ensembles as guest soloist throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Trombone/Tuba
Christianne Swartz

Christianne is a Trombone Performance/Music Theory major at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. She has performed in several of the musical ensembles at UW-L as both a trombonist and a vocalist. As an alumni of the LYSO she is very excited to return as a Faculty Member!

Percussion
James Knutson

Jim is currently the Director of Bands at Onalaska High School. He is a percussionist with the
La Crosse Symphony and percussion instructor at St. Mary's University in Winona. Jim is the leader/vibist with "Latin Vibe" and plays with the La Crosse Concert Band. He is the director
of the Onalaska High School Pan Project (steel drums), the Coulee Region High School Jazz
All-Stars and the 1st Lutheran Ringers and Chimers (handbells).