College of Letters & Science
Eugene Purdue currently holds the position of Violin Teaching Faculty at the Mead Witter School of Music of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Previously he was the founding 1st violinist of the Thouvenel String Quartet, a group whose performance at the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam was described as “The Finest String Quartet I Ever Heard” by the …
Saxophonist Walt Puyear enjoys a multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer, and educator. Based in the Chicago area, he serves on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, North Central College, and is the interim Lecturer of Saxophone at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Walt spends his summers teaching at the Interlochen Arts Camp and …
Jesse Rathgeber, Ph.D., has held tenure track positions at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois and James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. At Augustana College (AC), he taught courses on assessment in music education, general music methods, music and activism, and first year inquiry as well as has served as a supervisor for student teachers …
Dr. Walter Rich holds an undergraduate degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a master’s degree in music performance from Northwestern University, where he studied with Mr. Arnold Jacobs, legendary principal tuba player of the Chicago Symphony. He earned his PhD in curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. Rich is …
David Ronis, Associate Professor and Director of University Opera, has maintained an active schedule in a multi-faceted career. Previously, he taught at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College/CUNY, Hofstra University, and Wagner College. Among his accolades, Mr. Ronis has received thirteen National Opera Association Production Competition awards – most recently, for both 2021-22 UW–Madison …
A native of Wisconsin, Thomas Ross has spent his young career exploring many styles of percussion. Starting in the Western Classical tradition, he became well versed as a marimbist, solo percussionist and an orchestral percussionist. For the past 10 years, Thomas has devoted much of his time and passion to studying, performing and teaching Brazilian percussion. He …
Soprano Julia Rottmayer, faculty associate of voice and opera, is active in the stage, concert, and teaching arenas. Along with her interpretation of standard repertoire, Dr. Rottmayer is an avid performer and champion of contemporary and early music. Recent performances include the title role in Les Mamelles de Tirésias and Everly Shrills in The Impresario with Opera Orlando. In 2014, Dr. Rottmayer …
Oriol Sans, assistant professor and director of orchestral activities, directs the UW–Madison Symphony Orchestra, conducts opera productions, and teaches graduate students in conducting. Before his appointment at the University of Wisconsin, he was associate director of orchestras at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His professional conducting activities include performances with a long list of …
Ilana R. Schroeder received a bachelor’s degree in viola performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, a master’s degree in music history from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and a Ph.D. in historical musicology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a dissertation focusing on Parisian liturgical and paraliturgical music of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. …