Meet the Conference Chairs...continued

Amy Heitzman–Instruments

Amy Heitzman is a graduate of UW-Stevens Point and has taught General Music K-7 in the Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools for 9 years. She has attended Orff workshops at UWSP since 1995 and is a charter member of the newly established North Central Wisconsin Orff Chapter, in which she currently serves as President. She received her Level I Orff certification at UWSP as well, and has just recently begun to explore the greater opportunities AOSA has to offer throughout the US and the world. She is excited about the upcoming Conference that Milwaukee will be hosting, and hopes it will be an opportunity for her fellow chapter members to branch out and explore new ground in the AOSA world.

Brent Mullane–Instruments

Brent Mullane is in his 15th year teaching. He has been a member of AOSA since 1989 and has three levels of Orff Training. He currently teaches general music to grades 3-5 in Huntley, Illinois. He enjoys gardening, hiking, camping and traveling.

Beth and Robert Sacharski–Hospitality

Robert had an extensive substituting career before being hired as a Milwaukee Public School elementary music teacher. He taught for 21 years in MPS in over 10 schools. He completed level 1 in the Orff program. He was an accomplished accordion performer and teacher. He had his own highly successful wedding band The Versatiles for over 20 years. Robert retired from teaching in 2008. Beth had one interview and one job offer- New Berlin Public Schools. She made a career of teaching elementary music for 36 years in 6 different schools. She enjoys accompanying for WSMA competition especially the Class A performers. Together, Robert and Beth have 2 daughters; one plays oboe and piano and the other plays French horn and sings soprano. They are a musical family.

Jean Hersey–Opening Session

Jean Hersey is a National Board Certified teacher at Deer Path Middle School in Lake Forest, IL, where she has worked for the past 14 years. She teaches fifth and sixth grade general music. This year she won the "Innovative Practice" award in her district for her spring general music show, which incorporated the music, art, drama and social studies curriculums and reflected the Medieval and Renaissance time periods. Jean is also course director and Level I pedagogy and movement instructor at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. She originated this course at VanderCook in 2003. Her Orff training was with Jeff Kriske, Randy DeLelles, Shirley McRae and Jos Wuytack. A performer as well as an educator, this summer Jean can be found performing the role of Mother Abbess in "The Sound of Music" at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL.

Shannon Wiegert–Registration

Shannon Wiegert has been teaching for 14 years. She got her BME degree from Concordia University, Chicago. She completed her Orff Level 1 and Level 2 courses at DePaul University and Orff Level 3 at the University of St. Thomas. She has served on the GMOD board as treasurer. Currently, She is teaching in two schools as the K4 - 8 general music teacher at St. Paul's Lutheran School in West Allis, WI and the 5 - 8 band director at Elm Grove Lutheran School in Elm Grove, WI.

Pam Wiese–Registration

Pam Wiese has been teaching vocal music in District 97 in Oak Park for about 17 years. She completed Level one at DePaul University with Jacobeth Postl and Lillian Yarross, and then in the 90's completed Level two at UNLV with Jeff Kriske and Randy DeLelles. She is a member of the Greater Chicago AOSA chapter, and was on the board for over a decade as President, Past President, Program Chair, Hospitality, Videos, Webpage, etc

Laura Dobrowits–Session Hosts

Laura Dobrowits is the general music teacher (K-5) at Oriole Lane School in the Mequon-Thiensville School District for the past eight years. She previously taught at St. Monica School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. She completed her levels 1 and 2 at Mount Mary College and anticipates achieving completion of the levels as soon as her children grow a bit older. She is currently a member at large for the GMOD in Milwaukee.

Peter Hinch–Session Introducers

Peter Hinch graduated from DePaul Univ. Bachelor of Music Education. He has taken Orff levels I, II and III and a Master Class. He has been an active member in the GCAOSA as assistant program chair, vice-President/President and currently Past President. He also has presented locally and at the San Jose conference. He teaches general music grades 1-6 in District #33 in West Chicago.

Sharon Hobson–Session Monitors

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