Dr. Michael Knight currently serves as Director of Bands and Lecturer of Music at the Universityof Wisconsin-Green Bay. His duties at UWGB include directing the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and teaching courses in conducting and music education. Dr. Knight has also served on the faculties of the University of Delaware, St. Norbert College, Iowa Wesleyan University, and the University of Missouri. His work with the University of Delaware Wind Ensemble is featured on the Bruce Tychinski recording Interplay, highlighting new works for trombone and wind band.

Prior to his collegiate teaching career, Dr. Knight taught in the public schools of Missouri. He holds degrees from the University of Missouri, the University of Georgia and the University of Iowa. Dr. Knight has served as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the nation and is a regular contributor to the Teaching Music through Performance in Band textbook series.

Patrick Lawrence is Professor of Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  He completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University where his dissertation Solo Literature for Trombone and Organ, an annotated bibliography, was recognized as an important musical reference for trombonists and educators. Dr. Lawrence also holds a Master of Music Degree from the University of Arizona, and Bachelor degrees in Secondary Music Education and Performance from The University of Mary.

An active performer, he is the conductor of the Wausau Symphonic Band, and principal trombonist with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. A strong advocate for collaboration with organists, he commissioned and premiered “Resolution for Trombone and Organ” in 2009 and performed at the American Guild of Organists-South West Convention.  He served as 2nd trombonist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and has given recitals in the United States and Canada. As a sideman, Patrick has shared the stage with musical greats Yo-Yo Ma, Louis Bellson, The Temptations, Doc Severinsen, Wayne Newton, Jerry Lewis, Linda Ronstadt, the Don Rickles Orchestra, Buddy Morrow and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and the Artie Shaw Big Band. 

Dr. Lawrence was the 2013 recipient of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point excellence in teaching award.  He is a passionate educator, working with elementary through college-age students. He taught middle school band and orchestra in Arizona where his student groups received superior and excellent ratings at local, state and national music festivals.  

Dr. Lawrence has articles and music reviews published in the International Trombone Association Journal, the International Tuba and Euphonium Association Journal, and Wisconsin School Musician.

Soma Pierce-Smit currently teaches Orchestra to beginners through twelfth grade in Eau Claire, Wisconsin at South Middle School and Memorial High School with 22 years of experience. Soma has a K-12 Instrumental Music Degree from UW-Eau Claire and an Arts in Education master’s degree from St. Mary’s University. Soma has been very active in the community orchestras in the Chippewa Valley and currently plays violin in the Chippewa Valley Symphony. She has also served as a founding member, violinist, section leader, personnel manager, and board member of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra. Her conducting experience beyond her daily school ensembles includes serving as Assistant Director of the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony, Executive Administrator and Assistant Conductor for the UW-Eau Claire Honor Orchestra and conductor for UW-Eau Claire Cellopalooza. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Pablo at the Confluence in Eau Claire. Soma lives on an Icelandic Sheep farm with her husband. She loves to garden and listen to the sounds of nature.

Michael Ross is the conductor of the Lawrence Community Music School Wind Ensemble, a position he has held for more than a decade. In 2004 he was appointed the conductor of the Green Bay Youth Symphony, now the Youth Symphony at St. Norbert College, a position he currently holds. Ross received the Alumni Achievement Award from Northern Michigan University in 2008 and has served as the President of the Wisconsin Percussive Arts Society. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and was inducted into the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA) in 1999.

Michael Ross taught conducting, Large Ensemble Techniques Course, and conducted the Lawrence Symphonic Band as a sabbatical replacement at Lawrence University for the 2023/2024 school year. He continues to work as a middle school and high school band clinician throughout Wisconsin. He held the position of Principal Timpanist of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra for 39 years. Ross played percussion in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 1974 through 1977 and performed as an extra in percussion with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.  He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Northern Michigan University and his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University where he studied conducting with Dr. Mallory Thompson, Dr. Stephen Petersen and Mr. Don Owens.

Leyla Sanyer currently conducts the Verona Area Community Orchestra and performs with the Camerata String Quartet.  She received undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education from the University of Wisconsin Madison and has 46 years of teaching experience, retiring from the Oregon School District.  She has been chair of the CMP committee, a member of the Wisconsin Challenging Content Standards Task Force, WSMA State Honors Music Project orchestra coordinator, WiASTA treasurer, and orchestra chair for WMEA.  She is also past president of the National Association for Music Education North Central Division and Wisconsin Music Educators Association. She served on the committee to write the 2017 WMEA State Standards in Music.  Leyla serves as a clinician for school orchestras, works with teachers as a consultant, and has presented sessions in string teaching around Wisconsin and the country. She also enjoys working with students ages 5-17 in her small studio group.  She also works on music education and public education advocacy, as well as serving on the Verona Common Council Sustainability Task Force.  Leyla has been the recipient of numerous awards over the years, but her biggest reward comes from working with students and keeping an eye on their hopes for the future.