M U S I C I A N B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) their four recordings on the Harmonized, Catapult, Phoenix and Neva labels. Aaron is an accomplished teacher in both classical and jazz idioms. Maxon Day, trombone WCM faculty member since 2002. MM, and BFA from UW-Milwaukee. Mr. Day is an active trombonist, conductor, and composer, and currently serves as Director of the Conservatory Connections program and Chair of the Woodwind and Brass department. A committed and experienced private instructor he formerly taught at the Waukesha County Conservatory of Music and served as Music Director for SafeZone Community Art Center, Director of Jazz at Wauwatosa West High School, Associate Conductor for the UWM Youth Wind Ensembles and UWM Bands, Interim Director for Music From Almost Yesterday, Director of the UWM Panther Band and taught theory and general music for UWM. Jason Behr, guitar New WCM faculty member 2009. M.M. in classical guitar performance, Peck School of the Arts, UW-Milwaukee; B.F.A., UW-Milwaukee in collaboration with the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Since the age of 18, Mr. Behr has been an active teacher and performer in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. While studying under Professor Rene Izquierdo, Mr. Behr was afforded the opportunity to participate in master classes by guitarists including The Assad Brothers, Jorge Caballero, Jerome
14 WI Conservatory of Music | wcmusic.org
Ducharme, Marcin Dylla, Manty Ellis, Pino Forastiere, Evgenij Gridiushko, Michael Gulezian, William Kanengiser, Leo Kottke, The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Rudy Linka, Billy McLaughlin, Lorenzo Micheli, Jorge Morel, Michael Partington, David Russel, John Wunsch, Xuefei Yang, and Andrew Zohn, among others. In 2008, Mr. Behr was asked by composer Carlos Rivera to record Cancion, his acclaimed solo work for classical guitar. In 2009, composer and guitarist Št?pán Rak requested Mr. Behr to perform the American premiere of his new work titled Royal Suite, set for a later date. In addition to teaching and performing, Mr. Behr is the executive director of the Wisconsin Guitar Society. LaRita Craft, piano WCM faculty member since 2009. LaRita holds a Bachelor’s degree in music from Goshen College and a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the Kansas City Conservatory where she studied with Dr. Robert Weirich. Having also completed a minor in Piano Pedagogy from Goshen College, LaRita has been teaching piano lessons and classes for five years in different places, including the Goshen Community School of the Arts, the Kansas City Conservatory as a graduate teaching assistant, as well as many private students in both Kansas City and Goshen. LaRita enjoys collaborating with other musicians formally and informally on both piano and accordion.