Meet Our DIRECTORS

An Oshkosh WI native, Andrew Hutchinson is currently teaching in an active violin studio in the Fox Valley while also directing Rock Infused Orchestra and actively performing with "Symphony on the Rocks" and "Arlington String Quartet".  Andrew taught Orchestra at all levels for Menasha School District.  Andrew has played violin for the Oshkosh Symphony, Fond du Lac Chamber Orchestra, the Lawrence University Orchestra (Appleton WI) and the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra. Andrew also played in Barritz, France  with jazz violinist Randy Sabien and Brisbain, Australia in the International Workshops Orchestra. Andrew has held positions as Orchestra Stage Manager and Librarian for the Oshkosh Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Oshkosh Symphony and the UW-Oshkosh Symphony.  Andrew has studied violin with Klara Fenyo Bahcall (Oshkosh WI), Ferenc Fenyo (Budapest, Hungary), Stephan Tran Ngoc (Paris, France) and Anton Miller (New York). Andrew has appeared on and under stages in musical theater productions throughout Northeast Wisconsin. You  may see Andrew judging music festivals for the Wisconsin State Music Assoc. or performing with a number of different groups offering music from classical to jazz and rock 'n roll.

Most recently, Andrew directed a 175 piece rock orchestra in award winning performances Lliria and Alcante, Spain, both UNESCO World City of the Arts. This show was made possible with the great partnerships of many of the RIO staff.

Next stop, Abbey Road Studio #1 with RIO in Summer of 2027.

Originally from Alberta Canada, Phil Smyth has distinguished himself in the music scene in Wisconsin as a versatile guitarist, violinist, and educator.    His performance credits include; 3 summers as guitarist with the Milwaukee based show, KIDS from Wisconsin, Concertmaster of the UWSP symphony orchestra, 2011 UWSP concerto competition winner, member of award winning Wisconsin based country bands Tuscan Road, Grand Union, and Raised Reckless,  and guitar player and fiddler in the popular world beat Canadian fiddle band Barrage. With Barrage, Phil has played in venues all over the world and worked with thousands of middle school and high school students along the way during their educational events.    

Phil currently resides in Neenah with his wife Jenny and kids Hannah, Elaina, Natalie and Christopher.

 He is the orchestra director for the Neenah School District during the week and Grand Union bands resident auxiliary instrumentalist on the weekend.

Steve Wucherer has been with Rio since 2007, first acting as a cello and string bass coach, then later directing the Preamped and Extreme groups. He thoroughly enjoys his summers working with students in RIO!

Mr. Wucherer is currently the Music Director and a founding member of the Central Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra in Stevens Point. He is also part of the orchestra staff for the Stevens Point Area School District.  Prior to his current position, he has taught at Lineville Intermediate School and Bay Port High School as Director of the String Orchestras. Prior to his work in Howard-Suamico, Mr. Wucherer taught with the Oshkosh Area School District for ten years as a Middle School Orchestra Director and spent several years as the Coordinator for the Elementary Strings Program. 

Mr. Wucherer attended UW-Oshkosh for his Bachelor's of Music in Cello Performance and went on to attend Butler University in Indianapolis for his Master's of Music. He also holds a Master's of Education from Marian University in Fond du Lac. As a performer Mr. Wucherer has a wide resume over nearly 30 years, performing with many orchestras throughout the state including the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, The Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, and The Water City Chamber Orchestra and others. Mr. Wucherer also spent three years as the Director of the Waupaca Area Orchestra, giving numerous performances at the Gerold Opera House in Weyauwega.

Sarah Koenigs first joined RIO as a violin coach in 2023, and was hooked right away!

Sarah has been teaching violin and viola privately for 20 years, with a traditional Classical background and bluegrass aspirations. Outside of her private teaching studio, she has also served as string orchestra director at St. Francis Xavier Middle School, and currently teaches Suzuki method strings for Neenah and Chain Exploration Center in Waupaca. 

She holds a degree in violin performance from Lawrence University's Conservatory of Music, and is a member of the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with other area orchestras including Manitowoc Symphony, Weidner Philharmonic, Oshkosh Symphony, Sheboygan Symphony, and was section leader of Green Bay Civic. She has been privileged to share the stage with great performers such as Itzahk Perlman, Joshua Bell, Edgar Meyer, and Marie Osmond. She has also performed with homegrown talent such as Corey Chisel, Hillary Reynolds, and Mollie B. She is also the newest member of the rock cover band "Boogie and the Yo-Yoz."

Sarah is currently music librarian for the FVSO Youth Orchestras, and coaches violin sectionals there. On her free weekends she performs celtic/irish fiddle music with "Sarah & the Hus-Band." Sarah lives near Hortonville with her 3 children, and when not making music loves to read and ride her bike. 

Betsy Jacobson-Holtz earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Luther College in 1992 and her Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in 2000. With over 30 years of experience, she teaches private lessons in violin, viola, and cello.

Mrs. Jacobson-Holtz began her Suzuki violin studies at the age of four and has studied under master teachers such as Sarah Hirsch, Mark Bjork, and Cindy Marvin. Her performances span internationally across Germany, Austria, Canada, Hungary, and Norway.

From 1992 to 2009, she served as an orchestra director for the School District of La Crosse, Wisconsin, teaching both elementary and high school orchestras, and focusing her last twelve years at the middle school level. After moving to Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2013, she remained active as a educator, adjudicator, and violinist with local organizations including Penn Strings, East Stroudsburg University Concert Chorale, and Anthracite Philharmonic. 

Since 2013, Mrs. Jacobson-Holtz has led middle school orchestras for the Neenah Joint School District in Neenah, Wisconsin, where the program has grown significantly, prompting the hiring of an additional teacher. She also directs the Neenah Joint School District Suzuki Program, offering free after-school Suzuki lessons and group classes to residents.  She is co-founder of the NEW Festival of Music, a one-day music festival providing middle school musicians and their teachers an opportunity for a non-competitive performance, and a professional clinic experience.

In 2024, she was honored to be named the Neenah Joint School District Middle School Teacher of the Year.

Hailing from Reno NV, Kat Green is studying Music Education, Viola Performance, and Saxophone Performance at Lawrence University. Kat can be caught currently performing with the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra, their string quartet (Tall Man and Other Strangers), the Lawrence Wind Ensemble, and their saxophone quartet (MNM). Kat has also performed with the Glam Band Symphonic Orchestra, Reno Philharmonic, Rural Nevada String Serenade, and the Tahoe Symphony Orchestra (TOCCATA). At Lawrence University, Kat holds the positions of Co-President for the LU Pep Band, and as well as the role of Vice President for NAfME (National Association for Music Education) and LU Swing Dance. For the Dean’s Advisory Council, Kat serves as the Music Education Chair to advocate for music education students and plan arts projects for the conservatory. Kat creates art for the weekly newspaper (The Lawrentian), works as Community Advisor for the Art House, and tutors their peers in Music Theory. When they’re not practicing or working, Kat can be found reading in a hammock, enjoying nature, swing dancing, or painting. During their studies, Kat has been exploring the world of electro-acoustic music through use of pedals and fixed media, and is excited to explore more of the world of modern orchestral styles with RIO!

Kanyon Beringer is currently entering into his 3rd year with RIO as a Violin and Viola Coach. Besides RIO, Kanyon is currently the Elementary Director with the Stevens Point Area School District, teaching at most of the elementary schools, starting with young musicians in 5th and 6th grade orchestra. He also recently accepted a position with the Central Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra as the New Philharmonia Director, and he is super excited to be leading and teaching young musicians in the coming year. Kanyon graduated from Lawrence university with a Bachelor’s in Music Education in 2022 and has been busy crafting his musicianship by playing in orchestras and musicals around Wisconsin. When he’s not playing music, Kanyon enjoys being outdoors and camping all around Wisconsin with his Fiancee, and on a typical weekend, he enjoys spending time playing Magic the Gathering or other board games with friends. Kanyon is so happy to be a part of the RIO legacy and can’t wait to be Rocking and jamming out this summer with the amazing team!

Deanne Carloni grew up in a very musical family. She began playing the violin in third grade and since then her love of music has never stopped growing. Deanne Carloni graduated from UW-Whitewater with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, a General Music Certificate, and a Minor in Spanish. She has taught K-8th grade General Music in Milwaukee, and is currently teaching middle and elementary school Orchestra (violin, viola, cello, and bass) in the Oshkosh Area School District. This is Deanne’s ninth Summer as a Violin Coach for RIO.

Deanne Carloni is always seeking to learn more and challenge herself to be a better musician and teacher so that she can pass on her knowledge to her students. This is evident through her involvement in the Christian Howes’ Creative Strings Workshop, The Reiner Family’s Fiddle Hell Camp, and Julie Lyon Lieberman’s Strings Without Boundaries Camps, all of which have an extensive emphasis on improvisation, composition, and learning music by ear in the fiddle, jazz, rock, and Klezmer styles. She is passionate about contemporary styles and learning music from around the world. One of her favorite experiences was getting to work with internationally known fiddlers Liz Carroll and Kiana June Weber as well as SistaStrings.

Cellist Michael Dewhirst serves as Instructor of Cello, and Principal Cello of the Weidner Philharmonic at UW-Green Bay. He directs the Weidner Philharmonic Cello Choir, and performs with the Weidner Philharmonic Quartet and chamber ensembles, Manitowoc Symphony Trio (Artist-In-Residence), the Manitowoc Symphony, the Sheboygan Symphony, and the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra. He was a co-founder of the Chicago Miniaturist Ensemble and is a founding member of the miniaturist group, a very small consortium, and the cello/soprano duo "I/You", with soprano Courtney Sherman, both based at UWGB. A versatile musician, Dewhirst performs on electric cello weekly with the praise band at Celebration Church, was a member of Vic Ferrari‘s "Symphony on The Rocks" (a symphonic rock band), and has also appeared with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Femmes of Rock, the Glam Band, Marie Osmond, and The Peninsula Players Theatre. In addition to maintaining a private studio, Dewhirst serves as Instructor of Cello at UWGB and as a clinician and low string specialist with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, UWGB Summer Music Camps, the Green Bay Public Schools, the Howard/Suamico Public Schools, the Manitowoc Public Schools, the Green Bay Youth Symphonies, and Rock Infused Orchestra.

Adam Korber, a cellist in Appleton, WI, performs and teaches music throughout the Fox Valley and Green Bay areas.  Originally from the Chicagoland area, he graduated from Lawrence University in 2018 with a degree in Cello Performance and Music Education.  He currently teaches 5th and 6th grade orchestra in the Howard-Suamico School District where he brings a little bit of RIO flare to the program by co-teaching the district Rock Orchestra after school club, and infusing some pop tunes into the curriculum.  As a cellist, Adam performs on stage with the Wiedner Philharmonic, and the Civic Symphony of Green Bay, while also playing and recording cello for some bands that have come through Mile of Music, showing up at Irish fiddle sessions throughout the area, and generally playing cello whenever he can!  Occasionally, Adam arranges his own music, most of which he has done for cello ensemble, his school program, and for RIO.  Adam brings a lot of excitement to work with our beginning rockers in Easy Rock, and helps guide the Hard Rock cellists to absolutely shred!  

Cello-on, Garth!  Cello-on, Wayne!

Nick Ziminski is a versatile guitarist, bassist, and singer from Neenah, WI. He joined RIO as a bass student in 2015 and became a guitar and bass coach in 2022. During his time at Neenah High School, Nick was both a guitarist and singer/dancer in Vintage Showchoir, toured internationally with Touch of Class, and was bass section leader in the Neenah High School Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Neenah Ambassadors Jazz Band, WSMA State Honors Orchestra, and has played in numerous musical pit orchestras in the Fox Valley and Chicagoland areas.

Nick is currently attending Northwestern University, where he studies musical theatre and dance.  

With more than 12 years of experience teaching students ranging from young beginners to senior musicians and decades spent as a performer and music arranger, Chad Ellis brings a dynamic approach to music performance and instruction. Specializing in guitar, banjo, bass, piano, ukulele, and mandolin, he combines strong foundations in technique, ear training, and music theory with real-world experience across rock, jazz, blues, funk, pop, and other styles. A graduate of the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Chad spent 12 years in Los Angeles performing, recording, and producing, with career highlights including opening for Jefferson Starship, appearing on MTV’s The Electric Barbarellas, and performing in the award-winning musical Mulholland Christmas Carol.   

Rochelle “Rockie” Dorow is a Wisconsin-based harpist with extensive experience performing in orchestral, ensemble, and theatrical settings throughout the region. She began studying harp at age eleven and, through early self-directed learning, developed into an active performer by age sixteen, appearing with groups such as the Wausau Symphonic Band and Orchestra. She has since performed with the Fox Valley Youth Symphony, the Fox Valley Band, and numerous pit orchestras across Wisconsin. An experienced freelance musician, Rockie regularly performs for concerts, special events, and collaborative projects, bringing both classical training and stylistic flexibility to a wide range of musical settings. In addition to performing, Rockie has spent over a decade teaching private harp lessons in the Fox Valley, sharing her experience and passion with students of all ages. Rockie has been playing harp for Rock Infused Orchestra for over a decade and looks forward to it every single year. Outside of music, Rockie enjoys spending time with her family and staying active as an endurance runner, having completed multiple marathons, half marathons, and ultramarathons. 

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Tabatha Zwicky is both an active musician and administrative professional for RIO. A graduate of Neenah High School, she was actively involved in band and orchestra and performed internationally with the Touch of Class ensemble during their 2018 trip to China. She went on to attend the University of Wisconsin—Green Bay, earning a bachelor's degree in English Literature while also performing with the UWGB Wind Ensemble, Pep Band, and Orchestra. In 2020, Tabatha participated in a virtual global collaborative string project hosted by the SuperStrings Performance Academy under the direction of composer and arranger Dean Marshall. After graduating, Tabatha returned to the Fox Valley area, where she currently works as a Program Assistant for the Youth Apprenticeship Program at CESA 6. Outside of her day-job, she remains an active musician, playing violin with the Weidner Philharmonic, serving as a substitute musician for other regional ensembles, including the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, and appearing with other groups including the Femmes of Rock. Additionally, Tabatha has been a steady member of Rock Infused Orchestra since 2011, when she joined as a young musician. In the summer of 2020, she transitioned to staff and has since served in several roles including College Helper and Violin Coach. She is now currently assisting as RIO’s Administrative Program Manager.