Meet Our Pro Staff

An Oshkosh WI native, Andrew 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.

Mr. 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 Howard-Suamico School District. For the past seven years he has taught at Lineville Intermediate School, and recently joined the music department 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.

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx