Mission

The mission of Wisconsin Foundation for School Music is to promote and perpetuate music education in the schools of Wisconsin and to assist in carrying out the educational and charitable purposes of the Wisconsin School Music Association.

Goals

  1. Support and increase the involvement of all youth in music education. Promote programs that demonstrate a significant impact on children's perception of and activity in music.
  2. Encourage the study of music and music education by establishing and administering scholarship funds.
  3. Promote and recognize philanthropy in support of music education, and serve as the first charitable choice for music advocates.
  4. Encourage and reward contributions to excellence in music education.

Board of Trustees, Advisory Council and Staff Members

The Wisconsin Foundation for School Music (WFSM) is governed by a 14-member board of directors consisting of secondary and post-secondary school administrators, music business educators and owners, financial advisors and other professionals. Four Wisconsin School Music Association board members sit on the WFSM board to ensure continuity in board governance between these partner organizations.

Board of Trustees
R. Scott Pierce, President Salem District Adminstrator, Central High School District of Westosha
Timothy Schaid, Secretary Madison Executive Director, Wisconsin Foundatiton for School Music
James Byrd, Treasurer Madison President, Midwest Asset Management, Inc.
Robert Berndt Crivitz Superintendent, Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine Schools
Jim Brandmeier Madison Music Business Program Chair, Globe University
Elizabeth Burmaster Rhinelander President, Nicolet College
Gregg Butler Eau Claire Administrator, Eau Claire County Off Campus High School
Richard Denhart Madison Academic Dean, Madison Media Institute
Mario Friedel Ladysmith Elementary Principal/Assistant Superintendent, Ladysmith
Paul Heid Appleton Heid Music
Vicki Jenks Wild Rose Percussion Ensemble Director, Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra
Gerald Kember, Past President La Crosse Retired Superintendent, La Crosse School District
Elaine Mischler Waunakee Retired
Richard J. Pearson, P.E. Madison Pearson Forensic Engineering, LLC
Russ Rautmann Chilton Executive Director, Engler Center
Ted Witt Madison Owner, RSVP
 
Advisory Council
Linda Bergren Madison Financial Advisor, Raymond James
Peggy Hill-Breunig Madison Community Volunteer
Sarah Jerome, Past President Arlington Heights Superintendent, Arlington Heights School District
Richard Mannisto Milwaukee Director of Partnerships, Kern Family Foundation
Rhea Myers Maidons Attorney, Wheeler Van Sickle & Anderson
James Schutz Madison Senior Financial Advisor, Statehouse Investments
Roger White Waukesha Retired, White House of Music
Richard W. Wolf Madison Professor Emeritus, UW-Madison
     
Staff    
Timothy Schaid Executive Director  
Jamie Kember Development Associate  
Mackenzie Pitterle Development Associate  
 

History

The Wisconsin Foundation for School Music was founded in 1996. Accomplishments since that time include: providing annual support to Wisconsin Foundation for School Music, Wisconsin School Music Association and Wisconsin Music Educators Association programs and leading a capital campaign to build the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, among others.

The Wisconsin Foundation for School Music provides contributed support for the following Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) programs: District and State Solo and Ensemble Festivals and Concert Festivals, State Honors Music Project, State Marching Band Competition, Launchpad and the Student Composition Project.

Each year WSMA hosts 79,000 school music events in which 170,000 students participate. The Wisconsin School Music Association is open to all 3,338 public, private and homeschools in Wisconsin. Within these schools, 197,786 students are currently enrolled in band, orchestra, choir and other music programs.

Click here to learn more about the Wisconsin Center for Music Education.

Click here to learn more about the Wisconsin School Music Association.

Click here to learn more about the Wisconsin Music Educators Association.

 

Timeline