Menomonee Falls Music We would like to introduce you to our Menomonee Falls School District Band Directors!
Lonna Schickert maintains the role of Department Manager for the Menomonee Falls Music Department. She is the Co-Director for the 6th Grade Band with an emphasis in Brass. In addition, she conducts the 7th Grade Band at North Middle School, and is an Assistant Director to the 8th Grade Band. The North Middle School Jazz Ensemble is conducted by Mrs. Schickert and is an extra-curricular opportunity for students. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University in Illinois. Mrs. Schickert is an experienced educator and has given most of her career to the Menomonee Falls School District. She serves as a mentor teacher in the district and has been involved in a number of professional organizations such as: Wisconsin Youth Band Directors Association, Wisconsin School Music Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, National Education Association and the Menomonee Falls Education Association. Mrs. Schickert has been awarded the Superintendent’s Student Advocacy Award in Menomonee Falls in 2004 and 2009 along with other teaching acknowledgements.
Adam Hardt is the high school band director in the Menomonee Falls School District and he has taught for 25 years. He is teaching the jazz bands, orchestra, along with conducting three concert bands. Adam is also an associate professor of Percussion and Jazz at Ripon College. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, he studied percussion performance and music education. He has had many performance opportunities with different professional groups and players including; Terrell Stafford, Lennie Foy, Gene Bertoncini, John Harmon, Bobby Shew, and Ike Sturm to mention a few. In addition to being the on call percussionist for many groups throughout Wisconsin, Adam is the drumset player in the Diamond and Dynasty swing bands based out of Chicago. As an educator, Adam is a clinician and music camp planner throughout the state. He has been coordinator and rhythm section coach for the Wisconsin State Honors Jazz Band for eight years, and music director for the Lawrence University Jazz Camp. Just this past January, WSMA selected Adam as coordinator and section coach for eight years. In addition to music, Adam also enjoys golfing and is the current Bert-a-Ment golf tour champion.
Andrew Hacker is Director of Instrumental Music at Menomonee Falls High School and has held this position since 2020. Mr. Hacker maintains further community relations in higher education as a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and conducts the Moraine Symphonic Band at the Washington County campus. Mr. Hacker is also Music Director and Conductor of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble. Mr. Hacker is an active musician in the state of Wisconsin and frequently performs on tuba, bass trombone, and euphonium with a wide range of ensembles. In 2009, he was invited to lecture on the topic of “Improvisation Through Folk Wind Music” for the international convention of Gauverband Nordamerika in Toledo, Ohio, and repeated this clinic at the 2011 and 2013 conferences. Mr. Hacker plays an active role in folk wind music in the Midwest and is the founder and musical director of Blaskapelle Milwaukee, a 20-piece European-style wind ensemble. In 2007 and 2017, the Wisconsin Polka Hall of Fame inducted him into the organization for the Youth Achievement Award and Youth Mentor Award, respectively. In 2015, the Civic Music Association of Milwaukee named Mr. Hacker as Music Teacher of the Year. Having studied at Carroll University and Cardinal Stritch University, Mr. Hacker holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, respectively. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in Music Education from Boston University. Mr. Hacker is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the Association of American Educators.
Sarah Holst teaches 8th Grade band, co-directs the Sixth grade band and assists the 7th grade band at North Middle School. In 2019 Mrs. Holst re-certified (original certification 2009) with a National Board Certification in “Early Adolescent and Young Adult Music Education” she also holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Music from UW-Stevens Point. Mrs. Holst is listed in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teacher’s”, has received the Superintendent’s Advocacy Award twice and the “Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth” Certificate of Excellence along with various other teaching recognitions. She currently is involved in the Percussion Arts Society, Wisconsin Youth Band Directors Association, National Association for Music Education and the Wisconsin National Board Network. Mrs. Holst is also a busy mom with her three children ages 18, 17 and 13. Her biggest professional achievement and source of pride has been in her daily work of teaching young, aspiring musicians for the last 28 years. She would also like to thank her husband, Brian, who is her biggest supporter.
Kristen Tan is the Orchestra teacher for 6 grade through senior at Menomonee Falls School District and is an avid violinist.