Introducing Clay Wachholz

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Clay Wachholz brings to BYBA a diverse and successful career as a music educator. Mr. Wachholz currently serves as the Director of Bands at Cedarburg High School in Cedarburg Wisconsin. Other teaching positions in the past have included the Director of Bands at the International School of Brussels in Belgium and that of Director of Bands at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan. There he led the marching bands to two consecutive first place finishes at the state marching band championships as well placing 9th and 3rd at the Bands of America National Championships.

Mr. Wachholz has been involved in the drum and bugle corps activity as a performer and teacher for twenty-seven years. As a baritone player he marched with the Thunderbolts (1979), Pioneer (1980-1984), and Madison Scouts (1985-1989). He went on to teach the Madison Scouts for many years (1991-1997)and recently was a late season teacher for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps brass program. He has degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (BA) and the University of Michigan (MM). As an active guest conductor and educator, he has given clinics to varied groups in England, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Brazil and Argentina.

As a local guest teacher he has twice been a clinician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Music Clinic where he led concert and jazz bands.

Mr. Wachholz has been an active performer on Trombone and Euphonium for over 25 years. In the drum and bugle corps activity his awards include 1986 DCM I&E High Brass Score (scholarship), 1988 DCI Baritone Champion, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 DCI Brass Ensemble Champion. As a Euphonium player Mr. Wachholz was a member of the Wisconsin Tuba Quartet that was selected as the first group of its kind as a Semi-Finalist for the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition. He was a Sem-Finalist for the Falcone International Euphonium competition and was 1st chair in the 1991 T.U.B.A International All-Star Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. As a Trombonist Clay Wachholz has performed with the American Wind Symphony, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Racine Symphony Orchestra, Kenosha Symphony Orchestra, Madison Brass, Madison Jazz Orchestra, Milwaukee Brass Band, Knightwind Ensemble, Kettle Morainne Symphony Orchestra and numerous freelance groups.

Posted by on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009. Filed under British Youth Band Association.