Lakeshore Wind Ensemble History
Over 40 Years of the Joy of Music
Focusing on the community of art and the art of community.
Founded in 1983 by Professor Michael J. Arendt, our band began with a membership of 35 student and community members. Since that time, the wind ensemble has grown to a current membership of over 90 musicians and encompasses a wide age span from students to retired persons, in a blend of youthful exuberance and musical maturity. Community members from all walks of life form the basis of the organization. Several of these community members have played with the wind ensemble since its inception, and numerous students have "come home" to the wind ensemble after completing their degrees at a four-year university. The common bonds of this diverse group are the love of good music and the joy of sharing that music with others.
Performances Throughout the World
Along with entertaining audiences close to home, the LWE has traveled abroad numerous times. The group has undertaken four concert trips to Continental Europe, one to England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, one to Scandinavia and Russia, and two to Manitowoc’s sister city, Kamogawa, Japan. The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble now presents five concerts annually at the Capitol Civic Centre in historic downtown Manitowoc.
Finding Our Home in 1990
Concerts were first presented in the UWC-MC Fine Arts Room, but other sites had to be found due to the growth of both the ensemble and its audiences. We moved to Washington High School, Two Rivers, and Wilson Junior High in Manitowoc in 1986. While the Capitol Civic Centre was undergoing its renovation, the LWE presented concerts in the multi-purpose room - also fondly referred to as the “performing arts gym."
Since the 1990-91 season, however, the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble has presented its annual series at the Capitol Civic Centre.
Conductors & Staff Throughout the Years
From 1983-2014, Michael J. Arendt served as the LWE/LBB conductor. Dr. Daniel Ackley took over from 2014-2015. From 2016-2020, Dr. Marc Sackman was LWE conductor and music director. Throughout the years, we've had two assistant conductors: Brian Van Ells, 1987-1997; and David Bourgeois, 2011-2014. Jeremiah Eis, hired in 2022, is the current conductor and music director.
The group is also aided by an Administrative Assistant: Linda Drumm Luchsinger served 1985-2014, and Sandy Sickinger 2014 to 2023. Ruthann Ross is the current Administrative Assistant. Heidi Dalberg was hired as the Marketing Director in 2015 and is still serving in this capacity.
Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Founder
Michael J. Arendt, Founder and Conductor Emeritus of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and Big Band, was also Professor of Music, at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus. From 1971 until his retirement from UW-Green Bay in spring of 2006, he taught Music Theory, Music History, Applied French Horn and Conducting. Professor Arendt served as Conductor/Music Director of the LWE from its founding in 1983 until May 3, 2014.
Professor Arendt, former Assistant Conductor of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, also served as the Principal Horn with the Pamiro Opera Company Orchestra, the Sebastian Chamber Orchestra, and the St. Norbert College Community Band. In addition, he performed with the Wichita Chamber, Orchestra, the Moravian Music Festival Orchestra, the UW-Milwaukee Fine Arts Woodwind Quintet, the Ice Capades and Holiday on Ice Show Orchestras and Manitowoc Symphony. In addition, he served as Conductor and Horn Specialist at the UW-Green Bay and St. Norbert Summer Music Camps. He also served as the Chair of the Department of Music of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and Associate Dean at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus.
Professor Arendt held a Bachelor of Music Degree from St. Norbert College, and a Master of Music Degree in conducting, performance, and music theory from Wichita Kansas State University. He was a frequent guest conductor/clinician, and music festival/contest adjudicator. Professor Arendt received a Citation of Excellence from the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Band Association and was also recognized by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association for his dedicated service to music education. He also participated in Conductors Symposia, sponsored by International Music Festivals and Indiana University held in Oxtepec, Mexico and at the Interlochen Arts Academy, in Michigan.
During his collegiate and performance career, Professor Arendt won solo French horn/conducting scholarship competitions sponsored by the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, St. Norbert College, the Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs and Wichita Kansas State University. In addition, since the LWE was founded in 1983, Professor Arendt led seven tours abroad including concerts and tours of; Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Japan, Switzerland, Ireland and Great Britain. Professor Arendt was inducted into the international honorary fraternity of conductors Phi Beta Mu. In June of 2013, Professor Arendt led the LWE on its 2nd concert tour in Japan in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Manitowoc/Kamogawa Sister City celebration.
Prior to coming to UW-Green Bay, Professor Arendt held positions in the Hilbert, Wisconsin Public Schools, the Derby, Kansas Public Schools and the International Institute of Advanced Musical Studies in Cran/Montana, Switzerland. He held professional memberships in the National Band Association, the College Band Directors National Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the International Horn Society, the American Federation of Musicians and the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference. Mr. Arendt also served as an adjudicator for the Wisconsin National Band Association and the Wisconsin School Music Association.
Upon his retirement in May of 2014, Professor Arendt received commendations from Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, and Wisconsin US Senator Tammy Baldwin. Professor Arendt was presented a Wisconsin State Legislature Citation of Excellence by State Senator Joe Leibham (9th Senate District) and State Representative Paul Tittl (25th Assembly District). Additional commendations were given from Manitowoc County, the City of Manitowoc, the City of Kamogawa Japan, the City of Two Rivers, the Collegium of the University of Wisconsin Manitowoc, Dr. Charles Clark, Dean and the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association. He was also presented with the Key to the City of Manitowoc by Mayor Justin Nickels. In addition, the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association, Michael Pappathopoulos, President, designated him with the honorary title of Conductor Emeritus of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and Lakeshore Big Band. He was also awarded the 2014 LWE Wes Teply Community Service Award in the Arts.
Michael Joseph Arendt, age 74, died unexpectedly at his home in Manitowoc on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Family and friends celebrated his life at a memorial service at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manitowoc.
Ask the Conductor
Meet Jeremiah Eis, conductor of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble. An active low brass performer, he has performed with the 132D Army Band, Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra, Newtonburg Brass Band, Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra. He's even performed at a Packer half-time show! If you have questions, he can help.