Orchestra Clinicians
Erin Barnard is a music educator and violinist/violist who has been teaching private lessons and working with ensembles since 2006. She specializes in middle school string instruction both privately and in public schools. Erin plays viola and violin and graduated from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor of Music in 2006. She completed her Masters Of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2017. Erin has her National Board Certification, a WI Master Teaching License and was a Kohl Fellow for 2017.
Erin has fifteen years experience teaching beginning and middle school strings. She has instructed for WYSO, worked for Wisconsin State Music Association (WSMA) since 2006 judging Solo Ensemble Festivals, served on the Literature Selection Committee, served as Orchestra Coordinator for the Middle Level Honors Project and on the Board of Wisconsin String Teachers’ Association. She currently sings and plays fiddle in the band Soggy Prairie.
Erin has fifteen years experience teaching beginning and middle school strings. She has instructed for WYSO, worked for Wisconsin State Music Association (WSMA) since 2006 judging Solo Ensemble Festivals, served on the Literature Selection Committee, served as Orchestra Coordinator for the Middle Level Honors Project and on the Board of Wisconsin String Teachers’ Association. She currently sings and plays fiddle in the band Soggy Prairie.
Leyla Sanyer taught for 38 years in Wisconsin public schools and just retired as high school orchestra and music composition teacher in the Oregon School District. She received a BMe (1976) and MMe (1987) from the University of Wisconsin Madison. She is immediate past president of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association and president elect of the NAfME North Central Division. She has been chair of the Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (CMP) committee, a member of the Wisconsin Challenging Content Standards Task Force, WSMA State Honors Music Project orchestra coordinator, treasurer of WiSTA and Orchestra Chair for WMEA. As a 29 year CMP committee member she has taught at workshops in Iowa, Minnesota, Los Angeles, CA and Wisconsin. Sanyer has been published in the Wisconsin School Musician, American String Teacher and the MENC Spotlight on Assessment. She was a contributor to the book Shaping Sound Musicians (O’Toole, GIA Publications). She serves on the WSMA Publications Committees and was a member of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction task force to revise the Wisconsin State Music Curriculum Guide. She has served as a clinician around the Midwest, has initiated a youth orchestra, mentored numerous student teachers and written grants for innovative classroom projects in chamber music, alternative styles and music commissions. She has presented at the WI State Music Conference in the areas of CMP, advocacy, improvisation and music composition in classrooms. As a violinist Sanyer has performed in the Oakwood Chamber Players, Camerata String Quartet, Madison Symphony and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestras. Recipient of the 1980 Manitowoc Teacher of the Year Award, 1992 Klug Award for Teaching Excellence, 2002 Lawrence University Excellence in Secondary Teaching Award, the 2004 Elizabeth A.H. Green Public School Educator from ASTA and the 2011 Crystal Apple Award, many of Sanyer’s students have gone on to become teachers, composers and performers, as well as successful in life.
Soma Pierce-Smit currently teaches Orchestra to beginners through twelfth grade in Eau Claire Wisconsin at South Middle School and Memorial High School with 21 years of experience. In addition to orchestra, she also teaches AP Music Theory. Soma has a K-12 Instrumental Music Degree from UW-Eau Claire and a Master’s in Arts in Education from St. Mary’s University.
Soma is very involved in the community orchestras in the Chippewa Valley and currently plays violin in the Chippewa Valley Symphony. She has also served as a founding member, violinist, section leader, personnel manager, and board member of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra. Soma has served as assistant director of the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony and has served as founder and Executive Administrator of the UW-EC Honor Orchestra and UW-EC Cellopalooza. She currently serves on the Board of Pablo at the Confluence.
Soma lives on an Icelandic Sheep farm with her husband. She loves to garden and listen to the sounds of nature.
Soma is very involved in the community orchestras in the Chippewa Valley and currently plays violin in the Chippewa Valley Symphony. She has also served as a founding member, violinist, section leader, personnel manager, and board member of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra. Soma has served as assistant director of the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony and has served as founder and Executive Administrator of the UW-EC Honor Orchestra and UW-EC Cellopalooza. She currently serves on the Board of Pablo at the Confluence.
Soma lives on an Icelandic Sheep farm with her husband. She loves to garden and listen to the sounds of nature.