Orchestra Clinicians
Ray Ostwald directed the orchestras, also teaching conducting and coaching chamber ensembles at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois for 27 years. Previously he taught orchestra in School District U-46, including Elgin High School and Bartlett area elementary schools. He holds degrees from Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mr. Ostwald has served on the faculties of many summer music camps and youth orchestras. Guest conducting and clinician appearances include the Ecuador National Symphony Orchestra of Quito, Korean International Music Educators Honors Festival in Seoul, Aurora Festival Orchestra of Alaska, Clark County Honors Orchestra of Las Vegas, Indiana ASTA Orchestra Festival at Ball State University, Northeast Iowa Regional Honors Orchestra, Iowa All-State 9-10 Orchestra, Northwest Symphony of Chicago, ASTA National Orchestra Festival in Albuquerque, ILMEA District Senior and Junior Festival Orchestras, Fox Valley Festival Orchestra and numerous other regional and festival orchestras.
Honored as “2018-2019 Educator of the Year” and “2023 Distinguished Service Award” by Illinois ASTA and
with the 2017 Quinlan and Fabish Chicagoland Outstanding Educator Award, he has published a number of
arrangements for string orchestra and for brass ensembles. A member of the American String Teachers
Association, National Association for Music Education, the American Federation of Musicians and the
Conductors’ Guild, Mr. Ostwald is a founding member of the Illinois Comprehensive Musicianship through
Performance (IL-CMP) leadership committee. Mr. Ostwald has presented lectures at several conferences and
teacher institutes, as well as teaching a summer symposium graduate course for string teachers at the
VanderCook College of Music in Chicago for four years. Professional publications include contributions to
Volumes I and II of Teaching Music through Performance in Orchestra, as well as to The String Teacher’s
Cookbook: Creative Recipes for a Successful Program. Mr. Ostwald hosted twenty-three student teachers from
eight universities and been a guest lecturer to music education students at Northwestern University, DePaul
University, Roosevelt University, the University of Illinois, Lawrence University, North Central College and
Concordia University. Mr. Ostwald is active as a violinist and violist and has performed on stage supporting
Bernadette Peters, Barry Manilow, The Eagles, The Who, The Moody Blues, Josh Groban, Dennis DeYoung
(Styx), Weird Al Yankovic, Anne Murray, Bob Hope, Mannheim Steamroller, Celtic Woman, Richard Marx,
Lena Hall and Tributosaurus. In addition to a busy performing and clinician schedule, he serves as a String
Specialist for Quinlan & Fabish Music Company and supervises student teachers for the Chicago College for
the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He enjoys motorcycling and has done so in 49 states and seven
countries. He is grateful every day for his wonderful wife Leah and daughter Audrey.
Honored as “2018-2019 Educator of the Year” and “2023 Distinguished Service Award” by Illinois ASTA and
with the 2017 Quinlan and Fabish Chicagoland Outstanding Educator Award, he has published a number of
arrangements for string orchestra and for brass ensembles. A member of the American String Teachers
Association, National Association for Music Education, the American Federation of Musicians and the
Conductors’ Guild, Mr. Ostwald is a founding member of the Illinois Comprehensive Musicianship through
Performance (IL-CMP) leadership committee. Mr. Ostwald has presented lectures at several conferences and
teacher institutes, as well as teaching a summer symposium graduate course for string teachers at the
VanderCook College of Music in Chicago for four years. Professional publications include contributions to
Volumes I and II of Teaching Music through Performance in Orchestra, as well as to The String Teacher’s
Cookbook: Creative Recipes for a Successful Program. Mr. Ostwald hosted twenty-three student teachers from
eight universities and been a guest lecturer to music education students at Northwestern University, DePaul
University, Roosevelt University, the University of Illinois, Lawrence University, North Central College and
Concordia University. Mr. Ostwald is active as a violinist and violist and has performed on stage supporting
Bernadette Peters, Barry Manilow, The Eagles, The Who, The Moody Blues, Josh Groban, Dennis DeYoung
(Styx), Weird Al Yankovic, Anne Murray, Bob Hope, Mannheim Steamroller, Celtic Woman, Richard Marx,
Lena Hall and Tributosaurus. In addition to a busy performing and clinician schedule, he serves as a String
Specialist for Quinlan & Fabish Music Company and supervises student teachers for the Chicago College for
the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He enjoys motorcycling and has done so in 49 states and seven
countries. He is grateful every day for his wonderful wife Leah and daughter Audrey.
Andres Moran Recently appointed to the music faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Andres Moran serves as the director of the UWSP Symphony Orchestra and artist/teacher of horn. From 2009 to 2016, Moran was the Resident Conductor of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and the Music Director and General Manager of the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras. During his time in El Paso, the EPSYOs grew to serve over 300 young musicians throughout the greater Southwest region. Moran’s responsibilities with the El Paso Symphony included creating and implementing all of the organization’s education and outreach programs, including their presentation of six annual Carnegie Hall Link Up concerts for over 14,000 area 5th grade students.
A highly sought-after clinician and conductor, Moran has served on the conducting staffs of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and the prestigious Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. In March 2015, the Detroit Symphony invited Moran to guest conduct DSO’s Civic Youth Orchestra. In January 2013, Moran conducted the New Mexico Music Educators All-State Orchestra. Since 2015, he has conducted the Music in the Mountains Conservatory Orchestra in Durango, Colorado and led the Festival Orchestra in pops and family concerts. Moran studied conducting at Indiana University and holds a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Southern Methodist University. Moran’s principal conducting teachers are David Effron, Arthur Fagen, and Dr. Paul C. Phillips.
An accomplished horn player, Moran is the principal horn of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, and the Sarasota Music Festival. In 1999 and 2000, Moran was selected as a finalist in the International Horn Society’s Solo Horn Competition. His horn instructors include Nancy Joy, Gregory Hustis, and Myron Bloom.
A highly sought-after clinician and conductor, Moran has served on the conducting staffs of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and the prestigious Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. In March 2015, the Detroit Symphony invited Moran to guest conduct DSO’s Civic Youth Orchestra. In January 2013, Moran conducted the New Mexico Music Educators All-State Orchestra. Since 2015, he has conducted the Music in the Mountains Conservatory Orchestra in Durango, Colorado and led the Festival Orchestra in pops and family concerts. Moran studied conducting at Indiana University and holds a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Southern Methodist University. Moran’s principal conducting teachers are David Effron, Arthur Fagen, and Dr. Paul C. Phillips.
An accomplished horn player, Moran is the principal horn of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, and the Sarasota Music Festival. In 1999 and 2000, Moran was selected as a finalist in the International Horn Society’s Solo Horn Competition. His horn instructors include Nancy Joy, Gregory Hustis, and Myron Bloom.
Chris Ramaekers is currently Director of Orchestras at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Associate Conductor of the Chicago Composers Orchestra, Artistic Director of the Davis Theater Concert Series for Access Contemporary Music. During the 2018-2019 season he was Interim Assistant Conductor of the Quad-City Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Quad-City Youth Orchestras. He has been Music Director of the Orchestra of St. Vincent’s and the Hyde Park Youth Symphony, Principal Conductor of the Ravenswood Community Orchestra, and spent 9 summers as Director of Orchestras at Camp Encore/Coda in Sweden, Maine. As a guest conductor, he has appeared with the Kalamazoo Symphony, Skokie Valley Symphony, Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra, Lake Forest Civic Orchestra, Ensemble Dal Niente, the Chicago Opera Vanguard, and internationally with the Berlin Sinfonietta.
Dr. Ramaekers has held fellowships with the Allentown (PA) Symphony Orchestra and the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County, WI. He was winner of the 2011 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting and holds degrees from Western Michigan University and Northwestern University.
Dr. Ramaekers has held fellowships with the Allentown (PA) Symphony Orchestra and the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County, WI. He was winner of the 2011 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting and holds degrees from Western Michigan University and Northwestern University.
Lori Rollins has taught elementary, middle and high school orchestra throughout Illinois. Orchestras under her direction have consistently earned first place ratings at regional and state competitions. She holds a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in violin, Master of Science in Education, and has pursued a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction all from Northern Illinois University. Mrs. Rollins is a sought after guest conductor, string clinician and chamber music coach working with middle and high school orchestra students.Recently retired, Mrs. Rollins served as coordinator for elementary instrumental music and elementary orchestra teacher in St. Charles. Mrs. Rollins is a member of the Fox Valley Orchestra. In addition to performing, she maintains a large private violin and viola studio.
Mrs. Rollins is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the American String Teacher Association. She is a board member of the Illinois chapter of ASTA, where she is the co-coordinator of the ILASTA StringFest. When she is not performing, Lori and her husband enjoy traveling to watch their sons perform at various string festivals throughout the country.
Mrs. Rollins is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the American String Teacher Association. She is a board member of the Illinois chapter of ASTA, where she is the co-coordinator of the ILASTA StringFest. When she is not performing, Lori and her husband enjoy traveling to watch their sons perform at various string festivals throughout the country.