WAM
History of Western Academy of Music
In 1990, Western Academy of Music was founded by Christian and Caroline Paetsch, and Rod and Judy Wylie. Christian and Caroline continue to teach and conduct in WAM, which consists of four orchestras as well as chamber music ensembles. Current teachers and conductors include Jaclyn Daly, Britta Bushnell-Conway, and Virginia Ogg-Cleveland. Up and coming teachers and conductors include violist Hudson Maness and violinist Caroline Daly.
The alumni of WAM include musicians spanning over three decades! We are so honored that these musicians feel welcome to rejoin us for any orchestral, chamber group, or lesson experience when music pulls at their hearts.
Masterclass Information
Masterclasses will be on :
Thursday, January 4
Thursday, February 8
Thursday, March 7
Thursday, April 4
Thursday, May 2
Please remember that the WAM Masterclass counts as your lesson for that week. Private studio lessons are not held the week of Masterclasses. Dates are generally the first week of the month.
Rehearsal and Arrival Times:
Training Orchestra:
No training orchestra is planned at this time.
Chamber Orchestra:
Arrival time is 5:30
Rehearsal is from 5:45-6:45
Adult Orchestra (Corelli Consort):
Arrival time 6:40
Rehearsal is from 6:50-7:30
Symphony Orchestra:
Arrival time is 7:30
Rehearsal is from 7:45-9:15
Piney Creek Club House
February WAM Masterclasses will be located at the Piney Creek Club House, located at 5800 S Joplin Way, Centennial, CO 80015. Come on in and follow signs to see where to unpack.
Chamber Group Options
Please talk to Caroline or Christian if you are interested in forming or playing in a chamber group. Chamber group lessons occur on a Friday afternoon/evening once or twice a month, with an additional fee of $30-60 per hour per group.
Studio Collaborators
Britta Bushnell Conway
Britta Bushnell Conway is an instrumental music teacher, who has been teaching since 2004. Britta earned a bachelor's degree from University of Northern Colorado in music education and a master's degree in school administration. Britta has been a string specialist for both private students and in public schools. Britta has played the violin since age four, and has played throughout her life. She has been involved with the Western Academy of Music since 1997, first as a student and now as a teacher. Britta’s private students are involved with WAM every year. Britta enjoys family time with her husband and two children and loves to watch them grow just as much as her students.
Jaclyn Daly
Virginia Ogg-Cleveland
Virginia Ogg-Cleveland has been teaching violin for over ten years, although she has known she wanted to teach since she was in high school! Virginia plays violin, viola, and cello. She attended the University of Northern Colorado and has a degree in Anthropology. Currently, Virginia is primarily a stay at home mom with her young daughter, but still loves teaching and playing music as much as she can!
Up and Coming Teachers
Hudson Maness
Hudson Maness is a violist from Colorado currently studying with Stephen Wyrczynski at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Hudson has attended the Tanglewood Music Festival in Massachusetts, the Montecito International Music Festival in California, and the Trentino Music Festival in Italy. Teaching is one of Hudson's primary passions. He has privately taught violin, viola, and beginning piano students ranging in age from 6 to 40. He has been the Strings Teaching Assistant at Luzerne Music Center in New York, has guest-taught at the Western Academy of Music, the Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, and Luther Strings, and has studied violin and viola pedagogy with Mimi Zweig at Indiana University. Outside of music, Hudson enjoys rock climbing, tennis, chess, and is an avid reader and writer of fantasy and science-fiction.
Caroline Daly
Carline Daly is a junior from Eaglecrest High School. She has been playing he violin for 11 years. Aside from loving the violin, her many interests include theater. She wears many different hats in her theater life. Directing and being a stage manager are her passions. She shared, "I especially love telling people what to do!".
Back Stage Support Team
Jen Zorn
Jen is a proud parent of one WAM violin student. She creates music oriented gifts. Her shop is found under the for sale link and a portion of sales goes to WAM scholarships. She also helps out wherever Caroline or Christian needs her.
Amy Henry
Amy is a proud mom of two WAM students, and is now a student herself, having recently moved to the dark side to play viola. She helps design and maintain the website, and helps out where she can.