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.
Calendar Events - Masterclasses 2024
Masterclasses will be on :
Thursday, January TBA
Thursday, February TBA
Thursday, March TBA
Thursday, April TBA
Thursday, May TBA
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
The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
All WAM Masterclasses will be located at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located on the corder of S Chambers Rd and E Smoky Hill Rd. The church has requested that all WAM participants and family members enter through the WEST door.
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.
