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Meet Your Conductors

Our ASOM staff prides itself on the conductors hired to work with the finest young musicians in your area.  Collegiate conductors from the State of Wisconsin will be working with our All-Stars students. We are excited to announce our 2025 conductors!

kristin.tjornehoj

Dr. Kristin Tjornehoj

Band Conductor

Dr. Kristin Tjornehoj is a professor of music at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls and teaches music education, instrumental conducting, instrumental literature, music appreciation and world music online. She conducts the Symphonic Wind Band, St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra and St. Croix Valley Community Band. Dr. Tjornehoj holds a Ph.D. in music education and a M.M. from the University of Minnesota, and a B.M. degree in music education and performance from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. ​ Dr. Tjornehoj is active as a musician, conductor, educator and speaker. She maintains a musical life including conducting in both professional and educational settings. Dr. Tjornehoj is also dedicated to the creation of new compositions and is a participating member in several professional scholarly, music and community organizations. ​Dr. Tjornehoj is dedicated to using the gifts she has been blessed with as tools to enhance people’s lives. Her pursuit is to use education as the path...and music as the inspirational venue. Her passions include building community through music, cultural exchange, personal development and traveling.

frank.a.watkins

Dr. Frank A. Watkins

Choir Conductor

Dr. Frank A. Watkins is an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. A native of Omaha Nebraska, Watkins taught secondary choral music in Texas for six years. He holds degrees in piano performance from Jackson State University (BM), the University of Arkansas (MM), and choral conducting from Northwestern University (MM) and Michigan State University (DMA). Watkins is in demand as guest conductor and clinician. In 2016, he was appointed Conductor and Music Director of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra. Watkins' research interests include the intersectionality of race, class, and gender in the music of African-American Women in the 21st century. Watkins joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2014. A dynamic young conductor, Watkins’ love and passion are teaching. He believes that in order to educate, you must first inspire! It is his goal to make an impact…not just an impression on the lives of those that follow his baton.

mark.dupere

Mark DuPere

Orchestra Conductor

Mark Dupere is Assistant Professor of Music at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, where he is the Director of Orchestral Studies. A native of Arizona, he studied cello with Phyllis Young at the University of Texas at Austin before moving to the Netherlands to complete his cello studies with Jaap ter Linden at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. Dupere specialized in Baroque cello and performance practice of the Romantic era. He completed his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting at Michigan State University with Kevin Noe. As a cellist, Dupere has performed with many groups throughout Europe and in major European concert halls. Dupere has performed on BBC Radio and Arte TV and has made numerous recordings. After many years of performing as a professional cellist, Dupere decided to pursue his great passion for conducting and directing. Apart from conducting the Lawrence University Orchestras, he conducts Philharmonie Austin, a period instrument ensemble exploring Baroque, Classical and Romantic music. ​ Dupere is a passionate educator and hopes to impart a love of music-making and active engagement with audiences in the performance of music from all periods.

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Dear All-Stars,

On behalf of the entire Wisconsin All-Stars educational team, I want to welcome you. You have shown exceptional promise as a young musician. As a member of our band, choir or orchestra, you will perform for international audiences throughout Europe as we experience the best of London, Paris, Lucerne, Munich and Salzburg. You will be in the capable hands of three of the finest conductors our state has to offer, alongside a coordinating team of dedicated music educators. We are excited to have you join us on this unforgettable adventure!

Molly Petroff

Wisconsin Executive Director

mpetroff@allstarsofmusic.com

Petroff.png

Dear All-Stars,

On behalf of the entire Wisconsin All-Stars educational team, I want to welcome you. You have shown exceptional promise as a young musician. As a member of our band, choir or orchestra, you will perform for international audiences throughout Europe as we experience the best of London, Paris, Lucerne, Munich and Salzburg. You will be in the capable hands of three of the finest conductors our state has to offer, alongside a coordinating team of

Petroff.png

dedicated music educators. We are excited to have you join us on this unforgettable adventure!

Molly Petroff

Wisconsin Executive Director

Wisconsin Sr. All-Stars of Music

-JULY 12-25, 2025-

Welcome to your All-Stars adventure!

Here you'll find information and resources for your upcoming European performance tour.

Wisconsin Sr.
All-Stars of Music

Complete UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

All Travelers to the United Kingdom are now required to submit an application and pay the fee for the United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorisation (UK ETA).  You will need your passport in order to complete this task.

In addition, please forward the follow up authorization email to info@allstarsofmusic.com

Complete Spring Essential Information Survey by SATURDAY, APRIL 12

Whether you are traveling as a student or with a fan package, we need official information for flight manifests, emergency contacts, passport numbers for hotels, airport shuttle signup and important health and dietary information. Every traveler must complete this necessary form before our rehearsal on April 12th.  You will need your passport information in order to complete.

Traveler To-Do List

  • Will you bring your instrument or will it be rented in Europe? Will you carry it on or will it be checked? All these questions and more are available at the link below.  Please read carefully as there are lots of great tips and tricks. AND CHOIR STUDENTS, there is something in there for you too!

  • Parking from the Pre-Departure Camp through the Main Tour and Vienna & Prague Extension will be at University of Wisconsin-River Falls will be available for a fee of $8 per day per vehicle. Please indicate on your Spring Survey whether or not you will need to park at least one vehicle at University of Wisconsin-River Falls during this time frame. Additional information will be sent out as to how to coordinate with the University's Parking Office in future newsletters.


    Shuttle transportation to Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport and back to University of Wisconsin-River Falls will be available for all travelers for a fee each way. Please indicate on your Spring Survey whether or not you plan to utilize this additional shuttle transportation. This is not an official sign up, this is a preliminary survey to inform scheduling and pricing. A separate sign up page will be made available following the Spring Survey where you will be able to select which way you will be taking the shuttle and pay the fee for each way you will be riding the bus.


    Hotel accommodations in the River Falls area will be made available for any families who will be traveling from far away and looking to stay in the area while their student participates in the Pre-Departure Camp. Rehearsals and All-Stars of Music-related activities are closed to student performers and All-Stars of Music Faculty only. Family members and friends will be welcome to attend the Farewell Performance on July 12, 2025. More information will be made available in April of 2025 to book rooms in the River Falls area between July 9-13, 2025.

  • What should I pack? Will my cell phone work? Our staff have created a helpful guide specifically for a two-week European music tour. We give suggestions on everything from cell phone plans to currency to laundry.

  • The well-being of our students is extremely important to us. All tour staff members are current or former music educators and have completed a background check. We are committed to maintaining a 10 to 1 student to educator ratio for our tour. 

General Tour Details

YOUR INSTRUMENT

YOUR MUSIC

A PENCIL

A WATER BOTTLE

SMART PHONE OR TABET

(NOT REQUIRED, BUT HELPFUL)

WHAT TO BRING?

Band & Choir

Reedsburg Area High School

1100 S Albert Ave, Reedsburg, WI

Orchestra

Wausau West High School

1200 W Wausau Ave, Wausau, WI

WHERE?

Saturday April 12, 2025

12:00 - 12:30 PM    Check in

12:30 - 5:00 PM      Rehearsals

WHEN?

We hope students will make every effort to attend this event. In addition to rehearsing the music, you will make important connections with your section leaders and conductors and the students that you will be performing and traveling with. We do understand however, that there are many demands on your time. If you cannot make our spring meeting, please email Molly Petroff at mpetroff@allstarsofmusic.com and we will do our best to share any pertinent information that will be shared at the rehearsal.

Spring Rehearsal Info

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