Staff Directory

David Aswegan serves as Artistic Coordinator for Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO).

He brings more than two decades of experience as a music educator and ensemble director, having led a thriving middle school band program in Cedarburg, Wisconsin for 22 years. Throughout his career, he worked with thousands of students across multiple schools, coordinating concerts, festivals, and trips while building strong connections with students, families, and the broader community.

Most recently, David served as Project Coordinator for MYSO’s Violins of Hope-Wisconsin residency, helping guide a multi-partner initiative that reached audiences across the region and engaged over 50,000 people. The project reflects his belief that music builds empathy and connects us across differences, reminding us of our shared humanity.

Outside of his work with MYSO, David is an avid Brewers fan and enjoys traveling and cooking. He lives in Port Washington with his wife and two children.

Marna Bestul holds a Bachelors degree in English and Creative Writing and a minor in Music from Carthage College, Kenosha, WI.

While at Carthage, she held a position as a student assistant in the administrative offices of the music department and served a music librarian for the choral ensembles and a student coordinator during audition times through the school year.

She was a member of the Carthage Choir for all four years of study, during which time she studied under conductors Weston Noble and Eduardo Garcia-Novelli and participated in several domestic and one international tour.

A past violist and pianist, Marna currently focuses her musical talents in vocal performance and is an active member of the Master Singers of Milwaukee.

Besides singing and music in general, Marna loves to spend time reading, traveling, and working on her writing portfolio. She also loves to travel to her hometown of Wausau, Wisconsin, to visit family and spend some time outside in the countryside.

She and her husband, Paul, currently reside in Cudahy.

MYSO alumna Sonora Brusubardis is a violin instructor for MYSO’s Progressions Program and the organization’s Community Artists Coordinator. In addition, served as a coach for MYSO’s String Orchestra North for five years. In 2018, Sonora became certified to teach Suzuki violin and viola. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in violin and viola performance. She currently has a studio in the Summit area teaching violin, viola, and beginner piano to students of all ages.

Programs

Progressions

Progressions Director Tiffany Chang was most recently an orchestra teacher in the Wauwatosa School District, and prior to that, taught orchestra in the school district of Beloit, Wisconsin. Ms. Chang received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree at the UW-Madison and is certified to teach instrumental music. She has played in a variety of groups, including the Beloit-Janesville Symphony, Manitowoc Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, the Wisconsin Intergenerational Orchestra, and was a founding member of the Turtle Creek Chamber Orchestra and has served as coordinator and violin coach for WSMA Honors Orchestra.

Programs

Progressions

Madeline Clyne grew up in Upstate New York and holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and English from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Since graduating, she has dedicated her career to youth development, first as a college counselor for first-generation, low-income students in Milwaukee Public Schools, and now as the Program Coordinator for MYSO.

As a proud alumna of the Empire State Youth Orchestra, Madeline believes that music education can transform individuals and communities for the better. She began playing the violin at age four, but her love for music (and her leadership skills!) truly blossomed when she joined ESYO. She was a member of the Amherst Symphony Orchestra for all four years of college, and in Milwaukee, she has played with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s community orchestra.

Outside of work and music, Madeline can be found taking modern dance classes or salsa dancing around town, growing veggies in her community garden plot, tinkering with her sewing machine, or hanging out with her cat.

Rachael Copeland joined MYSO in January 2026 as HR Director.

Rachael brings over 15 years of HR experience with expertise in change management, organizational effectiveness, and partnering with leaders to align people strategies with business objectives. She holds a master’s degree in human resources and an MBA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Rachael, her husband, two children and dog live in Nashotah, Wisconsin, and thoroughly enjoy the abundance of outdoor activity available in southeast Wisconsin. As Rachael grew up playing the clarinet, she has tremendous appreciation for the value of music in children’s lives and is excited for the opportunity to support MYSO’s mission.

Daniel Duffy has enjoyed serving as Music Director of MYSO’s Philharmonia since 2014 and joined the MYSO administrative team as Artistic Administrator in 2020.

Mr. Duffy retired as director of instrumental music at Waukesha West High School in 2020. His public school teaching career spanned 35 years and included successful music programs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Prior to his appointment at Waukesha West, he served as Associate Director of Bands at Kansas State University.

His educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University and a Master’s degree in Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he served as a Graduate Conducting Associate.

Passionate about the achievement of excellence through musical performance, Mr. Duffy served on the board of directors of the National Band Association Wisconsin Chapter, was the NBA Wisconsin All-State Band Coordinator, and served as percussion section coach of the Wisconsin School Music Association State Honors Band and Orchestra.

Mr. Duffy’s performance groups have received critical acclaim at regional and national events since 1985. Ensembles under his direction have performed at three WMEA State Music Conferences, eight National Band Association Wisconsin State Conventions, and four NFL half-time shows for the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. He also coordinated performance tours in Boston, Dallas, New Orleans, St. Louis, Orlando, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Programs

Philharmonia

As Chief Executive Officer of Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), Linda Edelstein provides strategic leadership across all facets of the organization, including strategic planning, board recruitment and engagement, donor cultivation and fundraising, financial and managerial controls, and human resources. Ms. Edelstein leads a team of more than 75 full and part-time administrative and artistic staff, managing a budget of $4.5 million with endowment and reserves of $12 million. Under her leadership, MYSO serves more than 7,000 students from 14 counties, 90 zip codes, and more than 200 schools across southeastern Wisconsin, presenting more than 150 concerts annually to 30,000 audience members.

She also serves as Vice President of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (MYAC). Together with the Executive Artistic Director of First Stage and the MYAC Board of Directors, Ms. Edelstein provides administrative leadership for the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, including budget oversight, fundraising, personnel, security, scheduling, and public relations.

During the three-year planning process and five-month residency of Violins of Hope – Wisconsin, exclusively presented by MYSO, from September 2025 through January 2026, Ms. Edelstein served as the principal strategist who designed and coordinated a multifaceted community initiative spanning more than 65 diverse organizations and reaching more than 37,000 people across Wisconsin. She orchestrated partnerships with a broad spectrum of community, arts, and cultural organizations, as well as schools, universities, and faith-based institutions, connecting people from all walks of life.

At a time of rising antisemitism and other forms of hate, Ms. Edelstein led MYSO in weaving a tapestry of understanding through the power of art, conversation, and experience. Through educational and cultural programs and exhibits, she brought communities a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the stories of instruments owned and played by Jewish musicians and others targeted by the Nazis during the Holocaust. This residency honored the voices of the past, enlightened the present, and inspired the future, with lessons profoundly relevant for today.

Previously, Ms. Edelstein held numerous leadership positions at the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) from 2005-2012, including Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations. As COO, she oversaw an annual budget of more than $10 million and fund allocations of more than $8.3 million, managing daily operations and serving as the liaison with UPAF member and affiliate organizations. She worked in concert with the UPAF President & CEO, community leaders, and the campaign cabinet to frame the annual campaign process and engage the community for the benefit of the arts. She was also responsible for oversight of the organization’s largest signature fundraising event, the UPAF Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite.

Prior to UPAF, Ms. Edelstein served as Executive Director of the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra (now Wisconsin Philharmonic) for seven years, where she created the organization’s “Success Through Music” program that engaged children from diverse backgrounds to discover their potential through music education.

Ms. Edelstein holds an MBA from Marquette University, a Master of Music in Performance from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was an Irving S. Gilmore Fellow at Yale and regularly performed professionally throughout southeastern Wisconsin as an oboist and English hornist with Milwaukee’s finest organizations, including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Skylight Opera Theatre, and Present Music, with numerous recordings on several labels.

Ms. Edelstein has served as a music faculty member at UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Hartland Music Center, and Yale University, among others. She has demonstrated a passion for and deep understanding of the mission of MYSO, having been an active member of the organization while in high school.

She currently serves on the board of directors for the Association of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestras and has previously served on the boards of the Youth Orchestra Division of the League of American Orchestras (holding leadership roles as Vice Chair and Secretary), Frankly Music, and as President of the Elmbrook Rotary Club (2017-18).

Ms. Edelstein was honored to receive the 2025 Arts Advocate Betty Award from Milwaukee Magazine for her commitment to the arts and its impact throughout the community.

Maria Fuller joined the MYSO team in 2024 and currently serves the organization as Individual Giving and Stewardship Manager. Maria graduated from Viterbo University with her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in arts administration and a minor in music. While in school, she was an active member of several Viterbo choirs and studied voice under Dan Johnson-Wilmont. After graduating, she moved to Milwaukee to pursue a career in nonprofits and fell in love with this great city.

Maria was previously the volunteer manager at SecureFutures and brings a passion for community-building, fostering relationships, and arts advocacy. Growing up playing piano and violin, Maria was a member of a youth symphony program in her middle school years and has personally experienced the profound impact of quality music education. She is excited to bring her passion for the arts and her mission-driven mindset to the team at MYSO!

In her spare time, Maria enjoys hiking, cooking with friends, reading, all things outdoors, and singing with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus.

Music Librarian Nicole Gabriel (She/They) was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music History & Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she continues to pursue a coordinated Master of Music History and Library Sciences. Nicole began her musical studies at the age of 5, studying violin under the tutelage of Steven Rindt and Kathy Kolb, and also studying viola under the tutelage of Mary Pat Michels. Nicole continues their studies on viola at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the direction of Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff, where she has received a certification in viola performance.

As an active performer, Nicole prioritizes music by women composers as well as newly composed works by UW-Milwaukee composition students. They have been a featured performer on Reinaldo Moya’s Duende for Viola Quartet, as well as having performed actively with the UW-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. When not performing, Nicole spends their time writing original music for video games and podcasts.

Nicole is also an alum of MYSO, having performed on both violin and viola in the String Orchestra, Sinfonia and Philharmonia. They are excited to return to MYSO as Music Librarian and hope to inspire a curiosity for music among MYSO’s musicians.

Michael Gauger is MYSO’s Philanthropy Officer – Foundations and Institutional Giving. Michael’s job is to tell MYSO’s story — a story of nurturing, challenging, and inspiring young musicians, a story of lifelong impact on students, audiences, and our community – to raise grant funding for our programs.

Michael has been honored to work in the public interest, first in daily journalism and then in philanthropy. He joined MYSO in October 2021 after 11 years as a grant writer for community health and hospital programs for Ascension Wisconsin Foundations. Earlier, he worked for 20 years as a copy editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Milwaukee Journal.

Outside philanthropy, Michael writes and edits for scholarly publications in American history and political science. He has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications-journalism and a master’s degree in history, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He also attended graduate school in history and political science at UW-Madison and the University of Michigan.

Equipment Manager Rachel Jacobson is a horn player, music teacher, and music librarian based in Milwaukee. She recently earned a Master of Music degree in horn performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, after completing a Bachelor’s degree in music education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Rachel loves making music in all kinds of settings and has performed in a variety of ensembles. Sometimes she can even be spotted playing in MYSO orchestras. This past summer, she worked as a music librarian with the Glimmerglass Opera Festival in New York and also performed in Germany with the Berlin Opera Academy. Most recently she worked as a music librarian with the Houston Grand Opera.

Rachel is so excited to be joining the MYSO team!

Tara Kozik joined MYSO in September 2021 as Chief Financial Officer. Tara brings an in-depth background of finance, accounting, and process improvement expertise to MYSO. She has held many global finance leadership roles for GE and Honeywell and founded her own consulting business focusing on interim and project-based finance. Her career has focused on financial management, budgeting, analytics, and process streamlining for businesses and clients around the world. She has lived and worked overseas and has managed teams across many cultures.

Chief Philanthropy Officer Joe Phillips is a dedicated professional with a specialization in philanthropy and community development. Joe is responsible for overseeing all of MYSO’s fundraising efforts, ensuring they align with the organization’s mission and vision.

Joe has garnered recognition throughout his career for his thoughtful approach to philanthropic advising and his unwavering commitment to aligning donors’ goals with organizational needs. His congenial nature and insightful perspectives have been pivotal in enhancing his team’s approach to fundraising. Joe is deeply passionate about creating an inclusive and empowering environment, with a focus on the professional growth and development of his colleagues. He values the synergy of mutual respect and shared aspirations, aiming to make a meaningful impact in the philanthropic sector. He has developed numerous training programs, integrating elements of philanthropy, philosophy, data science, and theology.

Serving as an Alderman in Wauwatosa, Joe is dedicated to championing community development and the transformative power of collective action to cultivate vibrant and resilient communities. Joe is motivated to nurture environments where people love to live and work, believing in the importance of creating spaces that foster community, well-being, and a sense of belonging.

Joe holds a Masters in Theology from Trinity International University and a BA in Sociology from the University of Minnesota. He is married with children. When not immersed in his professional and civic duties, Joe indulges in his interests, which include playing the bass, enjoying baseball, reading, and cooking.

In every aspect of his life, Joe strives to embody Mother Teresa’s idea of doing small things with great love, believing in the profound impact of compassionate actions.

Progressions Director James Przygocki is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Wyoming. In 2026 he returned to MYSO after a long absence. Jim was a director of MYSO’s String Orchestra in the 1990s when he left to accept a position as Professor of Viola and String Education at the University of Wyoming where he taught for 30 years. While at Wyoming Jim taught studio viola and violin at the graduate and undergraduate levels, conducted the University of Wyoming Chamber Orchestra, and taught classes in string pedagogy and music education.

Throughout his career Jim has worked with pre-college students from the youngest beginners to advanced students. With his wife Sherry Sinift, he helped to establish the String Academy of Wyoming, and in 2000, they received a grant from the American String Teachers Association to establish the University of Wyoming String Project, a teacher-training and pre-college program that flourished at Wyoming for more than 20 years.

Along with his teaching, Jim has maintained a busy performing life as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. His experience includes performances in the U.S. and internationally. Jim’s interest in string pedagogy has resulted in numerous publications, workshops, masterclasses and residencies.

Currently, Jim also teaches for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee String Academy. During his earlier years in Milwaukee, Jim also taught at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and performed with the Skylight Opera, the Milwaukee Symphony, the Bel Canto Chorus, the Fox Valley Symphony and others. Jim holds a B.M.Ed. from Western Michigan University where he studied with Gerald Fischbach and a M.M. from Indiana University where he studied with Mimi Zweig. He has continued to return to I.U. in the summer for many years, teaching at the Jacobs School of Music Summer String Academy and Summer Retreat for Professional Violinists and Violists.

Programs

Progressions

Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Artistic and Music Director Carter Simmons is recognized throughout the community for creating opportunities and serving others through music. He provides leadership for the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) and its impressive artist management team and faculty, who serve thousands of students each season. Former students perform in many of the major orchestras and military bands across America and have attended all of the country’s most prestigious conservatories and schools of music.

As a conductor, Simmons also serves as Music Director of Milwaukee’s Festival City Symphony, a professional orchestra that provides free concerts to its audiences. He has conducted the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Wisconsin Philharmonic, among others, and his conducting has taken him to venues across three continents, including recent performances in Poland’s National Forum of Music and Smetana Hall in Prague, Antwerp’s Queen Elisabeth Hall and Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, throughout China, including Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall, and Chicago’s renowned Orchestra Hall.

Simmons currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Youth Orchestra Division of the League of American Orchestras.

Born near Washington, D.C., his training included participation at the Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Eastern Music Festival, as well as studies at the Tanglewood Music Center. He attended masterclasses with luminaries such as Leon Fleisher, Gunther Schuller, and Elizabeth A.H. Green, and observed rehearsals led by Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, and Daniel Barenboim, among others. Simmons expresses deep gratitude to his teachers Dr. John R. Locke, Robert Gutter, Larry Rachleff, and Professor Thomas L. Dvorak.

He considers it an honor to steward one of America’s finest youth orchestras and to teach the incredible young musicians in this wonderful ensemble.

Programs

• Senior Symphony
• Chamber Orchestra

Stephanie Stasinski joins MYSO as the organization’s Office Manager. She has a strong passion for helping people succeed as well as a lifelong passion for music.

For the last 15 years, Stephanie has spent her time in coffee, helping enrich lives through conversation as well as caffeination. She spent the last two years working as office manager for Anodyne Coffee Roasting Company, helping the greater Milwaukee area stay caffeinated while ensuring customers and employees alike felt like they were heard and respected. Stephanie now hopes to merge her love of music with her love of making connections and helping people succeed.

Stephanie brings her enthusiasm for the arts as a piano and saxophone player through her school years. Her daughter is also a part of MYSO which makes this opportunity even more special. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, hiking, reading, knitting, and finding new spots around Milwaukee to try.

Advancement Operations Coordinator Amber Storm brings a lifelong love of classical music combined with a career in community engagement. She has spent the last 15 years in Milwaukee learning about our community and how to uplift its members. 

She worked in outreach for REI Co-op, in development for Radio Milwaukee, Inc, storytelling for Bayview Printing Company, blogging and freelance writing, and most recently, in public education at Golda Meir School. 

Amber brings enthusiasm for the arts, as a piano and cello player since first grade and throughout school. When her own children joined MYSO, so was encouraged to pick up the cello for the first time in 25 years, and joined the Milwaukee Community Orchestra in the past year. She is excited to be a part of an organization that gives access to music to so many students in the Milwaukee area! 

Bailey Strasser joined the MYSO staff as an equipment manager in 2023.

Bailey is a jazz musician who has been playing the trombone for the past 15 years. He is a MYSO alumnus who took part in the Jazz Program throughout his middle and high school years. He still plays his trombone today and does anything to get opportunities to still play in the community primarily through local jam sessions and gigs.

Bailey graduated at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in Inter Strategic Communications emphasizing in Public Relations and Multimedia Communications, a minor in music, and received a certificate in recording. He has taken part in many music activities such as jazz ensembles and combos, wind ensembles, stage crew, marching band, and pep bands. He also has experience with being a sound engineer and has produced an EP.

Bailey loves to write his own music, traveling, spending time with family, and is an avid Wisconsin sports fan.