Secular Music
The Secular Music Department of the Conservatory forms young musicians with classic traditional methods and collaboration with professional musicians.
2024-2025 CONCERT and RECITAL SERIES
featuring
Faculty, Collaborating Musicians, and Choirs of the Musicā Oramus Catholic Conservatory
Concerts and recitals are held at 13925 West North Avenue unless otherwise noted.
Concerts:
2024
Saturday, November 9, 7:00 pm
Sunday, November 10, 6:00 pm
December 14, 6:00 pm*
2025
Saturday, February 22, 7:00 pm
Sunday, February 23, 6:00 pm
April 5, 6:00 pm
May 24, 6:00 pm*
Saturday, July 19, 7:00 pm
Sunday, July 20, 6:00 pm
*at St. Mary's Visitation Parish, 1260 Church Street, Elm Grove, WI
Student Recitals:
(Sundays at 4:30 pm)
2024
September 29
October 27
November 24*
2025
January 26
March 2
March 30
May 25*
July 27*
*at Hulbert Piano, 12555 West Wirth Street, Brookfield, WI
featuring
Faculty, Collaborating Musicians, and Choirs of the Musicā Oramus Catholic Conservatory
Concerts and recitals are held at 13925 West North Avenue unless otherwise noted.
Concerts:
2024
Saturday, November 9, 7:00 pm
Sunday, November 10, 6:00 pm
December 14, 6:00 pm*
2025
Saturday, February 22, 7:00 pm
Sunday, February 23, 6:00 pm
April 5, 6:00 pm
May 24, 6:00 pm*
Saturday, July 19, 7:00 pm
Sunday, July 20, 6:00 pm
*at St. Mary's Visitation Parish, 1260 Church Street, Elm Grove, WI
Student Recitals:
(Sundays at 4:30 pm)
2024
September 29
October 27
November 24*
2025
January 26
March 2
March 30
May 25*
July 27*
*at Hulbert Piano, 12555 West Wirth Street, Brookfield, WI
Faculty
Louis Cucunato
Director of the Secular Music Department of the MO Catholic Conservatory
B.M. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Guitar Performance
M.M. Indiana University, Guitar Performance
P.D. Indiana University, Guitar Performance
Louis Cucunato is a classical guitarist, arranger, and composer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He began piano studies at the age of 6 and added classical guitar studies at the age of 13. He studied classical guitar with Elina Chekan in the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Pre-College program and was a teaching assistant at the UW-Milwaukee Suzuki Pre-College Workshop in 2009. He received his B.F.A. from UW-Milwaukee in Classical Guitar Performance cum laude under the guidance of Rene Izquierdo. At the age of 18, he won second place in The Society of American Musicians Guitar Senior Division Competiton. He is a teacher, performer, and composer. He has played in master classes for some of the most internationally-renowned guitarists and musicians which include Benjamin Verdery, Marcin Dylla, Lorenzo Micheli, William Kanengiser, Deniz Azabagic, Carlos Rafael Rivera (composer), and Jakob Lindberg (lute). He graduated from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a Masters Degree and Performer Diploma.
Click here to read more about Louis and hear some of his work: www.louiscucunato.com
Director of the Secular Music Department of the MO Catholic Conservatory
B.M. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Guitar Performance
M.M. Indiana University, Guitar Performance
P.D. Indiana University, Guitar Performance
Louis Cucunato is a classical guitarist, arranger, and composer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He began piano studies at the age of 6 and added classical guitar studies at the age of 13. He studied classical guitar with Elina Chekan in the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Pre-College program and was a teaching assistant at the UW-Milwaukee Suzuki Pre-College Workshop in 2009. He received his B.F.A. from UW-Milwaukee in Classical Guitar Performance cum laude under the guidance of Rene Izquierdo. At the age of 18, he won second place in The Society of American Musicians Guitar Senior Division Competiton. He is a teacher, performer, and composer. He has played in master classes for some of the most internationally-renowned guitarists and musicians which include Benjamin Verdery, Marcin Dylla, Lorenzo Micheli, William Kanengiser, Deniz Azabagic, Carlos Rafael Rivera (composer), and Jakob Lindberg (lute). He graduated from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a Masters Degree and Performer Diploma.
Click here to read more about Louis and hear some of his work: www.louiscucunato.com
Juliette Williams, Co-Director of the Secular Music Department of the
MO Catholic Conservatory
B.M. Indiana University, Violin Performance
M.M. Northwestern University, Violin Performance
In 2002 at the age of 14, Mrs. Williams won both the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Menomonee Falls Orchestra Concerto Competitions. As the winner of these competitions, she performed Sarasate’s Ziguenerwiesen with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor with the Menomonee Falls Orchestra. During her pre-college and undergraduate studies, Mrs. Williams studied with Professor Mimi Zweig at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, which is where she earned her Bachelor of Music. After receiving a full tuition scholarship to Northwestern University, she pursued a Master of Music under the direction of Professor Almita Vamos. While studying for this degree, she was chosen by Professor Vamos to learn and perform John Corigliano’s Red Violin Chaconne for Mr. Corigliano; she received rave reviews from the composer at her performance. After graduating with a Master of Music at the age of 22, Mrs. Williams became a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra from 2010-2012 and joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for its 2012-2013 season. She serves on the Board of Directors for Musicā Oramus and has been involved in the sacred music project since its inception in 2010.
MO Catholic Conservatory
B.M. Indiana University, Violin Performance
M.M. Northwestern University, Violin Performance
In 2002 at the age of 14, Mrs. Williams won both the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Menomonee Falls Orchestra Concerto Competitions. As the winner of these competitions, she performed Sarasate’s Ziguenerwiesen with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor with the Menomonee Falls Orchestra. During her pre-college and undergraduate studies, Mrs. Williams studied with Professor Mimi Zweig at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, which is where she earned her Bachelor of Music. After receiving a full tuition scholarship to Northwestern University, she pursued a Master of Music under the direction of Professor Almita Vamos. While studying for this degree, she was chosen by Professor Vamos to learn and perform John Corigliano’s Red Violin Chaconne for Mr. Corigliano; she received rave reviews from the composer at her performance. After graduating with a Master of Music at the age of 22, Mrs. Williams became a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra from 2010-2012 and joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for its 2012-2013 season. She serves on the Board of Directors for Musicā Oramus and has been involved in the sacred music project since its inception in 2010.
Fabian Qamar, Voice
B.M. Lakeland University
M.M. UW-Madison
Fabian Qamar received his music degree from Lakeland University in 2014 with emphases in voice and viola. Following this, he earned his Master of Music in voice from UW-Madison in 2016. He went on to serve as Adjunct Instructor of Voice at Lakeland (2017–2018), Director of the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus (2015–2019), and Director of the Sheboygan Symphony Youth Orchestra Sinfonia (2016–2021). He currently serves as Associate Director of Music at St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee. In this role, he is featured as a singer and chamber musician in repertoire ranging from Gregorian chant to orchestra masses and he regularly collaborates with members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches children’s choir, offers voice lessons, writes orchestra parts, plays organ, and conducts as needed. Fabian also maintains his own private studio in Sheboygan, where he teaches voice, violin/viola, and piano. In addition, he is the vocalist and pianist for the jazz trio, Jive Safely, and enjoys other freelancing opportunities throughout WI. He also remains committed to the preservation of the legacy of his father, jazz and world music luminary, Nadi Qamar aka Spaulding Givens. Besides music, Fabian enjoys many things including time with loved ones, good food, nature, Tolkien, and sports.
B.M. Lakeland University
M.M. UW-Madison
Fabian Qamar received his music degree from Lakeland University in 2014 with emphases in voice and viola. Following this, he earned his Master of Music in voice from UW-Madison in 2016. He went on to serve as Adjunct Instructor of Voice at Lakeland (2017–2018), Director of the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus (2015–2019), and Director of the Sheboygan Symphony Youth Orchestra Sinfonia (2016–2021). He currently serves as Associate Director of Music at St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee. In this role, he is featured as a singer and chamber musician in repertoire ranging from Gregorian chant to orchestra masses and he regularly collaborates with members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches children’s choir, offers voice lessons, writes orchestra parts, plays organ, and conducts as needed. Fabian also maintains his own private studio in Sheboygan, where he teaches voice, violin/viola, and piano. In addition, he is the vocalist and pianist for the jazz trio, Jive Safely, and enjoys other freelancing opportunities throughout WI. He also remains committed to the preservation of the legacy of his father, jazz and world music luminary, Nadi Qamar aka Spaulding Givens. Besides music, Fabian enjoys many things including time with loved ones, good food, nature, Tolkien, and sports.
Julie Cucunato, Director of Musicā Oramus
B.M. Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Piano Performance
M.M. Michigan State University, Piano Performance
Months before completing a bachelors degree in mathematics and science, Julie Cucunato was invited to enter the world of piano performance at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music College by renowned pedagogue, Adelaide Banaszynski. She was also invited to be her private pedagogy student and teach at the Conservatory. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Mrs. Cucunato went on to earn a graduate degree in piano performance studying with the winner of the first Van Cliburn Competition, Ralph Votapek, who was also a former student of Adelaide Banaszynski. After graduating and years of teaching piano, Mrs. Cucunato founded and directed The Adelaide Banaszynski School for Piano Studies which flourished for several years until she entered the world of sacred music. Ten years later she founded and became the director of Musicā Oramus, a project dedicated to restoring the treasury of Catholic sacred music through the Latin Mass, and the restoration of traditional, classical music education through the Conservatory of the Arts.
B.M. Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Piano Performance
M.M. Michigan State University, Piano Performance
Months before completing a bachelors degree in mathematics and science, Julie Cucunato was invited to enter the world of piano performance at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music College by renowned pedagogue, Adelaide Banaszynski. She was also invited to be her private pedagogy student and teach at the Conservatory. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Mrs. Cucunato went on to earn a graduate degree in piano performance studying with the winner of the first Van Cliburn Competition, Ralph Votapek, who was also a former student of Adelaide Banaszynski. After graduating and years of teaching piano, Mrs. Cucunato founded and directed The Adelaide Banaszynski School for Piano Studies which flourished for several years until she entered the world of sacred music. Ten years later she founded and became the director of Musicā Oramus, a project dedicated to restoring the treasury of Catholic sacred music through the Latin Mass, and the restoration of traditional, classical music education through the Conservatory of the Arts.
Beth Stoddard, Artist
BFA, University of Pennsylvania
Four-year Certificate in Painting, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Beth Stoddard is a city-dwelling landscape painter and printmaker devoted to creating art that enriches our relationship with urban natural beauty. Her foundational artistic practice is the plein air painting of metropolitan parks and preserves. Observation-based pursuits continue indoors with figurative work, botanical drawing, and handheld sketches. Her art is regularly exhibited and has been shown at Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, David Barnett Gallery and Portrait Society Gallery, Milwaukee, Museum of American Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, and Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend, among others. Her painterly realist pieces and commissions are in numerous private and corporate collections. Ms. Stoddard teaches representational painting and drawing independently, at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, and at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Working from an academic training and current artistic practice rooted in art history and specific to the present, her teaching philosophy is to give students the classical tools to express their own individual artistic perception.
Website
https://www.bethstoddard.com/
Martha Ebent
B.S. Vocal Performance, Millikin University
M.S. Music Education, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign
Martha Ebent is thrilled to be making beautiful sacred music with Musica Oramus. Martha uses her Bachelors in Vocal Performance and Masters in Education to teach Music at Aquinas Academy in Menomonee Falls, WI. She also teaches Latin to students from age 5-9. Martha is devoted to the music of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form and bringing it back to the ears of the Church. She also sings with the choir at St. Stanislaus Oratory under the direction of Christopher Berry.
B.S. Vocal Performance, Millikin University
M.S. Music Education, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign
Martha Ebent is thrilled to be making beautiful sacred music with Musica Oramus. Martha uses her Bachelors in Vocal Performance and Masters in Education to teach Music at Aquinas Academy in Menomonee Falls, WI. She also teaches Latin to students from age 5-9. Martha is devoted to the music of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form and bringing it back to the ears of the Church. She also sings with the choir at St. Stanislaus Oratory under the direction of Christopher Berry.