Vicki Peterson Jenks, WYSO Percussion Ensemble Director, is a native North Dakotan, and received her musical training at Minot State University, UW-Stevens Point, and Baylor University. In 1976, she founded the percussion program at UT-El Paso.
Upon her move to Madison in 1980, she created and developed the Education Department at Ward-Brodt Music Company. For 25 years, she nurtured Jenks Music Studio, the largest percussion studio in Wisconsin. In 2008, she was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame.
Vicki’s greatest teaching passion is guiding the WYSO Percussion Ensemble for 38 years. Under her direction, past WYSO Percussion Ensembles have received national recognition from PAS, MENC, the National Band Association, WMEA, and the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. The annual Percussion EXTRAVAGANZA! has partnered with Second Harvest Foodbank, the American Red Cross, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Vicki and her husband, John, are Disaster Action Team members for the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 2008, they co-founded the HEROES Musicales held in their Wild Rose home the last Saturday of April. Recently, the national Red Cross named the Musicales a “best practice” raising thousands of dollars for both local disaster relief and Service to the Armed Forces.
In addition, Vicki is a Wild Rose Kiwanian, serves as church pianist for Holden Lutheran Parish, and gigs regularly as keyboard-vocalist in local nursing homes and retirement centers.