Michelle A. Kaebisch holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and has been teaching in Wisconsin public schools since 1995. Most recently, she taught the large group orchestra and music composition classes at Oregon High School (OHS), as well as conducted the pit orchestra for their annual musical productions. Ms. Kaebisch is the conductor for the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Philharmonia ensemble (2013-present). Formerly, Ms. Kaebisch was the Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Madison Symphony Orchestra (MSO) from 2006-2015, as well as a tenured violinist in the MSO from 1993-2015. Her book, HeartStrings: A Guide to Music Therapy-Informed Engagement for Symphony Orchestras, has been distributed symphony orchestras and healthcare facilities world-wide.
While at the MSO, she was a presenter at several local and national conferences including: League of American Orchestras (LAO), Society for the Arts in Healthcare (Arts & Health Alliance), and the Association of Wisconsin Orchestras. While at the MSO, Ms. Kaebisch was co-chair of the LAO’s national Education & Community Engagement Committee, as well as a mentor to education directors who were new to the field of arts administration. Additionally, Ms. Kaebisch has served both as a teacher and conductor for the UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic, UW-Whitewater Strings Camp, Badger Conference Honors Orchestra, Iowa State Junior Honors Orchestra Festival, and Kenosha’s District Wide-Strings Festival.
Ms. Kaebisch remains active with the Wisconsin School Music Association and has been a sectional coach (violin and viola) for the WSMA High School and Middle Level Honors Orchestras. Other performing ensembles include: Edgewood Chamber Orchestra, Madison Community Orchestra, Madison Savoyards, Middleton Community Orchestra, Quartessence String Quartet, and the International Women’s Festival Orchestra.