Performing Arts Faculty

Janet L. Herrick

Janet L. Herrick, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Lakeland College, is a graduate of Pennsylvania's Mansfield University (B.S. Music Education/Trumpet) and Texas Christian University (M.M. Voice Performance/Pedagogy) where she was elected to Phi Kappa Lambda, music's most prestigious honor society. In addition, she holds a Master's Equivalency and permanent public school teaching certification from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Before coming to Lakeland in 1993, she taught at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. She was founding conductor of the TCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble and interim Director of Choral Activities at the university.

Professor Herrick has conducted at numerous MENC and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conferences in the Northeast and Texas and conducted the Lakeland College Concert Choir's performances at the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association conferences in 1996 and 1999. She is a frequent guest conductor for scholastic and civic choruses and has prepared choruses for several symphony orchestras. She is the founding conductor of the 120 voice Sheboygan Symphony Chorus and 16 voice Symphony Singers and plays double bass in the SSO. On numerous occasions she has had the honor of serving as guest conductor of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra.

Prof. Herrick has performed in choruses or master classes conducted by Robert Shaw, Richard Miller, Eduardo Mata, Helen Strassburger Boatwright, John Giordano, Robert A. Harris, Ronald Shirey, and many others. She has extensive experience in musical theatre as director, music director, chorus master, choreographer, actor, and costume designer. She serves as music director and costume designer for Lakeland's annual spring musical.

During her tenure at Lakeland she established the college's women's choir (Frauenchor) and the Schilcutt Handbell Ensemble. She is a prolific arranger of music for both treble and mixed choirs and for handbells. Most music performed by Lakeland's handbell ensemble has been custom arranged by Prof. Herrick. Under her direction the Lakeland choral program has grown in both size and artistry. In addition to her conducting duties, she teaches voice, arranging and conducting.

Arthur T. Johnson

Arthur T. Johnson, D.M.A. is Associate Professor of Music at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he heads the piano performance and pedagogy major, teaching applied piano, piano pedagogy and literature, and accompanying; he also oversees the instruction of class piano, music theory, and music theory lab, and teaches classes in these areas. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Music degree at Brigham Young University.

Mr. Johnson is a much sought after instructor of piano. His students have won first prize (2008, 2005), second prize (2004), and honorable mention (2007) in the Wisconsin State level of the Music Teachers National Association Senior and Junior Piano Competitions; first prize in the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Young Artist Competition (2007); second prize in the finals of the National Federation of Music Clubs Stillman-Kelly Audition (2007); second prize in the Lee Biennial Piano Competition (2008); first prize (2004) and second prize (2006 [junior and senior]), and Honorable Mention (2004) in the Junior and Senior Polish Fest Chopin Competition in Milwaukee; first prize (2008) and second prize (2004) in the Carroll College High School Piano Competition; first prize in the Ruth De Young Kohler Scholarship for Artistic Excellence competition (2006); first place (2007 [2 divisions], 2004 [2 divisions]), and Honorable Mention (2006, 2002, 2000) in the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Badger Keyboard Competition. His reputation as a teacher has resulted in invitations to adjudicate for the Lawrence Academy Piano Competition (2007), the Washington County Concerto Auditions (2007), and the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Badger Keyboard Competition (2007, 2006, 2005, 1999).

Since studying jazz piano with Joan Wildman in Madison, Wisconsin and classical improvisation with Mária Apagyi in Budapest, Mr. Johnson has become a specialist in classical-based improvisation pedagogy. Incorporating classical improvisation into all his teaching subjects, he has given presentations and workshops on this topic at the College Music Society National Conference, the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Conference, and the College Music Society Great Lakes Region Annual Conference. He has also lectured on teaching techniques, the learning process, and the life and music of Hungarian composer András Viski. He produced the compact disc Elismerés, which is a recording of works by András Viski performed by Mr. Johnson and Lakeland College voice and piano students. This cross-curriculum project involved students from graphic arts and marketing for designing the CD brochure and promoting the performance of the works at the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts.

In addition to the invitations to adjudicate and lecture, Mr. Johnson's honors include being named the recipient of the Lakeland College Grant for Faculty/Student Collaboration in Research and/or Performance (2006), recipient of Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Local Member of the Year Award (2005), recipient of University of Wisconsin-Madison Vilas Travel Grant (2001), winner of University of Wisconsin-Madison Concerto Competition (1999), and winner of Leonard Pennario Piano Performance Award (1989-1992). He is an active performer of solo and collaborative piano music, having performed in Europe, Australia, and the United States. He has performed with the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wind Ensemble, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Symphony Orchestra, and in the Krueger Fine Arts Series. He has performed with cellist Perry Karp and sopranos Helen Boatwright and Debra Rentz among others.

Mr. Johnson is an active member of College Music Society and Music Teachers National Association and its affiliate state and local associations. His favorite works that he has performed are Bartok's First Piano Concerto, Debussy's Cello Sonata, Bach's Toccata in E Minor, Chopin's F Minor Fantasy, and Serenade by András Viski. He is married with two children and lives in Howards Grove, Wisconsin.

Charles Krebs

A celebrated director and champion of the theatre, Charlie Krebs' courses have become favorites among Lakeland students for their energy and enthusiasm. A member of Lakeland's faculty since 2007, Charlie serves as director of Lakeland College Theatre, he teaches acting, public speaking, interpersonal communication, and set construction and design. He also directs the college's summer Theatre Camp, and advises Theatricians - Lakeland's drama club. A singer with the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus, Charlie instills in his students a strong self confidence that will carry them into their chosen career.

Russell Pettitt

Dr. Russell T. Pettitt is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. At Lakeland, Dr. Pettitt conducts the Concert Band, directs Muskie pep bands, and teaches courses in music education and music appreciation. Pettitt's previous positions include serving on the music faculty at the University of Arkansas and as an elementary, middle, and high school band director with school districts in Virginia and Texas.

A native of Texas, Dr. Pettitt holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree from George Mason University, the Master of Music degree from the University of Arkansas, and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the University of Oklahoma. Conducting teachers include Anthony J. Maiello, W. Dale Warren, Jeffrey D. Gershman, and William K. Wakefield, and his principal euphonium teacher is Roger Behrend.

Dr. Pettitt's performance background includes success as a euphonium soloist and wind conductor. He was named as finalist for euphonium positions with the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" of Washington, DC, and the United States Coast Guard Band of New London, CT, and has been selected to perform in the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Competition three times. Bands under his direction consistently received superior ratings at UIL events in Texas and the Whitewright High School Symphonic Band was selected as a 2007 Outstanding Performance Series Texas State Finalist.

Dr. Pettitt's professional affiliations include: College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, Wisconsin Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Pi Kappa Lambda. Pettitt is also a proponent of new music for winds and percussion, evidenced by participation in national commissioning projects and his research on the music of composer Carter Pann.