MICHAEL J. ARENDT, B.M., M.M.
UW-MANITOWOC PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF MUSIC, CONDUCTOR AND MUSIC DIRECTOR, UW-MANITOWOC LAKESHORE WIND ENSEMBLE

Michael J. Arendt, Founder and Conductor of the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and Big Band, is also a Professor of Music at the UW-Manitowoc. In addition to his conducting duties, Professor Arendt teaches Music Theory, Music History, Applied French Horn, and Conducting at the UW-Manitowoc.  

Professor Arendt, former Assistant Conductor of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, has also served as the Principal Horn with the Pamiro Opera Company Orchestra, the Sebastian Chamber Orchestra, and the St. Norbert College Community Band.  In addition, he has performed with the Wichita Chamber, Orchestra, the Moravian Music Festival Orchestra, the UW-Milwaukee Fine Arts Woodwind Quintet, the Ice Capades and Holiday on Ice Show Orchestras and Manitowoc Symphony.  He has also served as Professor of French Horn and Conductor at the UW-Green Bay, UWGB and St. Norbert Summer Music Camps.  He also served as the Chair of the Department of Music of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and Associate Dean at UW-Manitowoc.  

Professor Arendt holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from St. Norbert College, and a Master of Music Degree in conducting, performance, and music theory, from Wichita Kansas State University.  He is also a frequent guest conductor/clinician, and music festival/contest adjudicator.  In addition, Professor Arendt received a Citation of Excellence from the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Band Association and was also recognized by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association for his dedicated service to music education.  He has also participated in Conductors Symposia, sponsored by International Music Festivals and Indiana University held in Oxtepec, Mexico and at the Interlochen Arts Academy, in Michigan. During his collegiate and performance career, Professor Arendt has won solo French horn/conducting scholarship competitions sponsored by the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, St. Norbert College, the Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs, and Wichita Kansas State University.  In addition, since the LWE was founded in 1983, Professor Arendt has led seven tours abroad including concerts and tours of; Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Japan, Switzerland, Ireland, and Great Britain.   

Prior to coming to UW-Manitowoc in 1971, Professor Arendt held positions in the Hilbert, Wisconsin Public Schools, the Derby, Kansas Public Schools, the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, and the International Institute of Advanced Musical Studies in Cran/Montana, Switzerland.  He has held professional memberships in the National Band Association, the College Band Directors national Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the International Horn Society, the American Federation of Musicians, and the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference. Mr. Arendt has also served as an adjudicator for the Wisconsin National Band Association and the Wisconsin School Music Association.