Music Faculty Information


Mr. Menk  Mr. Darin Menk
      Church and School Music Director
      General Music Instructor
Darin Menk holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota.  He has his state teaching licenses in Kindergarten through grade twelve general music and in grades six through twelve choral music.  He completed his Masters of Music Education degree at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.  Mr. Menk has taught in a variety of urban and rural settings.  He presently teaches music and general education instruction at First German Lutheran Elementary School in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  

Mr. Menk has experience in teaching general education courses through all eight grades.  His responsibilities include teaching choir, directing handbells, conducting tonechimes, and teaching general music.  He has directed numerous musicals, created music shows, and encouraged students of all ages in talent shows.  His performing groups have traveled the midwestern states performing in churches, grade schools, and a college.

Mr. Menk has presented  religious, general education, and music workshops at district, state, and national levels.  For the past few years, Mr. Menk has written lessons for the Wisconsin State Listening Project and presented an annual summer music workshop. Besides teaching, Mr. Menk regularly takes classes in general and music education.  Mr. Menk holds professional memberships in the Music Educator's National Conference, the Wisconsin Music Educator's Association, and the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.  In his free time you may find Mr. Menk gardening, taking photographs of the local scenery, playing piano, or attending one of his son's activities.  Contact Mr. Menk

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piano teacher 1Piano teacher 1  Mrs. Susan Menk
      Piano Instructor

Susan Menk has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Dr. Martin Luther College.  She has taught general education courses at various grade levels including full time with third and fourth grade students and part time with seventh and eighth grade students.  Susan has played piano for over thirty years, teaching lessons for the past thirteen of those years.  Mrs. Menk has been a member of the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association.  Mrs. Menk uses her musical talents in other areas as well.  She has directed the Ladies Advent Choir and the Adult Handbell Choir.  She has also sung with our church's Adult Mixed Choir.  Contact Mrs. Menk

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piano teacher 2Piano teacher 2  Mrs. Betty Schwede
      Piano Instructor

Betty Schwede has a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.  She has taught at various grade levels for the past twenty years including full time with second grade for one year.  Mrs. Schwede has played piano for thirty years, teaching lessons for the past nineteen of those years.  Mrs. Schwede has been a member of the Northeast Wisconsin Piano Teacher's Forum and regularly attends their workshops and presentations.  Mrs. Schwede uses her music and teaching skills in a variety of ways including singing in the Adult Mixed Choir at church and teaching Sunday School.  Mrs. Schwede is also a member of the Patch of Lakeshore Quilter's Guild.  Contact Mrs. Schwede.

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band teacher Band teacher   Mrs. Renee Schmill
       Band Instructor
   
Mrs. Schmill has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an emphasis in music education.  She has taught a variety of grades including preschool all the way through high school.  Mrs. Schmill brings a wealth of music experience to our program.  She has directed middle school band for fifteen years, she has played clarinet and saxophone for over forty years and played trumpet and flute for over fifteen years.  She currently directs the clarinet choir, freshman choir, and musical drama at Manitowoc Lutheran High School.  She uses her musical gifts at her church directing the Junior Choir, singing in the Senior Choir, and in playing handbells.  Mrs. Schmill performs reguarly in the Newtonburg Brass Band, the Saxophone Conspiracy, and in the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble.  Mrs. Schmill has served as instructor at the WELS Band Camp and as music director at Camp Bird in northern Wisconsin.  She participates in the Music Educator's National Conference and in the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association.  Contact Mrs. Schmill

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mrs knutsonBand teacher    Mrs. Jennifer Knutson
        String Instructor

Mrs. Jennifer Knutson has played the piano since the age of five and the violin since age ten.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Albion College, Albion, Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with an emphasis in String Instruction.  Jen taught orchestra, music appreciation and music theory for eight years in the public schools.  She has been a member of the first violin section in the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra.  Three years ago, she chose to become a stay-at-home mom while at the same time continuing to provide private lessons in her home.  In the fall of 2009, she accepted the position of lesson teacher at MLHS giving piano and violin lessons.   Jen enjoys performing on the violin for weddings and at church, and also enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and spending time with her husband, Mark, and three-year-old daughter, Robin.  She recently became a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant.  She is a member of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Manitowoc.  Contact Mrs. Knutson

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