Our Team
Pastor Edward Ruen
Ed Ruen came to Milwaukee in 1975 to serve on the pastoral team at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. He later spent 15 years as executive director of the Next Door Foundation, founded and served for 10 years as excutive director of the Nehemian Project, and most recently founded and served as president of the Board of Directors of Gateway Organization Milwaukee, a position now held by Andrew Liss.
David Barker, Band Director
David Barker is the band director at Pius XI Catholic High School, where he teaches Symphonic Band, Beginning Band and Percussion Ensemble. He also directs the Jazz Combo, the Pep Band and the Mariachi Ensemble. He has taught band and private lessons at all school levels (elementary, middle, and high school) over his career and has been teaching for more than 30 years. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from UW-Madison and was a member of the famed Wisconsin Marching Band.
Molly Lieberman, Orchestra Director
Molly Lieberman moved to Wisconsin in 2009 to pursue Masters Degrees in Orchestral Conducting and String Pedagogy at UW-Milwaukee. She is currently the Music Director and Conductor of the Sheboygan Symphony Youth Orchestra program. She also maintains a private violin and viola studio out of her home in Riverwest.
In addition to teaching Molly is an active performer. She holds the Principal Viola chair of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra and performs frequently in other orchestras in southeast Wisconsin.
Olivia Dobbs, Band Director
Following studies at DePaul University’s School of Music, Olivia enjoys an active and multifaceted career as a freelance musician and educator. Olivia performs with musical theatre pit orchestras, symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles, jazz bands, cover bands, and artists in many different genres. Olivia also volunteers with Girls Rock Milwaukee, and has been teaching music in the greater Milwaukee area since 2016.
Allen Russell, Orchestra Director
Allen Russell is a violinist, composer and instructor based in Milwaukee, WI. He began his musical studies on the violin at age 5, and studied at the String Academy of Wisconsin with Mimi Zweig and David Becker before later going on to study with Jerry Franke and Dr. Bernard Zinck at UWMilwaukee. As a performer, Allen has appeared with his Hot Swing quartet Swing Chevron at festivals such as Summerfest and the Midwest Gypsy Swingfest, as well as historic venues such as the Green Mill in Chicago. With the string quartet the Tontine Ensemble, Allen has participated in premiering the new works of composers and has had his own compositions performed in collaboration with Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Danceworks, and Hyperlocal. Allen is a registered Suzuki instructor and holds a Master of Fine Arts in String Pedagogy from the UW Milwaukee.
Eric Sperry, Band Director
Trumpeter Eric Sperry has been a professional performer and educator for over 15 years. A versatile sideman, soloist, and leader, Eric has performed with many national and local acts throughout eastern Wisconsin. He is a member of Groove Therapy, North Point Brass, and Orquesta Veneno.
Eric is Adjunct Professor of Brass and Director of Jazz Ensemble at Lakeland University. He teaches applied lessons in trumpet, trombone, and tuba, and teaches courses in Music Entrepreneurship, Improvisation, and Brass Techniques.
Eric has a successful private studio that draws students from the Milwaukee area and around the United States. He offers engaging in-person and online lessons catered to each student’s needs. Eric’s students have been selected to the MYSO and UWAY programs, achieved superior ratings at solo/ensemble, and gone on to pursue careers in music. Eric holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Trumpet Performance.