This collection is organized into three parts: Series 1, Oral History Interviews (Interview audio and students’ documents pertaining to the interviews); Series 2, Digital Objects (materials donated/captured in an electronic format through the History Harvest Event at the Chippewa Valley Museum in March 2018); and Series 3, Project Documentation (miscellaneous materials relating to the History Harvest Events and the collection of the oral history interviews). Descriptions of the Series 1 Oral History Interviews are detailed below.
Box 1:
Jason Anderson
Jason Anderson is a producer and event organizer for music festivals in the Chippewa Valley. In this Oral History he discusses organizing the Eaux Claires music festival as well as working with the band Bon Iver to get the festival off the ground. He emphasizes the difference between Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire as a Chippewa Falls native. Anderson believes that Eau Claire is at a crossroads, where if Eau Claire continues to invest in music and we change to a creative economy, we can truly become a music capital.
Robert (Bob) Baca
Bob Baca is a professor of trumpet and Jazz at UW-Eau Claire. In this Oral History he discusses his musical influences, music education, memorable concerts, and experiences while touring. There is an emphasis on the jazz program at UW-Eau Claire and the Eau Claire Jazz festival. He identifies key figures in its evolution, as well as what makes the jazz scene in Eau Claire different from any other jazz program.
Jim Bischel
Jim Bischel is a local festival organizer, responsible for organizing Country Jam and Blue Ox. In this Oral History he discusses the history of the festivals he organizes as well as the music in the Chippewa Valley. Bischel discusses how he got into music and why he has formed his career around it. He describes his current involvement with Country Jam and Blue Ox and his collaboration with others. Jim then gives his definition of Eau Claire’s music scene. To conclude this interview, Bischel talks about how Country Jam and Blue Ox affects Eau Claire and the importance of the festivals.
Ken Fulgione
Ken Fulgione is a founding member of Eau Claire’s Blues and Tuesday Night Blues festivals, as well as the Chippewa Valley Blues Society. The interview establishes a loose timeline of Fulgione's life and his relationship with music throughout. Starting with his early life in Massachusetts, his migration with his family to the Chippewa Valley Area, and eventual involvement with establishing blues festivals in Eau Claire. Topic also covered are Fulgione's involvement in protests (ex: Tyrone Power Plant Protest), Eau Claire's music scene throughout the 1970s, and the process and issues of organizing live music in Eau Claire. The interview closes with a discussion what it means the be a “Music Capital,” what the city has improved on over the years, and what it still needs to improve to further cultivate the arts.
Jennifer Hazen
Jennifer Hazen is a local Chippewa Valley musician and a counselor at Music Heals. In this oral history she discusses her introduction to music, how that influenced her adult music career, and of rediscovering music when she became sober. Additionally, she talks about the music atmosphere in Eau Claire. She had many thoughts on the evolution of music in Eau Claire, from quiet streets to the revitalization of the downtown. Hazen discusses musicians in the area, how venues are opening to them, and how Volume One is writing about them. The interview also discusses the Music Heals project that Hazen set up at Arbor Place.
Linda John
Linda John is the director of Visit Eau Claire. In this oral history she discusses her love for music, her background and interests in the local music scene, what makes the local music scene unique, as well as Visit Eau Claire’s music promotion.
Ronald Keezer
Ron Keezer was a professor of Jazz at UWEC, faculty member of Shell Lake Arts Center, and owner of publishing company, “Really Good Music.” In this oral history he discusses growing up in the Chippewa Valley and how he interacted with music beginning in the 1940s. Keezer discusses how he learned to play the drums and played at local hotspots with local musicians. He continued with his professional music career including his work with the Eau Claire Jazz Festival and the founding of “Really Good Music.”
Howard Luedtke
Howard “Guitar” Luedtke is a local blues musician. In this oral history he discusses his early life with music and how it influenced his music career as an adult. He talks about his professional music career and his personal interactions with the Eau Claire music scene over several decades.
Evan Middlesworth
Evan Middlesworth is a producer, engineer, and the owner of the Pine Hollow Recording Studio. In this oral history he discusses his early interactions with music and what brought him to Eau Claire. He discusses the Eau Claire music scene, his experiences running a recording studio, who he produces and what bands he plays with, his opinion on what makes the Eau Claire music scene unique, how musicians in Eau Claire make a living in such a small city fun, as well as his opinion on the future of the music scene in Eau Claire.
Scott Morfitt
Scott Morfitt is the manager of Blugold Radio. In this oral history he discusses his interactions with music at a young age and his attraction to radio. Morfitt talks about managing a local radio station and how the music scene in Eau Claire interacts with the station. He discusses the development and influences of the local music scene.
Ben Richgruber
Ben Richgruber is the executive director of the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center. In this oral history he discusses his early life with music and his education involving the arts. He also discusses his involvement with the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, the State Theater, Live on Grand, and the Confluence Project.
Box 2:
Larry Barr
Larry Barr is an Eau Claire resident that is recognized for improving and promoting the cities music scene from the 1960s to the 1980s. Throughout the interview, Barr describes his history of owning various establishments throughout the decades and his involvement in local music festivals like Country Jam. Barr talks about how he was always tracking the “trends” when it came to music, both in the way it was performed, what genre it was, and who was listening to it the most. Larry has a huge understanding of the music community in Eau Claire and feels that the music scene has brought people in the area closer together and is largely responsible for the economic uptick the region has seen in recent years. He also feels that UWEC and his businesses such as Shenanigans and Fanny Hill had a close relationship, and his festivals like Country Jam largely serve a university crowd. UWEC and the music scene in Eau Claire both grew with each other’s help.
Sean Carey
Sean Carey is a UWEC alumni and the drummer for Bon Iver. He discusses what brought him to Eau Claire and his early interest in music and how he joined Bon Iver. Additionally, Carey explains the influence Eau Claire had on the selection of genre for Bon Iver, how the city received the band, and the overall impact of the town on Bon Iver. Carey also goes in depth in exploring the effect of Eau Claire on his solo career and music in general.
Colleen Garvenicus
Colleen Garnevicus is the Director of Music and Family Choirs at Immaculate Conception. In this oral history, Garnevicus discusses her family origins, her early music training, education, and early music career. She talks about being possibly one of the first women in the UWEC Jazz Band and the role of music in her life. Garnevicus talks in length about her role as a jazz director and music teacher, how music changed in Eau Claire and on the university campus, and the importance of music and how it has developed in her eyes. The interview goes on to discuss her time as a music professor in New York and her time in the Master Singers.
David Jones
Jones discusses his early childhood and how his brother and sisters inspired him via the guitar and the soul music they listened to as teenagers. Mr. Jones received his “baptism by fire” in the 1980s when he arrived at campus at the University of Iowa where his roommate was a versed band manager. In pursuit of a doctorate in English at the University of Minnesota, Mr. Jones experienced some of his best performances as a member of a band from 1990-1996. Upon his arrival in the Chippewa Valley Mr. Jones had the foresight of contributing to an already lively music scene consisting of blues and jazz amongst others. Bands such as The Jones Tones and Davey Jones & Friends allowed him to continue his poetic expression of music.
Ivar Lunde
Ivar Lunde is a local musician who had tremendous exposure to music since a young age from his family. Lunde is a retired UW-Eau Claire Professor and proprietor of Skyline Studios. In the mid-1970s he was involved in the formation of the Chippewa Valley Symphony and became the symphony’s conductor in 1978. This interview discusses Lunde’s early childhood life, his inspirations, current projects, philosophy of music, and his view on the various fiscal troubles the arts and musicians face in the community.
Jerrika Mighelle Christianson
This interview discusses how music influenced her growing up, her music career and Eau Claire’s impact on her career in music. The interview also discusses her opinion about Eau Claire’s musical renaissance.
Rich Morgan
Rich Morgan is the owner of the Morgan Music store. This interview discusses music in his childhood, such as private lessons, playing various instruments before settling on the trumpet. The interview discusses Morgan Music, jazz music in Eau Claire, and the change in music in Eau Claire over time.
Ryan Olson
Ryan Olson is a self-made musical artist who opened a record label called “Totally Gross National Product” (TGNP). This interview discusses Olson’s record label, his experiences in the bands Gayngs, Polica, and Marijuana Deathsquads. Also discusses his opinion on the support that music receives in Eau Claire.
Sarah Olson
Sarah Olson is a local middle school music teacher and UWEC alumni. In this oral history Olson discusses how she got interested in music as a singer and celloist when she was young, her experiences teaching music in Eau Claire, and the charity work associated with her class. She also discusses the “Eau Claire Sound” and the other elements of the Eau Claire music scene such as collaboration, the UWEC jazz program, and the local Chippewa Valley Festivals that make it unique.
Michael Perry
In this oral history Perry discusses his writing career, his early music career as a county-folk artist, his time at UWEC and Eau Claire’s music scene during his time in college and after. He talks about how Eau Claire’s music scene and how it is not something that just happened in the last 10 years but has always been a part of Eau Claire’s culture. Goes on to talk about the Eaux Claire music festival and other festivals in the area. Perry also discusses his radio show called “Tent Show Radio”.
Gretchen Peters
Dr. Peters is the Chair of the Department of Music & Theatre Arts, a professor of music history, and a professor of American Indian Studies. In this oral history, Peters discusses her early beginnings in music during school, and how the dedication of a public school teacher fostered her interest in the cello. From there, she spoke about her work with EDI, explaining how she came from her dissertation on marginalized medieval music to presentation of Native American music today. In addition, she notes that the University unfortunately continues a tradition of marginalization by presenting primarily white male works of music, despite our city’s rich musical tradition. Because of this, she doesn’t see Eau Claire as having “one sound,” as a logical musicologist knows that there are so many other components that create a broader regional picture. There is a mainstream sound (e.g. indie music), which is important to Eau Claire’s culture and community, but that’s not to say that any other musical genres are subpar; the mainstream sound, according to Peters, is overall positive for the city, especially in economic and educational terms, but UWEC must continue its tradition of working with the community.
Neal Sipress
This interview discusses his music career in Eau Claire both as a musician and shifting to editing music in his personal recording studio. He talks about how he thinks there is an enormous value to the handmade studios that are located in Eau Claire, the increase of studios in the area, and the impact they have had. He then talks about the Eau Claire music scene, the people who have had an impact on it since the 1980s, and how people consume music in Eau Claire.
Box 3:
Jim Egan
This interview discusses educational recordings on the history of jazz performers from pre-World War I through the 1950s that were played for student during breaks and exam periods. Egan also spoke about the live performances in the Eau Claire area.
Peter Hable
This interview discusses how music was shared among Hable’s family because of the different instruments played by various members of his family. Hable talks about his grandfather’s musical background along with his grandfather’s bass drum that had been played in various dance halls and banquet halls in between World War I and II.
Betty Hanson
This interview discusses Hanson’s memories of her son’s (Josh Hanson) tribute album. The album contains original track along with two parody melodies that are focused on the Green Bay Packers. Hanson also elaborates on her son’s musical history including his previous bands from middle school through college.
Richard Hazelton
This interview discusses Hazelton’s experiences in the marching band in High School during the 1940s. He spoke highly of his high school director who went by the name Sarge Boyd. Hazelton discusses his time in the Air Force where he played in the 604th Air Force Band. Hazelton discusses his involvement in bringing interest into the lackluster bands at the University. He also listed many bands that he was either involved in or knew of that were active in the 1950s and 1960s.
Michael Lindsay
This interview discusses the Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest. Lindsay talks about the connection that he has towards Oktoberfest and how he organizes and leads tour groups for the Munich Oktoberfest. Lindsay also talks about his experience of local music.
Lynette McFayden
McFayden shares her experience with the Master Singers along with the conductor who was a long tenured professor at the university. She discusses the requirements for joining these groups and how students got involved.
Nathan Sorenson
This interview discusses how Sorenson began Nate’s Dungeon, a venue from 2000-2012 that operated out of the basement of his mother’s house. Sorenson talks about the pros and cons of hosting punk bands in his mom’s basement along with giving a great description of what the local punk rock scene was like in the Eau Claire area.
Peter Steinmetz
This interview discusses Steinmetz’s family objects that he brought in for the History Harvest. This includes a picture of the 105 Mounted Band formulated in Eau Claire in the 1900s by Theodore Steinmetz. For the rest of the interview, he talks about his lack of knowledge surrounding certain aspects of the artifacts and some other experiences about his father and uncle.
Jerry Way
This interview discusses Way’s experience as a local playwright and composer. Way talks about how he taught music in the Chippewa Valley for decades after graduating from Wisconsin State College-Eau Claire in 1967.
Sue Orfield
Sue Orfield, a Menomonie native, is tenor Saxophone player that plays in a multitude of bands in the Chippewa Valley region along with other bands in the Midwest and in Seattle. Orfield’s oral history discusses her musical origins, her music education, and how she teaches private lessons. Along with this, Orfield discusses her music career in the Chippewa Valley and how the Eau Claire music scene and community is very unique.
Adam Bors
Adam Bors, an Ohio native, moved to Eau Claire with his wife, Ada Bors, when he was offered a job at the University. Adam discusses his wife’s involvement in the community and how she came up with the idea to create the Viennese Ball in Eau Claire. Bors discusses his late wife’s involvement in the event and how the Viennese Ball has changed overtime.
Larry Barry
In this second interview with Larry Barr, he elaborates upon his involvement with the Eau Claire music festivals, Shake, Rattle and Roll and Country Jam. He also discusses the future of Eau Claire music festivals as well as his future projects.
Box 4:
Gary Schwartzhoff
Originally from Iowa, Dr. Gary Schwartzhoff is the artistic director and conductor for The Master Singers, a past Director of Choral Activities and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. His interview connects with the stories previously interviewed individuals in terms of UWEC history and the activities of university-affiliated and non-university music groups in the community. Schwartzhoff goes into detail his life before Eau Claire and about the circumstances under which he was hired initially as a director at UWEC. Furthermore, Schwartzhoff discusses his perspective on the factors which have led to the development of the current music culture in Eau Claire.
Jerry Way
In this second interview with Jerry Way, he explains more about his time in the union, the gigs that he did, and the growing perception of jazz in the region. Eau Claire was a union town, and music was no exception; being in the union opened more venues of opportunity. Way became vice president of the union at one point and discusses the importance of the “bash” during the oral history. Furthermore, Way discusses the impact of DJs on the local music scene, as well as his opinions on them, and the kinds of venues he’d play at during his freelancing years. Adding more to the history of his early musical life, he gives more information on the early-stage band at Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire, and how it affected the perception of jazz in the city and larger region. He ends remarking on the wonder of current music culture in Eau Claire, and how the new generation of musicians learn.
Robert (Bob) Baca
Baca, a musician from Wisconsin, talks about his early life, as well as his involvement with the Viennese Ball.
Ernest Broeniman
Born in Horicon, Wisconsin, Ernest Broeniman grew up playing the tuba, eventually forming a polka band called Dorf Kappele. Ernest taught band in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and a former student recommended him for playing at the Viennese Ball. Ernest and his band ended up playing at the ball for the next thirty years. This interview encompasses Broeniman’s life and contributions to the Viennese Ball.
Johannes Dahle
Johannes Dahle, Director of University Centers in 1971 and Director of Development and University Relations in 1984, gave an interview surrounding his time helping with the Viennese Ball. Dahle created the budget, organized the staff, food service, and the logistics for the first ball.
Charles Farrell
Charles Farrell, Director of the Students Center, and Viennese Committee Chairman for several years, provides an interview regarding the Viennese Ball.
Teri Knudtson
Teri Knudtson, Catering Director at UWEC for several years, gives an interview in which she talks about catering issues surrounding the Viennese Ball during her thirty years of helping with it.
Barbara Pautz
Barbara starts off the interview talking about her early life, leading up to her time at UWEC. Pautz was one of the founders of the Viennese Ball and talks about how it was created and how it evolved through the years.
Alan Rieck
Alan Rieck, UWEC Faculty for 15 years, discusses his time at the university and coordinating choirs to sing at the Viennese Ball.
James Schmidt
James Schmidt, current Chancellor of UWEC discusses his role with the Viennese Ball, and the impact the music program has had on the university and the community.
Box 5:
Gary Scharwtzhoff
Gary Schwartzhoff, the longest serving Director of Choral activities at UWEC, discusses his early life, involvement at UWEC, and his time with the Viennese Ball.
Paula Stuettgen
Paula Stuettgen was involved with the ball as a student during the early years of the ball, organizing dancing lessons for the event. Eventually Stuettgen became a staff member at the university and helped with the ball from a faculty standpoint.
Kimera Way and Marcia Van Beek
Way and Van Beek were both interviewed on their early lives and then their involvement with the Viennese Ball. Both faculty members at the university, they talk about fundraising and the logistics of the ball.
Nobuyoshi Yasuda
Yasuda, the conductor of UWEC’s orchestra and the Music Director of the Chippewa Valley Symphony orchestra provides information on his early life as well as his time conducting at the Viennese Ball.