1. MICHAEL J. ARENDT, B.M., M.M.
PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Michael J. Arendt, B.M., M.M., Founder and Conductor of the University of Wisconsin-
Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and Big Band, is also Professor Emeritus of Music, at the
UW-Manitowoc. From 1971 until his retirement from the UW-Manitowoc in spring of 2006, he
taught Music Theory, Music History, Applied French Horn, and Conducting.
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. Professor
Arendt has also been inducted into and is a member of the the international fraternity of
conductors Phi Beta Mu. In June of 2013, the LWE once again returned to Japan on a
performance tour to Kamogawa, Japan as part of the Manitowoc/Kamogawa Sister City
program.
Prior to coming to UW-Manitowoc, 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.