General

Category: General

Joe Loehnis ’06: From Cellist to CEO

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Joe Loehnis ‘06, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. During his time at Lawrence, he majored in Cello Performance and was the captain of our golf team, also being the only golfer in LU’s history to be named to the All-American Team. Not only was he a successful golfer, but he was an outstanding musician. At the age of 16, he auditioned for the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and got in, being the youngest person to this day to be awarded a tenure position there. He has also held positions in three other orchestras as a featured soloist.

After graduation, Joe became a professional golfer for a few years, placing in the top three in several tournaments. When I asked him about how he got into arts administration, he had an interesting story about being in line for groceries in Florida, where he was competing at the time. He heard someone in front of him talking about how there were no cello teachers in the area. This was when Joe approached them and eventually started his own private cello studio, starting with 10 students and maxing out at 75. With this ambition, and with no formal business background, he became the Executive Director at The First Tee, a non profit focusing on education and health for youth through golf. After great success there, Joe was looking for a change. After working with a recruiter, they said to him, “I found your next job. You’re going to be a CEO.”

This of course was how he wound up at the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, a musical non-profit currently worth several million. Every year, the organization puts on six weeks of free and outside music making in Madison, WI, entitled Concerts on the Square. Annually, over 50,000 people show up. No one knows the value of live music more than musicians, with the CEO stating that the experience is “like a breath of fresh air”. 

When asked about what makes a good arts administrator, Joe had many things to say. Energy was a huge one. Positive personalities mixed with raw hunger and ambition is like the magic music-business potion. Not only do you need to have tenacity, but also genuine passion. Curiosity is also crucial. Coming at arts administration from the lens of a musician is a huge leg up in the industry. Joe has also described the arts as a whole as being ‘resilient and relevant’. Honestly, us aspiring arts administrators need to be like the arts. 

Another piece of advice Loehnis gave was to “jump in the deep end with the piranhas”. The business industry is very cutthroat. You have to take risks! Having a strong background in not only music, but business is huge. You would be surprised at the amount of people working in arts administration that, like Joe, just fell into it. Having a solid understanding of the industry is so important. 

In addition, Loehnis said to use your network! “We all bleed blue”, he said in reference to Lawrentians. Meeting other people who went through the same music theory sequence is an automatic bond. Use the Lawrence community to your benefit. Find alumni who are doing what you want to do, and pick their brain. Trust me, I didn’t expect to uncover this much information from Joe Loehnis, but I am so happy I did.

Lastly, Joe talked about how important experience is. Not necessarily working at Carnegie Hall or a huge business corporation, but having “sticky” experience. Showing that you work hard is evident when your resume has years of experience at the same company, and you’ve moved up a few times. It shows you want to grow. And learn. And improve! Strong references can easily be more valuable than money.

Obviously, CEO Joe Loehnis said many things that really stood out to me in our conversation. My favorite, and my closer, is probably what he said in reference to reaching out to your network: “Get the meeting. Get the coffee. Listen 70% and talk 30%.”

Lauren Chance is a current sophomore at Lawrence University double majoring in Business and Entrepreneurship and Music, also minoring in Spanish. As a Career Peer Educator (NES, VPA), an Admissions Student Ambassador, and an EPIC Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor, she has a passion for helping others. Lauren aspires to work in arts administration focusing on marketing or event management. Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn.

Meet Kat: Empowering Youth By Embracing Diversity

Kat Green ’27, BMus: Music Education (Instrumental/General), Music Performance (Multi-Instrumental)

Music Teacher: Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows

Let’s put the spotlight on Kat Green ’27 who spent their summer with the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows (BGCTM), teaching kids music through a multi-cultural lens. Kat’s students were taught everything from American folk dances to Brazilian samba drumming. Through instruments and body percussion, the young kids were able to feel empowered in their lives, both musically and educationally. That’s a powerful thing to produce.

“Waking up every morning with the knowledge that I have the power to change a child’s perception of the world through music…informed a summer full of discovery, transformation, and bravery,” Green exclaimed. She described instances of helping students learn to love music and understand different cultures, at the same time. Not only was Kat able to grow as a music educator through BGCTM, they were also able to grow as a person and expand on their own educational values. Kat spent her summer changing lives, one handboning rhythm at a time.

This internship was made possible through generous donor funding, which supports students in gaining real-world experience without the stress of balancing summer expenses. Hoping to intern next summer? Schedule an appointment at the Career Center and we can help you! The summer internship funding application will open in early January, after we get back from break. Learn more about funding for internships.

Lauren Chance is a current sophomore at Lawrence University double majoring in Business and Entrepreneurship and Music, also minoring in Spanish. As a Career Peer Educator (NES, VPA), an Admissions Student Ambassador, and an EPIC Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor, she has a passion for helping others. Lauren aspires to work in arts administration focusing on marketing or event management. Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn.

Meet Madelynn: Finding Her Path Through Pathfinders

Madelynn Kennedy ’27, BA: Psychology, Neuroscience

Intern: Pathfinders Milwaukee

Let’s highlight Madelynn Kennedy ’27 who spent her summer at Pathfinders Milwaukee, one of the leading shelter programs in the country! Finding her path in social services, Madelynn spent extensive time with youth ages 9-25 who are going through incredibly tough times. By learning how to properly support them through Pathfinders Milwaukee, she gained an experience that was “almost impossible to capture on paper”.

Madelynn was able to make a real difference amongst those who needed it most. By promoting equity, inclusion, a judgement-free zone, a safe space, and professionalism, and by working directly with adoption services, corrections facilities, and the Department of Child and Family Services, she was able to use her internship opportunity as just that: an opportunity; an opportunity to change lives, in ways big and small. This is a type of career preparation you can’t take a class on. Keep it up, Madelynn!

This internship was made possible through generous donor funding, which supports students in gaining real-world experience without the stress of balancing summer expenses. Hoping to intern next summer? Schedule an appointment at the Career Center and we can help you! The summer internship funding application will open in early January, after we get back from break. Learn more about funding for internships.

Lauren Chance is a current sophomore at Lawrence University double majoring in Business and Entrepreneurship and Music, also minoring in Spanish. As a Career Peer Educator (NES, VPA), an Admissions Student Ambassador, and an EPIC Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor, she has a passion for helping others. Lauren aspires to work in arts administration focusing on marketing or event management. Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn.

Tyler Donnelly: Immersing in Music and Diversity

Tyler Donnelly ‘27, Major: Musical Arts

Faculty Member: Drum Sets

New York Jazz Academy 

The summer of 2025, Tyler had the incredible opportunity to intern in the heart of New York’s jazz scene at the New York Jazz Academy. As part of the faculty team, he were not only teaching lessons but also performing daily with accomplished musicians. This role allowed Tyler to gain firsthand experience in both instruction and performance, developing his skills while forming valuable connections with faculty and fellow musicians. The experience opened doors to future opportunities and set the foundation for a growing network within the music industry.

But the connections didn’t stop at work. Tyler lived in Jackson Heights, Queens, one of the most diverse neighborhoods, surrounded by people from all over the globe. Despite language barriers, Tyler enjoyed the cultural diversity of the area, learning about different traditions through food, music, and interactions with neighbors. Many of the students at the academy also came from diverse backgrounds, making it a helpful opportunity to practice teaching in a multicultural environment.

This summer was a transformative experience for Tyler, where he grew both as a musician and a person. The challenges he faced in teaching, building the network, and adapting to a culturally rich environment pushed him to grow in ways he never expected. He is already looking forward to returning to New York in the future to continue building on this growth!

This internship was made possible through generous donor funding, which supports students in gaining real-world experience without the stress of balancing summer expenses. Hoping to intern next summer? Schedule an appointment at the Career Center and we can help you! The summer internship funding application will open in early January, after we get back from break. Summer Funding

Here is Nikola: Honing Law Skills through Kids Management 

Nikola Kuzmanovic ’26, Major In Psychology 

Camp Counselor 

Camp Jorn, YMCA Camp for Kids 

I would like to introduce you to Nikola Kuzmanovic ’26, a psychology major who had an amazing experience as a (position) at Camp Jorn, which is a YMCA camp for kids around 11-16 year olds. Though Nikola plans to be a lawyer after Lawrence, which is totally not correlated with being a camp guide or manager, she explains that she has extracted meaningful skills that are generally beneficial in Law school. Aside from the high-energy, community-driven atmosphere that prioritized mentorship, teamwork, and accountability, people at the camp emphasized communication, inventiveness, and inclusivity, which are core values needed in law school. 

Most importantly, she learnt various skills needed to be a better representative of future clients, such as tackling problems under pressure while being a trustworthy advocate for the betterment of the people under her care and leading with empathy. Inclusion is an essential part of law school and being a lawyer overall. Nikola explains that she got to work with diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds and was part of a scholarship program that allowed individuals from lower-class families to be at the camp. This experience broadened her communication and inclusivity skills, which will be very impactful in her career. 

This internship was made possible through generous donor funding, which supports students in gaining real-world experience without the stress of balancing summer expenses. Hoping to intern next summer? Schedule an appointment at the Career Center, and we can help you! The summer internship funding application will open in early January, after we get back from break. Learn more about funding for internships. 

Dennis Boakye ’26 is a senior with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Mathematics. He is also a co-president of the Neurolawrence Club and the Synthetic Biology Club, and the treasurer for the American Medical Student Association (AMSA, Lawrence Chapter) and the Black Student Union (BSU). Dennis is the current career peer educator for the Health and Medicinal Professions (HMP) and the Physical and Natural Sciences (PHN) career communities at Lawrence University. Connect with Dennis on LinkedIn.

Kaitlin: Overcoming Challenges and Finding New Paths

Kaitlin Buelow ‘26, Majors: German, English Literature

Government Relations Intern

Bread for the World

Kaitlin spent her summer interning at Bread for the World in Washington, D.C., where she encountered both professional and personal challenges. As a newcomer to the world of D.C. advocacy, Kaitlin initially felt disconnected due to her different background from her co-workers and supervisors. Despite the diversity around her, she struggled to find common ground in casual conversations with coworkers. However, when she connected with regional advocacy leaders Florence French and Nicole Schmidt, Kaitlin found a shared passion for fighting hunger that helped her build meaningful relationships.

While working at the D.C. office, Kaitlin began to reflect on her own future and her desire to make an impact. She recognized that being in D.C. wasn’t the only way to help make positive change in the world, nor the place where she’d be most effective in doing so. Instead, she decided to focus on the tangible, local effects of policy on communities like hers back home. This realization led her to pursue Education courses in her final year at Lawrence and work toward her teaching license.

Despite shifting her focus, Kaitlin’s time at Bread for the World was transformative. She improved her writing skills, with a piece published in Bread’s Institute Insights, and worked on her professional communication abilities. Whether working independently or as part of a team, Kaitlin learned to adapt, reconnect after miscommunications, and persevere through challenges. Kaitlin mentioned “My experience at Bread has not simply opened doors to me, but given me the tools to open them for myself.” 

This internship was made possible through generous donor funding, which supports students in gaining real-world experience without the stress of balancing summer expenses. Hoping to intern next summer? Schedule an appointment at the Career Center and we can help you! The summer internship funding application will open in early January, after we get back from break.

Economics and Business Analytics double major and a Data Science minor at Lawrence University as well as an Event Coordinator at Pan Asian Organization and Social Media Manager at LU Data Science Club. Connect with Nadika in LinkedIn