Forward Performing Arts welcomes Clay Wachholz in the role of Educational Outreach Director. Mr. Wachholz holds a bachelor of arts degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master of music degree from the University of Michigan.

Clay was most recently the Director of Bands at Cedarburg High School (Cedarburg, WI) where he developed a highly successful band program that included two concert bands, a competitive marching band, pit orchestra, jazz studies, and music theory programs. In 2011 he was awarded the Herb Kohl Teaching Fellowship for excellence in teaching in the State of Wisconsin.“We are honored to have Clay join Forward Performing Arts and help expand our presence in music education,” said Executive Director Chris Komnick. “Clay has a deep resume of educational excellence and strong roots in the State of Wisconsin. We expect to see an immediate impact in the development of our music programs.”An active guest conductor and educator, Mr. Wachholz has given clinics to varied groups throughout the U.S., England, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Brazil, and Argentina. He has been the featured brass clinician at the British Youth Band Association Annual Band Camp in London, England and has twice been a clinician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Music Clinic where he led the concert and jazz bands. He has served as the music director for the Lakeshore (WI) Symphonic Band and the Shorewood Summer Concert Band.Previously Clay was an instrumental music teacher at the The International School of Brussels (Brussels, BE) from 2006-2007 and at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (Canton, MI) from 2001-2003. An alumnus of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, Clay taught the corps from 1991-97,01 and has been on the brass staff of the Phantom Regiment for five seasons.