Mrs. Joann Kekula earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master of Music Education degree from UW-Stevens Point. She majored on clarinet and piano and also studied baritone, flute, and percussion privately. She has completed additional graduate classes at Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Viterbo University, UW-Madison, and UW-Whitewater.

While teaching 6-12 Band in the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District, the WBHS Charger Band has performed 8 times at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

She accompanies the St. John Church Choir and Cantor for services in Antigo as well as performing on clarinet and saxophone in the Gary Kuchenbecker Old Lager Orchestra (an 11 piece dance Band). One of her favorite music accomplishments has been performing in the pit orchestras for musicals in Antigo (Once Upon a Mattress) and Waupaca (Sweeney Todd, The Wizard of Oz, Mame, and Annie). 

Mrs. Kekula is on the board of directors for the National Band Association and serves as newsletter chair (coordinating, editing, and publishing issues 3 times per year for distribution to over 300 members state wide). 

She has been on the Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music staff since 2006 and has been a leader on student performance tours in seven European countries. One of the highlights was taking her son and husband along on one of the trips during which her husband said that is is wonderful seeing all of these things through the students’ eyes.

When she is not teaching, Mrs. Kekula enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with her son and his wife, sewing, and keeping their two very spoiled dogs in line. She feels extremely fortunate to be asked to be on staff for such an incredible project and can’t wait for the 2023 tour!