Bill Callaway
Director of The Studio Orchestra
Bill is thrilled to be joining the Studio Orchestra in 2024!
Bill currently teaches 7th and 8th grade orchestra at Waunakee Community Middle School. Prior to teaching in Waunakee, he taught orchestra at The School District of Fort Atkinson for seven years.
In addition to teaching 6th-12th grade orchestra, he helped establish a High School Chamber Orchestra that regularly performed in the community and directed the high school musical. Prior to teaching, he graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a Bachelors of Music Education and has since earned his Masters in Educational Leadership from Edgewood College.
In addition to teaching, Bill is an active musician and clinician. He regularly performs on cello with chamber ensembles in the Madison area and has served as a clinician at Turtle Creek Summer Strings Camp, a counselor at the Wisconsin Summer Music Clinic, and has adjudicated at numerous schools and Solo and Ensemble Festivals.
Dave Rush
Director of Dimensions in Sound
Dave is a retired Music Educator of 38 years. The bulk of his teaching was 25 years as the Director of Bands of Craig High School in Janesville, WI. There he was in charge of the Concert, Marching, Jazz and Pep Bands. After retiring from the Janesville School District, he took one year off and then returned to teaching as the assistant band director for 6 years at Sun Prairie High School.
Dave has a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts from UW-Whitewater and a Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin.
Dave was a guest conductor/clinician for two years for the Junior Music Clinic at UW-Madison and for multiple years for the University of New Hampshire Summer Youth Music School Program. He was guest conductor for the 2009 New Hampshire Middle School All State Band. He also has worked as a clinician for Glacier Creek Middle School in Cross Plains, Waunakee High School Band and other schools in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Dave has been performing with the “All That Jazz” big band since 2016. He has also performed with the UW Madison Summer Band, the Madison College Community Band and Community Orchestra and the McFarland and Sun Prairie Community Bands.
Jason Jacobs
Director of DISSO’s Small Groups
A graduate of Michigan State University, Jason Jacobs has taught strings since 1989.
His main instrument is violin, but he also has significant experience teaching viola, cello and bass. He has taught students from 3-50 years old, in a variety of settings including public schools, Suzuki strings programs, summer camps, chamber ensembles, and community orchestras.
Jason believes that all people can learn to play music at a certain level, and he tailors instruction to meet the needs of individual students/groups. He is an avid jazz fan, and enjoys learning to improvise through practicing and attending local jam sessions in Madison.
Jason retired from full time public school teaching in June, 2024, and he is currently enjoying a part time career of teaching and conducting.