Schedule
February
28, 2027 – Oakwood Chamber Players
For more than 41 years, the Oakwood Chamber Players have
been sharing the joy of chamber music with audiences in Madison and beyond. As the
resident chamber ensemble for Oakwood Village, we’ve built our concerts around
one simple idea: great music is meant to be shared.
What began as a group of friends making music together has grown
into an ensemble of seven professional musicians who still love collaborating,
discovering new repertoire, and connecting with audiences. That sense of
friendship and fun is at the heart of everything we do, and we hope you’ll feel
it every time you attend one of our concerts.
One of our favorite things is creating programs that blend
familiar classics with exciting new discoveries. Our unique combination of wind
and string instruments allows us to perform an incredibly diverse range of
music. From beloved masterpieces to works by living composers and voices that
deserve to be heard more often. Along the way, we share stories and insights
about the music to make each concert engaging, welcoming, and enjoyable for
everyone.
When we’re not performing with the Oakwood Chamber Players, you’ll
also find us on stage with organizations like the Madison Symphony Orchestra,
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and Madison Opera. We’re proud to be part of
Madison’s vibrant musical community and grateful for the opportunity to bring
chamber music to audiences throughout the area.
Whether you’ve been coming to our concerts for years or this is
your very first visit, thank you for joining us. We hope you’ll laugh, be
inspired, discover something new, and leave feeling connected through the power
of live music.
Meet the Players
Valree Casey, Oboe
Valree Casey is a freelance oboist and English hornist
based in Madison, Wisconsin. Originally from San Diego, California, she has
performed widely throughout the Madison area in chamber ensembles and
orchestras. Valree holds a Master of Music degree from the University of
Michigan and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of the Pacific
Conservatory of Music, and she also pursued studies at the Vienna Konservatorium in Austria. Her principal teachers include
Nancy Ambrose King, Harry Sargous, Tom Nugent, Michael Turnovsky, and Peggy
Michael. In addition to her performing career, Valree maintains a vibrant
private teaching studio and is the proud mother of three teenage boys.
Nancy Mackenzie, Clarinet
Nancy Mayland Mackenzie is a native of Madison and is
an original member and Artistic Director of the Oakwood Chamber Players. Nancy
performs regularly as Principal Clarinet of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and
Second Clarinet of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Nancy pursued advanced
degree work in clarinet performance at the University of Michigan and the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received a Doctor of Musical Arts
degree.
Marie Pauls, Viola
Marie Pauls
earned both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied on a full scholarship. She is pleased to
be joining Oakwood Chamber Players this season as a new artistic director. A
passionate arts ambassador, Marie is a performer and education manager for LunART, Inc, a non-profit
organization that celebrates and advocates for women artists. Beyond the
classical realm, she performs with the acoustic rock group Evan Riley Band,
with whom she has recorded three original albums.
Stacy Regehr, Piano
Stacy Fehr Regehr is thrilled to be a member of the
Oakwood Chamber Players this season. As an active collaborative pianist in the
Madison area, she also performs regularly with Fresco Opera and Madison New
Music Ensemble. For almost two decades, she enjoyed the role of staff
accompanist at the School of Madison Ballet. Stacy holds degrees in piano
performance with a pedagogy emphasis from Kansas State University and Emporia
State University, and has served in adjunct teaching positions at both
universities.
Amanda King Szczys, Bassoon
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Amanda King Szczys
received her Bachelor of Music degree, Summa Cum Laude, in Bassoon Performance
from the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music. She then earned
a Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan. Formerly a member of
the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Amanda is currently Principal Bassoon of the
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Second Bassoon of the Madison Symphony
Orchestra. Amanda has also appeared with the Milwaukee, New World, and Toledo
Symphonies. She joined the Oakwood Chamber Players as an Artistic Director in
2007.
Maggie Darby Townsend, Cello
An Artistic Director and member of Oakwood Chamber Players since
2011, Maggie Darby Townsend received her Bachelor Degree in Music from
the University of Iowa in 2002 as a student of Charles Wendt. In 2004, she
finished her Masters of Music with Uri Vardi at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. She works at the Institute for Research on Poverty at the
UW-Madison, is a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and plays in chamber
music groups in the Madison area.
Holly Wagner, Violin
Violinist Holly Wagner is a tenured member of the Madison
Symphony Orchestra and maintains an active freelance career throughout the
Midwest. Following several guest performances with the Oakwood Chamber Players,
she is thrilled to join the ensemble as a member this year. “I especially love
how OCP introduces audiences to wonderful, lesser-known works in such an
engaging and accessible way.”
Holly holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in
violin performance from the Eastman School of Music. Prior to joining the
Madison Symphony Orchestra in 2022, she was a member of the Civic Orchestra of
Chicago. She was also a fellow with the National Repertory Orchestra and
Adirondack Performing Arts and has performed internationally in Bordeaux,
France, where her chamber ensemble appeared as featured guest artists at the
Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves.
Alongside performing, Holly enjoys teaching students of all ages and maintains
a private violin studio in Madison.
Text
from oakwoodchamberplayers.com
Copyright © 2026 Richland Concert Association
Last
update 10/31/2026
