Our Team

In addition to being the Artistic Director and chief orchestrator for the Kids From Wisconsin, Taras Nahirniak is an arranger, composer, and clinician who has numerous published works. He has written and composed for many vocal groups, drum corps, and marching bands in the United States, Europe and Japan. He is also an alumni and arranger for the UW Madison Wisconsin Singers. Taras is a sought-after composer who won the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association composers award and was commissioned to compose a 5 movement fully orchestrated piece for the Madison Ballet. The piece, "Night Dances" was performed by the Madison Symphony Orchestra at the opening of the Overture Center. In 1997 his full-scale musical "Everyman" was debuted in Madison and was later performed in California. Taras has directed and performed in a number of musicals around the area. In his free time he is either traveling to watch his kids performing in Broadway national tours or performing himself with Piano Fondue, a dueling piano group and a Billy Joel tribute band, 52nd Street. In 2020 he and his wife moved from the Madison area to Oconomowoc where Taras became the director of music for Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

A proud alumna, Peggy has served Kids from Wisconsin since 2014 in many capacities, most notably a founding leader of the emerging Community Enrichment division and Head Choreographer since 2017. With the organization growing to offer year-round performance education opportunities for youth, her vast experience supports both the traditional and creative development of its core programming. Peggy's spectrum of work, primarily as a choreographer and director, includes large scale musicals, adjudications, workshops, clinics and master teaching artist. She has trained hundreds of performers ranging from beginners to professional artists in various dance styles. Peggy was chosen as a primary teaching artist for Disney's Musicals in Schools, and a multiple recipient for "Outstanding Choreography" for Madison WI's Overture Center of the Arts's Jerry Awards, achieving excellence in high school musical programming in numerous productions, as well as a choreographer for their award recipient production for PBS. She has collaborated with numerous artist teams and is a trusted consultant nationally in dance and performance. Peggy also serves on faculty at the Academy and Pre-Professional level for Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy. Peggy received her intense dance education from the legendary Jean Wolfmeyer in Manitowoc, WI, while also studying as a scholarship student at the former National Academy of the Arts, Gus Giordano Dance and Lou Conte Dance Studio of Chicago. Peggy enjoyed over 15 years as a professional dancer/entertainer in multiple productions for Disney World, in Las Vegas, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and large productions around the World and TV commercials.

Michael Stanek, a Wisconsin native, is a freelance Director/Choreographer and Arts Educator snd excited to return to Kids From Wisconsin for the 2023 Season. Recent director/choreographer credits include: The RIDE NYC!, (Drama Desk Nominee) 70, Girls, 70, starring Olympia Dukakis (City Center Encores), Stanek has also served as Artistic Director of The Broadway Theatre, Wohlfahrt Haus Theatre, Broadway Kidz Wisconsin, Origin Theatre and Kids With Heart, seen on the Rosie O'Donnell Show. Selected performance credits include: Ed McMahon's Star Search (Finalist), 42nd Street (European Tour), Sophisticated Sing and Swing, starring Mercedes Ellington (National Tour), Camelot, starring John Rubenstien and Ken Page (The MUNY) and Oklahoma! starring Rue McClanahan (Broadway Series of Charlotte). Stanek proudly originated the role of the Prince in Beauty and the Beast (Disney-Hollywood Studios). He is a proud Member of Actors' Equity Association and an Associate Member of The Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers.

Kerry Bieneman holds a Master’s degree in voice performance from Northwestern University, and works as a music director, pianist, and singer throughout southeastern WI. Ever since joining the KIDS organization in 1997 as a pianist in the band, Kerry has been involved with the KIDS in some way, shape or form, serving as the Tour Assistant, Tour Director, Assistant Vocal Director, and Vocal Director. She is thrilled to return this year as the Vocal Coach for the troupe. Kerry has worked with Florentine Opera, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Opera for the Young, KUSD Theatre, and Bel Canto Chorus. She is currently the Music Director/Arranger for the Musical Mainstage Concert Series at Sunset Playhouse, and she performs regularly in concerts & cabaret shows. Kerry has also worked as a voice teacher at Lawrence University, UW-Milwaukee, and Carthage College.

Matt Mealey has toured all across the country as a freelance trumpet artist. Performing credits include: lead trumpet for Wayne Newton, the New York Voices, the Irish Tenors, the Temptations, The Four Tops, Frankie Valli, Johnny Mathis, Jimmy Dorsey, Mannheim Steamroller, Steve Lippia, Charles Langley, Gap Mangione, Five by Design, and the National Broadway Tours of 42nd Street and Monty Python's Spamalot. He has also appeared as a guest soloist with the Chippewa Valley Concert Band, the St. Croix Jazz Orchestra, the Robert Baca Jazz Orchestra, as well as several other college and high school bands throughout the country. Matt holds a degree in music education from UW–Eau Claire, and a Master’s degree in trumpet performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. In addition to performing, Matt has also been quite involved in music education. He has served as a jazz and trumpet instructor at the Shell Lake Arts Center, The International Music Camp, and the Northland Youth Music Program. Matt has an extensive history serving as a clinician and adjudicator for jazz festivals and music contests throughout the Midwest. For the past 20 years, Matt has been the Director of Bands at New Richmond High School, where he is fortunate to work alongside his Choir Director wife Jodi. Both alumni of Kids From Wisconsin, Matt (92-95; stage band coach 96-98) and Jodi (96-98) like to think their experiences from KIDS inspire their collaborative efforts in musicals and concerts. Matt is very exited to be a part of the KIDS organization again, and he hopes to inspire the next generation of young artists.

Katlin Gerlach is overjoyed to join the Kids from Wisconsin production team. She is a freelance Costume Designer, Technician, and Alterations Specialist. She graduated from UW Parkside in 2014 with a BA in Theatre Arts, specializing in Costume Technology and Design. Professional Technician Credits include: American Players Theatre, The Florentine Opera, Skylight Theatre, and The Milwaukee Rep. Professional Design Credits Include: UW Parkside: As You Like It; The Prairie School: The Little Mermaid, Once on this Island, Chicago (Jerry Award for Best Costume), Elf Jr. the Musical, Into the Woods, Suessical, Mama Mia, Drowsy Chaperone (Jerry Award for Best Costume). Formerly Alterations Manager with David’s Bridal, Katlin runs her own alterations small business in Delevan where she lives with her family.

Hope Riesterer is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, with a BFA in Musical Theater and a Dance Minor. She grew up studying dance with the Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy and theater with First Stage’s Young Company, where she was able to perform at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Hope is a Kids from Wisconsin Alumni, 2015 -2018. Other recent performance credits include: Lisa in Mamma Mia at Skylight Music Theatre, Frog in A Year with Frog and Toad at Hope Summer Repertory Theater, Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray, Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia, and Cassandra in Trojan Women. Hope also has a passion for choreographing and teaching. She is a recent recipient for “Outstanding Choreography” from Overture Center of the Arts’ Jerry Awards and is a teacher of Musical Theatre Dance classes and workshops with The Studio at Water Street Dance Milwaukee. She can’t wait to be back with her Kids from Wisconsin family for a second summer in the role of Dance Assistant!

Cedric Gardner is a passionate and accomplished dance artist with over two decades of experience in the field. He currently serves as a Youth Artist Mentor at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, where he finds joy in helping young dancers achieve their dreams. Cedric's love for dance was sparked while watching classic films with his mother featuring dance legends Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. His talent and dedication eventually led him to become a top 14 finalist on the third season of the American dance contest series, "So You Think You Can Dance." Since then, Cedric has continued to make an impact in the dance community. He is the coach of the NBA Milwaukee Bucks youth dance team, "The Young Bucks," and coaches the Boys and Girls Club dance team, "Davis Dancers," who are three-time national champions. The Davis Dancers have even been featured in national commercials for brands such as Versiti, Pepsi, and Old Navy, and have performed with notable artists like Daya, Doja Cat, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Cedric's talent has allowed him to work with some of the most elite choreographers in the industry, including Brian Friedman, Debbie Allen, Dave Scott, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels, Napoleon and Tabitha, Nick Flores, Poppin Pete, and Shane Sparks. He has also had the privilege of performing with several celebrities, including Black Eyed Peas, Gloria Estefan, Herbie Hancock, Neil Young, NE-YO, Stevie Wonder, Debbie Allen, Miranda Cosgrove, and Sheila E. Cedric's unique and innovative dance technique blends multiple dance styles, and he describes it as "freestyle" and "emotion-driven." He has even contributed choreography to popular TV shows such as Fox's "Empire" and the Nick Jr. series "Yo Gabba Gabba." Cedric made his film debut in a Wayans Brothers Production, "The Dance Flick," and was featured in Disney's "Step Up 3D." In all his endeavors, Cedric strives to inspire and uplift others through the power of dance, guided by the words of Helen Keller: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."