MUSE Leadership: Our Professional Staff
Kaira Rouer
Kaira Rouer is MUSE Sturgeon Bay’s executive director and serves as interim secretary to the board. She also performs and teaches flute and piccolo in Sturgeon Bay, WI. She has achieved a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance at the University of Denver in the Lamont School of Music, having studied under Julie Thornton of The Colorado Symphony. She received her Bachelor of Music from Lawrence University at the Conservatory of Music, majoring in Music Performance (Flute) under Dr. Erin Lesser.
While studying at Lawrence, Kaira helped her parents to start and manage Rouer’s Roadhouse, LLC, a Door Country bar and grill, as the event and operations manager. After graduating from Lawrence, she continued to manage her family’s business while diving into freelancing, starting her own teaching studio out of the Tambourine Lounge building in downtown Sturgeon Bay, where she still teaches flute and piccolo today. Shortly after she began her graduate studies in Denver, the pandemic restricted the service industry, so she adjusted her career momentarily by starting Polished, a green cleaning business while maintaining her studio, both in person and online.
She also serves as a board member and organizer for her familys’ Gardner Community Foundation, a trades scholarship fund. As an active musician, Kaira performs with local community groups ranging from the Peninsula Symphonic Band (where she also serves on the board) to the chamber group The Door County Northwinds and with Country Rock band Belgian Silo Experience where she also contributes with voice. Kaira has taken her expertise in performance, education, and business to serve her community, leading the MUSE SB team and working to sustain a positive impact on the Door County Community through musical enrichment.
David Gerhard Utzinger
David Gerhard Utzinger serves as MUSE Sturgeon Bay’s artistic director and interim Vice President. Dr. Utzinger began his artistic career studying visual art. After music became an ever-increasing influence in his life, he began studying piano with Dr. Renee Chevalier and composition with Dr. Paul Davies. Since then, Dr. Utzinger received his BA in Composition from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, his MM in Composition from the Manhattan School of Music and his PhD in Music at UCLA. Dr. Utzinger has studied composition with Dr. Richard Danielpour, Dr. Reiko Füting, and Dr. David Lefkowitz and with French composer Eric Tanguy. His music has been performed throughout the United States and by numerous ensembles, including the Los Angeles based ensembles What’s Next? and Wild Up, the New York based ensemble Red Light New Music and the Ann Arbor based ensemble Brave New Works among others. Dr. Utzinger currently lives in Sturgeon Bay, WI, where he continues to write and teach music, and serves on the boards of Midsummer’s Music and The Miller Art Museum Foundation Board.
Muse Leadership: Our Board of Directors
Gary M. Ciepluch
Gary M. Ciepluch serves as the MUSE Board President. He was the Director of Bands and associate professor for conducting and music education at Case Western Reserve University, the conductor of Cleveland Institute of Music’s University Circle Wind Ensemble, and founded the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphonies. Gary earned his undergraduate degree and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. In retirement, he plays clarinet with the Peninsula Symphonic Band, is co-founder of the Door County Northwinds Chamber Ensemble, and guest conducts bands both Nationally and Internationally. Gary serves on the Board of Third Avenue Playworks.
Linda Halfmann
Linda Halfmann serves as the MUSE Board Treasurer. She is a graduate of Lakeland University with a BA in accounting and an MBA with a marketing focus. Linda held various managerial positions over 25+ years at Kohler Co. in both accounting and marketing, focusing on new product development, strategic planning, brand management and retail channel management. She served as an ad-hoc instructor within Lakeland University’s School of Business and volunteered as her church treasurer for 15 years. In addition to her work at MUSE, Linda serves as a Customer Service Specialist at Destination Sturgeon Bay.
David Bell
David Bell, retired Professor of Clarinet from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, brings over 40 years of experience from various faculty positions, including Oberlin Conservatory and Baldwin-Wallace University. With extensive orchestral experience, David has held Principal chairs with multiple orchestras and has toured internationally with renowned ensembles. David holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University. Currently, he serves as Principal Clarinet of the Weidner Philharmonic and performs with the Fox Valley Symphony.
Ernest Beutel
Ernest Beutel is an artist and collaborator in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Ernest’s paintings have been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the Midwest, including the Francis Hardy Center for the Arts in Ephraim, The Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay, and more. Mr. Beutel is represented by the Pearl of Door County in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Ernest received a B.F.A. from Barat College of DePaul University and his teaching license (Art K-12) from Silver Lake College (Holy Family College).
Michelle Lawrie
Michelle Lawrie, Executive Director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC), boasts over two decades of economic development expertise spanning Washington, D.C., Arizona, and Wisconsin. With a focus on public interest, she has led strategic planning efforts and performance measure development for various organizations. Michelle’s leadership roles include President and CEO of WESTMARC and positions in economic and community development for municipalities like Goodyear, Arizona, and DeForest, Wisconsin.
Sean Linnan
Sean Linnan, Esq. is a licensed attorney with 22 years of experience and was the founder and sole owner of a multi-specialty 12-person law firm. Linnan is licensed by the Minnesota State Bar, the Wisconsin State Bar, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and the United States Federal Court (multiple districts). In addition to MUSE, Linnan serves on a number of nonprofit boards within Door County, including serving as past president to the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club.
Shirley Weese Young
Shirley Weese Young graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in graphic design. She co-founded 2D3D Studio in Durango, Colorado and Two Green Giants, a landscape company in Chicago. Shirley was the Art Director/Assistant Editor of Chicago’s Inland Architect Magazine and co-led the designation of the Arlington-Deming Historic District on Chicago’s near north side. After moving to Sturgeon Bay, Shirley bought and renovated the Advocate building, STUDIO 234 across the street, and helped oversee the Third Avenue PlayWorks’ renovation. Her latest project is 330 Jefferson Street, which will house Muse on the ground floor.
MUSE Leadership: Overture Campaign Leadership Team
Gary M. Ciepluch
Gary M. Ciepluch serves as the MUSE Board President. He was the Director of Bands and associate professor for conducting and music education at Case Western Reserve University, the conductor of Cleveland Institute of Music’s University Circle Wind Ensemble, and founded the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphonies. Gary earned his undergraduate degree and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. In retirement, he plays clarinet with the Peninsula Symphonic Band, is co-founder of the Door County Northwinds Chamber Ensemble, and guest conducts bands both Nationally and Internationally. Gary serves on the Board of Third Avenue Playworks.
Michelle Lawrie
Michelle Lawrie, Executive Director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC), boasts over two decades of economic development expertise spanning Washington, D.C., Arizona, and Wisconsin. With a focus on public interest, she has led strategic planning efforts and performance measure development for various organizations. Michelle’s leadership roles include President and CEO of WESTMARC and positions in economic and community development for municipalities like Goodyear, Arizona, and DeForest, Wisconsin.
Sean Linnan
Sean Linnan, Esq. is a licensed attorney with 22 years of experience and was the founder and sole owner of a multi-specialty 12-person law firm. Linnan is licensed by the Minnesota State Bar, the Wisconsin State Bar, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and the United States Federal Court (multiple districts). In addition to MUSE, Linnan serves on a number of nonprofit boards within Door County, including serving as past president to the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club.
Keitha Seiler McDonald
Keitha Seiler McDonald, a resident of Door County for thirty-five years, resides in the Town of Gardner with her husband Michael. Originally from Mequon, she attended the University of Milwaukee and retired in 2019 after a thirty-year career with Davies Water Equipment/Ferguson Waterworks. In her role, she coordinated seminars, conventions, and continuing education classes. While lacking a musical background, Keitha is passionate about live music and eagerly anticipates contributing to Muse and witnessing its development.
Jim Vander Heiden
Jim Vander Heiden is a retired Architect with a home in Egg Harbor. He was formerly a Vice President at the firm of HGA Architects, Engineers and Planners, and led their national Arts, Community, and Higher Education practice. His expertise is focused primarily on assisting Cultural organizations with mission based planning and design strategies. Jim is a consensus builder and collaborator, and is currently supporting several non profit organizations in Door County through board and committee work including the Door County Community Foundation, Miller Art Museum, and the Peninsula School of Art.
Shirley Weese Young
Shirley Weese Young graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in graphic design. She co-founded 2D3D Studio in Durango, Colorado and Two Green Giants, a landscape company in Chicago. Shirley was the Art Director/Assistant Editor of Chicago’s Inland Architect Magazine and co-led the designation of the Arlington-Deming Historic District on Chicago’s near north side. After moving to Sturgeon Bay, Shirley bought and renovated the Advocate building, STUDIO 234 across the street, and helped oversee the Third Avenue PlayWorks’ renovation. Her latest project is 330 Jefferson Street, which will house Muse on the ground floor.
