Elsa Knysak, Bassoon

Elsa Knysak is an active musician, professional fundraiser, and amateur do-gooder working in the Milwaukee area. She received her bachelor's degree in Music Performance from Indiana University, where she studied with esteemed professors Kim Walker, David McGill and Arthur Weisberg. During her time there, she played with many regional orchestras, including the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra and the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. Throughout her playing career, she has enjoyed the opportunity to play under several revered conductors, such as Cliff Colnot, Leonard Slatkin, Roberto Abbado and Uriel Segal. After completing her Bachelor’s, she went on to earn her Master's in Arts Administration from Drexel University in Philadelphia. She worked and volunteered with many area arts organizations, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, First Person Arts, Philadelphia Fringe Festival and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. She currently works in development for the Medical College of Wisconsin and volunteers her time as a board member of the Friends of Hartung Park.  She is a proud and exhausted mother to two beautiful boys, is gleefully married to the love of her life and enjoys playing with various local musical ensembles in her spare time.