About

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.

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.

Maggie Darby Townsend

Cello

Welcome To MiExpo Conference

Testimonials

Fugiat nulla pariatur excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culp qui officia anim id est laborum. Sed unt perspiciatis unde omnis iste.

Nelson Edward

Conf. Speaker

Fugiat nulla pariatur excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culp qui officia anim id est laborum. Sed unt perspiciatis unde omnis iste.

Thomas Salehy

Conf. Speaker

Fugiat nulla pariatur excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culp qui officia anim id est laborum. Sed unt perspiciatis unde omnis iste.