Directors
Mrs. Elisabeth Wagner - FVL Schools Band Program Director
Mrs. Wagner is a 1996 FVL grad. She attended the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music where she earned her bachelor of music degree in instrumental music education in 2000. She received synod certification at Martin Luther College the following year.
From 2002-2004 she taught both high school and grade school band and music classes at Arizona Lutheran Academy. In 2004, she married her husband, Tim, and moved to the Milwaukee area while he finished his senior year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. During that year she taught grade school band at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. She and her family have lived in various areas of the country: Port Orange, Florida (2005-2007); Elgin, Illinois (2007-2011); Columbus, Ohio (2011-2018); and now Appleton, where her husband serves as a pastor at Riverview Lutheran Church. Throughout these years, she has been raising her family of five children (currently ages 7-17), teaching private lessons whenever possible, subbing and teaching part-time.
Mrs. Wagner's primary instrument is the French horn. She also enjoys baking, reading, grilling, drinking coffee, and a bit of gardening.
Mr. James Neujahr - FVL High School Director
Mr. James Neujahr currently serves as the high school and FVL Schools Band director at FVL. At FVL he conducts the Marching Band, Pep Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble and various ensembles during the school year.
Mr. Neujahr is a 1980 graduate of FVL. He holds a B.S. in Education degree from Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota, and also a Master of Music - Conducting degree from the American Band College of Southern Oregon University. He has also received continuing education credits from Lawrence University, Vandercook College of Music, the University of Miami (FL), and Viterbo University.
He very much enjoys attending the WMEA Convention in Madison and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago on a regular basis. He is a member of WSMA, and in 2013 was honored to be inducted into the Wisconsin Bandmaster's Association. Mr. Neujahr also serves as the Executive Director of the Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin - an award-winning marching band consisting of students from 9 WELS area Lutheran high schools.
Mr. Neujahr's primary instrument is trombone. He has performed with various local ensembles and community bands. He has been a trombone player with the Dorf Kapelle, a professional 17-piece ensemble playing the finest authentic folk music of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. He was also a long-time member of the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band, and has played with the Wisconsin Symphonic Winds. He is a member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Appleton. He truly enjoys spending time with his family and his grandchildren.