Meet Our Conductor
Dr. Jeff Suarez is returning to Turtle Creek Chamber Orchestra after serving as a board member and advisor to founder Ian Nie in 2012 and 2013. It was Dr. Nie who hired Suarez as an adjunct horn instructor at Beloit College in 1998 (giving Suarez his first opportunity in the Rock County area), and Suarez considers it a high honor to be named conductor of the orchestra started by Nie, still mourning his sudden passing in 2024. In addition, Suarez is Associate Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater at Rock County in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he directs the U-Rock Concert Band, the U-Rock Jazz Band, founded the U-Rock Chamber Orchestra in 2002, and co-founded the now dormant U-Rock Youth Orchestra. In addition to his directing duties, Professor Suarez also teaches music history and music technology courses, taught music theory for twenty years, and is currently interim department chair of the Department of Integrated Studies housed at the Rock County Campus of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.
Meet Our Founder
Ian was passionate about teaching and helping young people learn about and understand all types of music, and the world around them. He was an excellent coach and collaborative pianist, and supported all forms of art in the community. He was an active recitalist and guest artist, having recently conducted Beethoven's Egmont Overture with the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra, and played as part of Dueling Pianos with Bill Cunningham. In his free time he enjoyed spending time with his lovely wife and their beloved pets. Ian passed unexpectedly in July 2024, and will be sorely missed by all whose lives he touched.
Dr. J. Ian Nie was born in China but trained in the USA. Ian had diverse interests in music. He trained as a classical pianist and performed in Europe, China, and the USA. He was also able to lead orchestras, choirs, and was a music director for operas and musicals. Ian studied with Jack Roberts at University of North Texas, Leo Steffens at University of Wisconsin, and for a short period in Italy during his New York University years, where he received his PhD in 2003. His studies with Orazio Frugoni in the late ’70s prepared him for the repertoire and technical proficiencies he would need for performing and teaching. Ian taught for 35 years at Beloit College. He owned and operated Maple Tree Recording Studio and incorporated an entrepreneurship component to his music technology classes. In 2012 he founded Turtle Creek Chamber Orchestra.
