Meet The Teachers

Eleanor Mertzenich 

Mrs. Mertzenich teaches high school orchestra where she is responsible for teaching, directing and coordinating activities for two performance ensembles, Chamber Strings and Symphonic Strings.  Eleanor grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and completed her undergraduate degree at Luther College where her major instrument of study was viola. Part of her studies included a semester abroad and she also has a minor in German.  Before coming to Sun Prairie  in 2017, she taught orchestra for a year in Storm Lake, Iowa and spent a year teaching orchestra students in Appleton, WI. Eleanor enjoys attending Broadway musicals and has played in the pit orchestra for productions at the high school.  She also enjoys word trivia games, conducting and playing handbells, and reading about music psychology.  She and her husband are both violists and you will often see him helping with tuning and concert supervision. 

Erin Barnard

Erin Barnard is a music educator and violinist/violist who has been teaching private lessons and working with ensembles since 2006. She specializes in middle school string instruction both privately and in public schools. Mrs. Barnard has taught in Sun Prairie and Verona, and has worked for the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra as a conductor and program director.

Mrs. Barnard plays viola and violin and graduated from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor of Music in 2006. She completed her Masters Of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2017. Mrs. Barnard is National Board Certified,  has a WI Master Teaching License and was a Kohl Fellow for 2017. 

Mrs. Barnard has been involved with Wisconsin State Music Association (WSMA) judging Solo Ensemble Festivals, serving on the Literature Selection Committee, as Orchestra Coordinator for the Middle Level Honors Project and on the Board of Wisconsin String Teachers’ Association. She sings and plays fiddle in the band Soggy Prairie. 

Nereyda Sancheztio

Curtis Wetzel

JD Slieff-Vogt

Rachel Lam

Mrs. Lam is a music educator and violist/violinist and vocalist. She has taught in Beloit, West-Allis, and was at Stoughton HS for 8 years before coming to Prairie View MS in 2023. Mrs. Lam teaches the 6-8th Grade Orchestras and lessons at PVMS. Ms. Lam graduated from UW-La Crosse with a degree in Music Education (Choral, General, and Instrumental Music). Her 20+ years of experience have included chamber and symphony orchestra work at UW-La Crosse, and many varied performances in professional groups as a soprano or viola/violinist. She is currently a violist in the Madison Area String Orchestra (2017- present).Mrs. Lam is excited to be teaching at Prairie View MS!

Joe Marjamaa

Mr. Marjamaa has been teaching orchestra in the Sun Prairie schools since 2002.  He currently teaches beginning strings in five of the District elementary schools - Meadow View, Horizon, Westside, Token Springs, and Northside.  Joe is originally from West Allis, WI where he started playing the violin at a young age. He received his undergraduate degree from UW-Milwaukee where his major instrument of study was violin.  He was a camp counselor and sectional coach for the WiASTA Elementary String Camp and has been a teacher with the Sun Prairie summer Fiddle Camp. Prior to teaching in Sun Prairie, he taught orchestra for the Waukesha School District.  He is a devoted follower of the Green Bay Packers and enjoys spending time with his wife, young son and family dog. His interests include coaching, biking, camping, and trying different ethnic restaurants especially those that feature Korean food.    

Karli Johnson

Ms. Johnson began teaching in Sun Prairie in 2022 and currently teaches orchestra at Royal Oaks, CH Bird, Creekside and Eastside Elementary schools and assists with orchestra at Prairie View. Prior to teaching in Sun Prairie, Ms. Johnson taught in Wausau WI. Ms. Johnson’s main instrument is the Violin and graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a degree in Music Education, minor in Suzuki Pedagogy. When Ms. Johnson is not doing music, you can find her reading, cooking, swimming, or exploring the outdoors! She loves to be active and social with her friends.