Staff

Dedicated non-profit professionals who share a passion for our mission—Cazadero’s administrative staff works tirelessly to bring the love of music and learning to youth. Our Cazadero Music Camp faculty and guest conductors are all highly accomplished practicing musicians and music educators. Counselors are all music students at the university level and Counselors-in-Training at the high school level. Even our kitchen and maintenance staff members are often musicians!

Cazadero selects staff not only for their musical skill but for their passion for teaching music and their ability to effectively mentor youth. We recruit guest conductors each year from top universities and high school music programs to lead the orchestras. The guest conductor program ensures ongoing variety and new musical challenges each week. Please visit our Jobs Page if you’re interested in applying for a summer job at Cazadero Music Camp.

Emily Wainacht was appointed Executive Director of Cazadero Music Camp in 2016. She spent ten formative summers at Caz as a camper, counselor-in-training, counselor, and music instructor. Before becoming Executive Director, Emily held a variety of roles with other non-profit arts organizations such as LA Opera, The Broad Stage, LA Chamber Orchestra, and the Oberlin Artist Recital Series, in addition to being an active freelance trumpet performer and teacher.

She credits Cazadero for helping shape her musical path, eventually earning two degrees in trumpet performance: a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music from University of Southern California. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Oberlin College. She studied at Aspen Music Festival in 2010 and completed the American League of Orchestras’ Essentials in Orchestra Management course in 2015. Emily spends her time away from Caz with her husband, Andrew, and her daughters, Penelope and Robin.

• Email: EWainacht@Cazadero.org
• Phone: 510-527-7500 Ext. 13

Carolyn Niehaus-Owen is an accomplished music educator, having worked at Altimira Middle School in Sonoma for 11 years where she was responsible for two Concert Bands, Choir, Musical Theater/Drama, and Student Leadership in addition to serving as the Activities Director and Electives Department Chair. Carolyn recently finished her first year as Music Director at Lawrence Jones Middle School in Rohnert Park where she is responsible for two Concert Bands, Jazz Band, and Beginning Guitar. She has taken on leadership roles in the local music education community by coordinating the Sonoma County Junior High Honor Band and coordinating the Sonoma County JumpStart in Music program at Caz. Mrs. Niehaus-Owen also continues to perform on flute in a variety of settings and sings in the Sonoma Valley Chorale. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.

Carolyn Niehaus-Owen has been actively involved with Cazadero Music Camp since the summer of 2004 holding different positions throughout the years: Girl’s Dean, Conductor, Music Instructor, Counselor, Counselor-in-Training, Office Manager, Camp Clerk, Prep Cook/Cook, Dining Hall Supervisor, and Kitchen and Utility Crews. Cazadero is where Mrs. Niehaus-Owen found her passion in teaching music. Carolyn was thrilled to accept the offer to serve as the Music Camp Director starting in 2022. She looks forward to spending future summers at Caz, watching campers and staff experience the magic of Caz – her home away from home.

• Email: Emily@Cazadero.org
• Phone: 510-527-7500 Ext. 10

• Email: Debbie@Cazadero.org
• Phone: 510-527-7500 Ext. 12

• Carolyn Niehaus-Owen, Music Camp Director
• Jonathan Knight, Assistant Camp Director
• Drake Bolt and Paulina Vaclav, Deans
• Pat Shelby, Director of Food Services