About Taras
Choral music has been at the heart of my life’s work.
As a performer, educator, arranger, and composer. Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, I gravitated toward music at an early age. After my older sister finished her piano practice, I would sit down and figure out what she had played—by ear. My mother sensed there was something special in the way I connected with sound, and soon I began formal piano lessons with my Aunt Helen, before continuing with Sister Lois at Edgewood Schools.
In middle school, I joined the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, starting in the Junior Corps and advancing to the A Corps. This immersive experience sparked a lifelong passion for percussion and marching band music. I spent the next 26 years marching, arranging, writing, and teaching for the corps, further deepening my understanding of rhythm, ensemble coordination, and musical storytelling.
High school brought a new chapter as I began studying under concert pianist Renato Premezzi of Beloit College, where my exploration of music arranging took root. I started arranging percussion and mallet ensemble music by transcribing from performance recordings—a process fueled by early ear training and a deep curiosity about musical structure.
I attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1981–1986), studying piano performance under Leo Steffens and percussion with James Latimer and Steve Cornelius. While there, I accompanied the Wisconsin Singers, a collegiate vocal group known for dynamic performances in the show choir tradition. I was fortunate to work closely with Mac Huff, one of the country’s most published arrangers, who mentored me in the art of writing vocal medleys, shaping musical arcs, and creating smooth transitions—skills that still inform my work today in vocal jazz, contemporary a cappella, and choral arranging.
College was also where I met Lori Viegut—my future wife and an exceptional vocalist studying music education. I was her accompanist, and eventually her life partner—we were married in 1986.
After graduation, I began arranging for show choirs across the Midwest. As word of mouth spread, this work expanded into a full-time career. I also started receiving requests to write original music for school concerts, poetry settings, and seasonal performances—leading to an ever-growing catalog of commissioned compositions for choral and instrumental ensembles.
In time, I became a music minister, composing and arranging extensively for sacred services, particularly Lent and Easter choral music and Christmas choral music. I served as Director of Music at Bethany United Methodist Church for two decades and currently serve as the Music Minister at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI.
Today, my work spans a wide range of musical styles, including new musical theater, orchestral music, piano compositions, and custom choral and instrumental arrangements. I continue to collaborate with schools, churches, and ensembles to bring meaningful music to life—whether it’s a commissioned choral work, a fully orchestrated piece, or a fresh arrangement for a contemporary a cappella group.
Music has always been more than just a career—it’s a lifelong conversation between emotion, community, and creativity. I invite you to explore my catalog of compositions and arrangements, and if you’re seeking something new or uniquely tailored to your ensemble, I’d love to collaborate.
