Late educator lives on in music donation
The late Dan Ognavic, a beloved member of the Sheboygan County music community and longtime Lakeland University music faculty member, dedicated his life to educating young musicians.
Despite his death on March 16, his positive impact on young musicians will live on.
Dan’s sisters have donated his extensive sheet music collection to Lakeland with the hope that it will inspire students and participants in Lakeland’s weeklong summer Music Camp.
“It’s incredibly moving to witness this full circle moment,” said Anne Lapinski, a Lakeland director of development. “A man who dedicated his life to educating young musicians will now continue that mission through the very music he once used to teach.”
Along with the music donation, a scholarship is being established by Dan’s family that will allow two students to attend Lakeland’s Music Camp for free. An initial gift from his estate will create the scholarship, and additional donations through the generosity of family and friends are helping it grow.
If you would like to donate to the scholarship, click this link and select “Other” under Please Direct My Gift To and enter: The Dan Ognavic Music Camp Scholarship.
He taught lessons at Lakeland for violin, viola, cello and double bass, and he was also an accomplished pianist who accompanied many students in recital. He was one of the defining faces of Lakeland’s Music Camp and prided himself on being our “oldest music camper.”
Having been a camper himself as a child, Dan served as one of the longest-running camp teachers through summer of 2025 where he taught violin/viola, music theory, accompanied choral ensembles and soloists and coached sectionals and string chamber groups.
Outside of Lakeland, he ran a successful private studio in Sheboygan for more than 45 years, teaching lessons to a variety of ages for strings and piano. He was in demand as a performer, playing for area churches, weddings and musical theatre productions and was a long-time member of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra and the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra.
He was known for his kindness and witty sense of humor. His artistry and compassion touched the lives of his colleagues and countless young musicians.
