Josh Hernday has performed with many ensembles throughout the Midwest United States such as the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Philharmonic, La Crosse Symphony, Janesville Beloit Symphony, and more. Prior to coming to UW Oshkosh, Professor Hernday taught at Silver Lake College (Holy Family College) and Triton College where he taught Horn, chamber music, music theory, and directed the jazz and wind ensembles.

In addition to performing on the Horn, Professor Hernday has conducted the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic, Fox Valley Symphony, Illinois State University Orchestras and Opera, Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra, and is the founding director of the Bloomington-Normal Summer Orchestra.

As a tireless advocate for the arts and nonprofits in general, Professor Hernday has also served in many capacities with regional nonprofit organizations. He has recently served as Executive Director of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, and currently serves as the Board President of the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, and Grants Manager for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

Originally from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Professor Hernday attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he received his bachelor’s degree in Horn Performance while studying with Dr. Bruce Atwell and began studying conducting with Dr. Lucia Matos. He received master’s degrees in both Horn Performance and Orchestral Conducting from Illinois State University, and his primary instructors were, respectively, Dr. Joe Neisler, Dr. Glenn Block, and Dr. Martin Seggelke. He has also been fortunate to receive additional instruction from Dale Clevenger, Luca Benucci, and several others.