Paula A. Ulicsni Halvorson is a conductor, violinist, and music educator with a passion for community music making and a belief that everyone is a musician. She is an orchestra teacher in the Willmar Public School District and was previously an orchestra teacher in the Sioux City Community School District and conductor of the “Symphonette" ensemble of the Siouxland Youth Orchestras. Ulicsni has encouraged music making in the lives of hundreds of young musicians.

Ulicsni has earned a Bachelor of Music degree in K-12 music education from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of South Carolina. During her time at USC, she had the opportunity to guest conduct the Marchand Youth Orchestra in the country of St. Lucia. Her primary conducting mentors include Jean “Rudy” Perrault at UMD and Donald Portnoy at USC. She has also participated in workshops where she has had the opportunity to receive feedback from many distinguished clinicians.

Ulicsni was born and raised in Virginia, MN where her first instrument was the piano. She is grateful to have had the opportunity to begin her violin studies in the local public school orchestra program. As a violinist, she has performed with many ensembles including the Sioux City Rockestra and St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra as well as many musical theater and opera pit orchestras. Ulicsni currently lives in Atwater with her spouse, son, and dogs.