Dr. Topolewski holds a bachelors degree from Michigan State University, a masters degree from The Catholic University of America, and a doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His principal conducting instructor was Dr. Harry Begian during a three year conducting fellowship at the University of Illinois. After completing studies with Paul Schaller, Elsa Ludwig-Verdehr, and Robert Marcellus, he performed as principal clarinetist with the Dubuque Symphony and Cedar Rapids Symphony. As conductor/clinician, he has given concerts and lectures throughout the United States and in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia and Dresden, Potsdam and Leipzig Germany. He has held membership in ABA, CBDNA, Phi Mu Alpha and MENC.