Dawn Harkins (Voice & Musical Theatre Teacher)   Dawn Harkins is a professional singer/actress with a wide vocal range and colour. She’s been seen on stage for Theatre Building Chicago’s Monday Night Musicals, Northbrook Theatre, a 2-year run with American Girl Theatre as a principle adult actor playing multiple roles, including GrandMary. Dawn has sung internationally in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Japan, the Philippine Islands, China... and The Loire Valley, France. In May, 2009 she debuted her cabaret, “DAWN OF A NEW DAY!”, presented at Davenport’s Cabaret in Chicago and released her solo album of the same title January 2010. Her album, “DAWN OF A NEW DAY!” was recently featured along with an interview on KPOV FM radio’s “Curtain Call” with DJ Patty Davis. Other recording credits include featured solos on Heartland Voices’ Christmas CD, HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS. She is a graduate of the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University. Dawn released her second solo album, "THIS IS ROMANCE" in September 2011.   To listen to clips, purchase either album, or view her portfolio, please visit her website at http://www.dawnharkins.com/. Chana Bernstein (Piano Teacher) Chana Bernstein, has been making music since she lay her hands on an old recorder at age 6. At age 9, she began learning piano, and at age 10, she discovered the magic of harmony, accompanying folk singing in her native Israel, at cultural events. She completed her bachelors degreein Applied Piano, recorders and percussion at the Tel Aviv University in 1976, and came to the USA and received her Masters in Music Education in 1979. She has been teaching ever since in both Urbana, Glen Ellyn and Wheaton. She is a member of the West Suburban Piano Teachers Association. In her teaching, she loves to incorporate musical diversity into her teaching program along with attention to her students’ needs and musical interests. A typical lesson with Chana Bernstein will include technique, folk, popular, broadway, movie, classical, romantic, depending on each level. Her students also acquire harmonization, composing and improvisation skills. Lila Chavez (flute teacher) Lila Chavez graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor of music education and a minor art. She holds a teaching certificate for grades kindergarten through high school and enjoys working with students of all ages.  Chavez has performed in a wide range of concert bands and smaller chamber ensembles. In addition to her classical music training, Chavez also studies Middle Eastern music and plays the Arabic flute called the Nay.  Katie Johnson (French Horn Teacher) From classical to contemporary and everything in between, hornist Katie Johnson excels as a flexible, thoughtful, and active performer of chamber music, solo repertoire, and orchestral literature.  Ms. Johnson was selected to attend the Aspen Summer Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado, the Kent/Blossom Music Festival in Kent, Ohio, and the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado. As an orchestral musician, Katie has performed under the batons of such notable conductors as David Zinman, James Conlon and Carl Topilow and she continues to find orchestral performance a thrilling and deeply necessary part of her musical life.   Ms. Johnson recently completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the direction of Emeritus Professor Douglas Hill and Professor Daniel Grabois.  While a Masters of Music student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Katie worked closely with Professor Douglas Hill as a Bolz Fellow, eventually leading to her discover a passion for Hill’s original compositions which culminated in her doctoral dissertation, Thoughtful Wanderings: A Study of the Collected Compositions of Douglas Hill. Interested in researching all aspects of horn performance and history, Katie’s M.M. and D.M.A. lecture recitals focused on the historical performance practices of the hunting, Baroque, and hand horn and her M.M. recital focused on contemporary works for horn.    Being a performer and an academic is not all that Katie is focused on, however.  Johnson credits passionate teaching as being her most important musical outlet.  Johnson maintains her position as Instructor of Horn at Maranatha Baptist College, in Watertown, Wisconsin where she is privileged to work with students of diverse interests and abilities.  Johnson believes the most important lesson she learned from being an educator is that each student has individual needs and requires a unique teaching approach.  Therefore, Ms. Johnson has developed a teaching style that adjusts to the individual needs and requirements of each student.  Katie finds teaching young and old musicians alike to be a great joy and honor.   Mike Krieglstein (Guitar & Bass Teacher) is a 27-year-old musician from Chicago with his degree in K-12 Instrumental Music Education from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Mike has traveled great personal and physical distances in search of finding and sharing the joys of music. His teaching is based on his experiences, from filming music videos in places such as Morocco, Beijing, and sunny Naperville, to creating commissioned music based on cutting-edge consciousness research for the History Channel. Mike's songwriting streches the gamut of his personal experience in his new album, Everyday Sounds (2011), which was featured on 93.1 XRT's Local Anesthetic with Richard milne saying quote, "nice tunes". Since then Mike has had the opportunity to not only perform in Beijing but to also lecture at the Beijing International Studies University (BISU) on the topics of Art and Aesthetics. Website: www.K-Nein.com   Elise LaBarge is a singing and teaching actress originally from St. Louis. A versatile performer, she has appeared professionally in opera, operetta, cabaret, musical theatre and theatre productions throughout the region. Her roles include Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore, Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Rose in Lakme, Peep-Bo in The Mikado, Amaranthe in Lehar’s Mitislav the Modern, the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, and Laura in The Glass Menagerie. She created the role of Ann Rutledge in the musical Abe, was the Ziegfeld Follies star Nora Bayes in The Last of the Red Hot Mamas, and the Prosecuting Attorney in the new musical Unbeatable! Elise studied with soprano Ellen Hargis at Vancouver Early Music’s voice program in 2012, and has appeared as an early music soloist with Glencoe Union Church in northern Chicago, the Kingsbury Ensemble in St. Louis, the Missouri Women’s Chorus, and in the St. Louis Women’s Chorale’s “From Bingen to Berlin” concert, featuring music by both Hildegard von Bingen and Kurt Weill. A finalist in the international Lotte Lenya Competition, Ms. LaBarge has continued to perform the literature of Kurt Weill and his contemporaries in both solo and ensemble cabarets. This year, Elise relocated to Chicago and now works as a teaching artist for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Playhouse, Skyline Theatre, and in her private voice studio, in between public singing appearances. She received a dual honors BA from St. Louis University in 2002, and a Masters in Music from Washington University in 2006, and continues her own vocal and pedagogical studies in Chicago with W. Stephen Smith. Kelvin Lin (violin, viola, cello, piano & Suzuki Strings) Astonishingly passionate… Exemplary performance. - BBC London The young violinist and Pianist Kelvin Lin are molding a career with smart interpretations of both warhorses and rarities. Lin combines outstanding technical command and sublime musicality in performances that have earned him numerous accolades in Asia, the United States and Europe. He is a former first prize winner of National Violin Competition and a prize winner of Henri Wieniawski international competition.   Born in Shanghai, China, Lin made his concert debut at age 12 performing Felix Mendelssohn violin concerto with the London symphony in Hong Kong, and also performed at Jimmy Carter’s welcome ceremony 1979 in Beijing, the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in a nationally televised live concert with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in HK, which drew attention of the world renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin. He began to study with Menuhin at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Hong Kong and soon afterward, began to concertize as a soloist internationally. His concert tours have led him to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Russia, Amsterdam, Belgium and America. In pursuit of further musical development, Lin moved to the US in 1991, and continued his studies with Dorothy DeLay and Joseph Gingold . In 1994, Lin made his North American debut with the Michigan Symphony orchestra, earning two nights of standing ovations for his performance of Bruch Violin Concerto. This success is followed by performances with the New York chamber Orchestra conducted by Sir Edward Wallace; New England Sinfoneitta, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra; Concertante di Chicago and Repertoire encompasses music from the Baroque period to the most contemporary of works. Lin has been a frequent soloist at the Chicago Music Festival with Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman under Maestro Sir Georg Solti and Pierre Boulez. Since making Chicago his home in 1991, Lin has performed as soloist with “The Chicago” at Navy pier opening night, performed “unforgettable” with Natalie Cole in July, 1997 and made twice concert tour with Moody blues and in recitals in live broadcast Jascha Heifetz Memorial Concert Series, has given interviews and live performances on WFMT , as well as giving an opening concert at the Chicago music Festival. Recent activities include recitals, master classes, and concert appearances at the Beethoven Center, Ravinia, Music Festival in New England, International Music Festival in Amsterdam and Brussels. In addition to his busy performance schedule, Lin joined the faculty members of University of St Francis and Ravinia conservatory of Chicago. He is also one of the founders of The Amati Chamber Group.   Sonya Rohde (Woodwind Teacher & Oboe Specialist) brings a lifetime of experinence into each lesson. She has been teaching privately for over 10 years and in the public schools for 6 years. During this time she has mastered motivational techniques, individualized instruction, reed making, and concert planning. She can help students reach any musical goal. Sonya is a dedicated teacher and musician. She has a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University and a master's degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. She has performed on oboe with various college ensembles, the Fox Valley Philharmonic, the Fox Valley Woodwind Quintet, and the Fox Valley Theater Company. Sonya specializes in teaching oboe at any level. Professional style oboe reeds are available at a competitive price to store brands. Kayleen Sánchez (Soprano) enjoys teaching students of all ages and experience levels, from those just beginning voice lessons to those already singing professionally. She maintained a private studio in Upstate New York for over five years, and taught lessons at Parkminster Music School and at the Kanack School of Music in Rochester, NY. An advocate for singing in all different styles, Sánchez incorporates classical, jazz, and musical theater singing into her teaching methods, emphasizing vocal health in all areas. Sánchez earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees of Music in Vocal Performance from the Eastman School of Music, and served as Director of the Parkminster Music School in Rochester, NY (2011–2012). Kayleen also has extensive experience in choral directing for both adults and children, and has directed choirs in various venues, including the Kanack School of Music, the Carlton United Methodist Church, the First Baptist Church of Penfield, Parkminster Church, Orleans County Christian School and Lyndonville Central Schools. Sánchez began her formal training at the Eastman Community Music School under the instruction of Ms. Jane Günter-McCoy. During her high school years, Kayleen received numerous awards, including the Barbara Staropoli Award (Nazareth College), the Jan DeGaetani Award , the Devarian Award (Rochester Philharmonic League), and was the winner of the Buffalo Bills National Anthem Idol Competition . Kayleen studied with Rita Shane and Carol Webber at the Eastman School of Music. During her years at Eastman, Kayleen was a soloist with the Eastman Chorale, Paul O’Dette’s early-music ensemble Collegium Musicum, Steven Kennedy’s Schola Cantorum, the student-led vocal ensemble Apeiron, and Dr. William Weinert’s vocal ensemble Voices. Kayleen has participated in numerous summer programs, including Bel Canto Northwest in Portland, Oregon; Si parla, si canta in Urbania, Italy; and OperaWorks! in Northridge, California. Kayleen’s recent roles include Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart), Sister Genevieve (Suor Angelica by Puccini), Euridice (Orfeo by Gluck), Acteón (Acteón changé en biche by Charpentier), and Orfeo (Orfeo by Rossi). She has performed and premiered works at the Dakota Sky International Piano Festival, and was invited by Ellen Hargis to attend the 2012 Vancouver Early Music Festival’s program, The Compleat Singer, this past August. Kayleen sings with the St. Charles Singers in St. Charles, IL, and will be joining the Haymarket Opera Center in Chicago, IL in January 2013. Andy Schlinder (Saxophone/Clarinet Teacher) is a dedicated and energetic young musician. He started playing saxophone when he was 11 years old. At St. Charles East High, he began to study with tenor/alto saxophonist Kevin Flanagan. In addition, Andy worked with the renowned saxophonist/educator Jim Kull and trumpeter/educator Gil Wukitisch throughout his high school career. Andy joined the NIU community jazz band and attended NIU jazz camps from 00-03. In his junior year, the 2003 St. Charles East Jazz Workshop was selected to attend the essentially Ellington competition at Lincoln Center. Since then he was accepted at Roosevelt University in Chicago (Chicago College of Performing Arts) as a Jazz Studies major. He completed his degree in Jazz Studies in May 2008. He’s studied with saxophonists Mike Smith and Jim Gailloreto. This comes after 2 years of study with saxophonist/doubler Jerry Dimuzio. Recently, Andrew finished a tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He played in venues all over the Unites States, Canada, and Japan. Over the years, Andy has had the privilege of working with Marcus Printup, Wes “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Herlin Riley, Dave Bixler, Jim McNeely, Lawerence Hobgood, Rob Amster, Von Freeman, Ralph Bowen, Tom Garling and John Swana to name a few. He’s played with such groups as The Mike Smith Sextet, Rob Parton’s Jazztech Big Band, the McHenry County Big Band, Grand Avenue Big Band, and the Catch 35 trio. He’s played in places such as the Spoken Word Café, Catch 35, Andy’s Jazz Club, Fitzgerald’s Night Club, Harold Washington Library, Auditorium Theater, New Apartment Lounge, and the Velvet Lounge. He’s played gigs ranging from the rock band Dirty Faces, the jazz fusion group DVQ, and his jazz duo/quartet. He recently played a series of gigs with Angel Melendez and Willie Torres, both top latin players on the scene. His current projects include, Origin of Animal, Dropped Once, and a modern jazz ensemble called Mosaik that plays in and around Chicago.