Piano Faculty 

Heidi Bernard - Northwestern College, St. Paul, MN, B.S Instrumental and Classroom Music Education, K-12; University of Idaho, Lionel Hampton School of Music, M.M. Woodwind Performance; Teachers include Curt Hanrahan, Nancy Truchinski, Dr. Robert Miller, Dr. Roger Cole; Performance experience includes: Northshore Concert Band, Grand Symphonic Winds; 10+ years experience in private teaching on piano, clarinet, flute and saxophone; has served as an adjunct professor of saxophone at the University of Nevada-Reno and graduate teaching assistant at the University of Idaho, college level teaching experience in music appreciation and woodwind methods; currently teaches at Bronzeville Lighthouse Charter School as the elementary music specialist and is a certified music educator.   Experience in teaching students of all ages and abilities.  Ms. Bernard also has experience in teaching and performing jazz and classical music.

Annie-Claude Chartrand  –  Masters of Music, Roosevelt University College of Performing Arts.  Participant in the Oberlin in Italy summer music program; Studied under renowned vocalist Judith Haddon; has performed under the baton of acclaimed conductors such as Pinchas Zukerman, Mario Bernardi and Tyrone Paterson. 14 years as a vocalist, 20+ years’s piano playing experience.   

Julie Crull  –  Graduate of Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, emphasis in Piano Pedagogy and Music History.  Studied under Professor Karin Edwards; experience working with students of all ages/levels, from beginning – advanced; 15 years playing experience.

Tsina Dorjderem  –  Doctorate in Violin Performance, University of Illinois;  Master's degree in Violin Performance , University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.  “Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching at the University Illinois" award 2005 & 2006; Four years of college level piano classes; Has been playing the piano & violin for over 20 years; Winner of the "University Concerto/Aria Competition" at University of Arkansas. 

Lisa Grisolia  –  Master of Music: Voice Performance and Vocal Pedagogy, Roosevelt University, Chicago College of Performing Arts.  Bachelor of Music Education: voice major, piano minor, Illinois Wesleyan University.  10+ years teaching experience.  Currently teaches voice & piano at Lisle & Romeoville High Schools.  Formerly adjunct faculty at Morraine Valley Community College in Music Appreciation and teaching assistant in vocal classes at Roosevelt University.  Currently serves as the West Suburban Symphony Singers chorus master and rehearsal accompanist.              

David Hoffman –  DMA University of Michigan, MM Cleveland State University, Post-Graduate Studies Cleveland Institute of Music.  Teachers include Jo Rodenburg, Stephen Lusmann, Mary Schiller, George Vassos, Noriko Fuji and Joann Sims.  12+ years teaching voice, theory, sight-singing, ear-training.  Previously on the faculties of Hiram College and Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio and teaching assistant for University of Michigan.  Performances at Old Dominion University, Baldwin Wallace College, Peabody Conservatory.  European premiere of Stephen Rush’s vidGod in Tübingen, Germany.  Currently a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Da Corneto Opera Company.

Nathan Kawaller  –  B.M. in Jazz Studies, University of North Texas.  Piano Performance experience specializing in jazz & rock styles of piano music.  Studied with Oscar winning composer Jeff Eckels.  Performance experience includes the University of North Texas Wind Symphony; Currently performs with such groups as The Flat Cats, Chicago Singing Sensation, Barry Winograd Trio, and the Chicago Skyliners. 

Lauren Konen  –  Northwestern University, B.M. in Vocal Performance, minor in Musical Theater.  Studied privately under renowned musicians Mignon Dunn, Sherill Milnes, Mignon Dunn, William Woodruff and Fabrizio Melano; 20+ years playing the piano, 12+ years as a vocalist.  Studied abroad in Italy, participating in the International Institute of Vocal Arts;  Piano & Voice teacher at New Trier High School.

Allison O'Mara - Northern Illinois University, M.M., Graduate Assistant (oboe performance), DePaul University, B.M. (oboe performance), Indiana University at Indianapolis, MT-BC (Music Therapy Equivalency program- to be completed Spring, 2008).  Teachers include Robert Morgan, Ricardo Castaneda and Marion Gibson. Performance experience includes: Kenosha Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Wheaton Symphony Orchestra, and as a soloist for St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Evanston, the Children's Choruses at the Music Institute of Chicago, and Morgan Park United Methodist Church.   2 yrs as private oboe instructor and chamber ensemble coach for area middle schools at the Northern Illinois University Community Music Division.  Founding member of the Lill Street Ensemble which is currently funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council as part of the Arts Link program to perform and lecture in select Chicago Public Schools. American Music Therapy Association, member.  

Stephanie Salerno  –  Bachelor of Music degree in Music History and a minor in Piano Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts.  In addition to piano, Stephanie has studied flute and voice for several years; currently the church pianist for the Congregational Church of Brookfield.  Stephanie is currently working toward her Master's degree in Liberal Arts at North Central College in Naperville, IL. 

Jennifer Stapf - Hailing from Grand Rapids, MI, Jennifer started studying piano and voice at the age of ten and began performing in local musicals.  By high school, Jennifer’s talents had attracted the attention of recruiters from the Interlochen Arts Academy.  She went on to study piano and voice at the Interlochen, followed by a degree in vocal performance at Northwestern University.  Jennifer has performed with the Lyric Opera of Los Angeles, the Pacific Chorale, and sings regularly with the Grand Teton Music Festival.  She continues to perform regularly throughout the greater Chicago area while working on her Master’s of Nonprofit Business Administration at the University of Notre Dame.  Jennifer officially joined the faculty at AMI in August 2008 and is thrilled to be a part of the AMI family.

Nicole Teram - Nicole Teram was born in Albany, New York and has been singing as long as she can remember. Her first public performances were at the age of 13 singing in competitions and community theatre programs.  After leaving school, Nicole obtained an associates degree in Voice Performance from Schenectady Community College.  In 1998, she was the first place winner of the Mendelssohn Club Competition and then went onto study opera at SUNY Purchase where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Music. After graduating Nicole worked with Taconic Opera as Contessa Ceprano in Rigoletto, You Gotta Hear This Productions as the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors and was a guest performer for Williamstown College as Susanna in the Marriage of Figaro. In 2004, she embarked on a double Graduate degree in opera performance and vocal pedagogy at Chicago College of Performing Arts and performed such roles as Amelia in Amelia goes to the Ball by Menotti and Miriam from the scarf by Lee Hoiby. Recently, Nicole performed in Aida with Da Corneto Opera. She not only has a love for performing but she has a passion for teaching as well.

Leah Wilhelm  –  University of Illinois Chicago, music/vocal/piano studies; currently studying with world renowned teacher and singer Gisela Goettling.  Solo engagements include Old St. Pats in the Loop, Emmanuel Episcopal Church in La Grange, Divine Infant in Westchester, St. Mary's in Riverside, Holy Trinity in Westmont, St. Francis Xavier in La Grange, Grace Episcopal in Hinsdale and various other ensembles and organizations throughout the Chicago-land area.

Whitney Allen  – Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance, University of Louisville; Master’s of Music, DePaul University.  10+ years private piano lessons & college-level piano classes.  Performance experience includes the New Philharmonic Orchestra, Dal Niente, Elmhurst Symphony, Oistrach Ensemble, Alpine Theatre Project, Athena Ensembles, and the Lira Ensemble.  Cellist of the Versailles Quartet,  AMI’s quartet in-residence. Certified in Suzuki, Book 1-5.