String Faculty                               

Whitney Allen  – Cello –  Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance, University of Louisville; Master’s of Music, DePaul University.  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.

Remus Badea  – Violin / Viola –  Bachelor’s & Master’s of Music from Cincinnati-Conservatory of Music in Violin Performance.  Studied under renowned violin teachers Dorothy Delay of Julliard, Mihaela Ashkenazi of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Won-Bin Yim and Piotr Milewski.  25+ years playing experience; recipient of the prestigious Heerman Award and Starling Award; currently Concertmaster of Southwest Symphony Orchestra.  First Violinist of the Versailles Quartet,  AMI’s quartet in-residence.  Co-Founder and Executive Director of American Music Institute.

Louisa Blood - Violin - Louisa Blood received her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, and Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.  Her teachers include Lucy Chapman, Violaine Melancon, and Dr. Kathleen Butler-Hopkins.  As a performer, her experience includes the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Southwest Michigan Symphony, Advent Chamber Orchestra, and serving as concertmaster at the National Orchestral Institute in Maryland.  She has completed Suzuki Teacher Training courses, and was a Suzuki student herself for many years, beginning her studies at age 5 in Alaska.  She has also coached students in the Chicago Youth Debut Orchestra, and is experienced in teaching students of all ages and levels. 

Lauren Canitia  – Violin –  Violin Pedagogy degree at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (presently completing).  Began her traditional violin studies at the age of nine at the Psalmist School of Music and Fine Arts in Medina, OH; has studied with Wei-Shu Wang Co, Paul Zafer and currently studies with Lee Joiner.  Currently a teaching assistant at the OPUS School for Youth Chamber Musicians; Suzuki certified for violin & viola Books 1-4.

Al Chiaramonte - Guitar/Bass - Bachelors Degree in Music with a Major in Jazz Studies, Elmhurst College, 2007.  Studied privately with Frank Portolese, Chris Siebold, and Grammy Award winning jazz arranger Doug Beach.  Performance experience includes; The Elmhurst College Electric Guitar Ensemble, Elmhurst College Classical Guitar Ensemble, Moraine Valley Jazz Band, several jazz combos and currently performs weekly with a jazz trio. Currently instructs at two music studio and park district over the last five years.  Experienced in teaching students of all ages and ability levels.

Anne Chicheportiche  – Violin / Viola –  Diploma in Violin Performance, Geneva (Switzerland) Conservatory of Music; B.M. in Violin Performance, Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida; M.M. in Violin Performance, DePaul University; Post-Master’s Artist’s Diploma in Violin Performance, DePaul University (current).  Previous teachers include: Ilya Kaler, Margarita Piguet Karafiova, Stefan Ghiorghiu.  Currently studies with world-famous soloist Ilya Kaler, the only violinist ever to win Gold Medals at all three of the world's most prestigious competitions (the Tchaikovsky, the Sibelius and the Paganini competitions). Second Violinist of the Versailles Quartet,  AMI’s quartet in-residence.   Currently a sitting member of the CIVIC orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s training orchestra.

Rod Ciombor – Drums/Guitar – BA in Music from Loyola University of Chicago.  Primary instrument: Drums/Percussion. Secondary Instruments: Guitar and Piano.  Played drum set and percussion in Loyola University Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and “Band Of Wolves” (Pep Band).  Currently plays drums in Chicago based rock act “The Great Unknowns” and is working to obtain his K-12 certification in Music Education.  In addition, Rod is an avid composer and songwriter and has done some freelance audio production work. 

Tsina Dorjderem  – Violin / Viola –  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. 

Nathan Kawaller  – Guitar / Bass / Piano –  B.M. in Jazz Studies, University of North Texas.  Bass, Guitar, and Piano Performance experience specializing in jazz & rock styles of 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. 

Carolyn Rundell  – Cello / Early Childhood –  Bachelor of Art in cello performance from Illinois State University, and a Master of Music in music education from University of Wisconsin Steven’s Point with an emphasis on Suzuki cello pedagogy.  Certified Suzuki Cello Book’s 1-7; certified Suzuki Early Childhood Education.  Studied with celebrated Suzuki teachers Dorothy Jones and Gilda Barston.  Active member of the Suzuki Association of Americas, the American String Teacher’s Association, the Music Educators National Conference, and Kindermusik International.

Michael Tahlier  – Guitar / Bass –  Bachelors degree in Professional Music with an emphasis in Music Education from Berklee College of Music.  Previously studied with acclaimed musicians such as Hal Crook, Ed Tomassi, Jon Damian, Jon Finn.  Four years as a Berklee recommended off-campus private guitar instructor in Boston, lead instructor at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay's Summer Guitar Workshop, and instructor at Day Jams an affiliate of the National Music Workshop in Chicago.

Veronika Vessileva - Violin/Viola - Veronika Vassileva began playing violin at the age of seven at the “Musikschule der Hofer Symphoniker” in Germany studying with her father Peter Vassilev. She started competing at the age of ten and won first prizes at the annual national competition “Jugend musiziert” for solo and chamber music for five consecutive years.   She participated in numerous master classes given by Dr. Maja Glezarova (Russia), Dr. Felix Andrievski (United Kingdom), Vasko Vassilev (Spain), and distinguished Professor Igor Ozim (Switzerland), as well as Almita Vamos, Taras Gabora, Robert McDuffee, and Ilya Kaler (United States).  In May 2007 Veronika received her Bachelor in Music cum laude from the University of North Texas and currently is a Master student at the DePaul University of Chicago studying with Ilya Kaler. She is also a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago under Maestro Cliff Colnot and Maestro Bernard Haitink.