Wind/Brass Faculty 

Heidi Bernard- Saxophone / Clarinet / Flute / Piano- 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, Gary Crowe, Dr. Robert Miller, Grant Malme, Dr. Charles Kemper, Dr. Roger Cole; Performance experience includes: Northshore Concert Band, Grand Symphonic Winds; 10+ years experience in private teaching; 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.                                                          

Clark Colby  – Brass & Wind Instruments –  Bachelors of Music Education from the College of Wooster in Ohio; certified as a music educator through the State of Illinois Department of Education, and currently teaches elementary and junior high school band and general music education in the Blue Island school district.  Judged and participated in a number of state sponsored music competitions and events, including Solo and Ensemble and IMEA; Mr. Colby believes in a stable, patient and comprehensive approach to teaching music, and enjoys working with wind and brass students of all ages, levels and music interests.

Meaghan Kawaller - Saxophone / Clarinet - Recieved bachelor's in clarinet performance and minor in music theory from the University of North Texas in 2006 and is currently earning a masters degree in clarinet performance from DePaul University.  College-level classes in both saxophone and clarinet. Teachers include clarinetists Julie DeRoche, Dr. John Scott and Dr. James Gillespie. Currently perform with the DePaul Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.  Can be heard on North Texas Wind Symphony recordings Retrospectives, Allegories, Poetics, Passions, Transformations, Altered States, and Teaching Music Through Performance in Band (volumes 6, 7, and 8).

Allison O'Mara - Piano / Oboe / Flute- 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.  

Whitney Vincent  - Flute -  Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Flute Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Indiana University respectfully.  Studied from premiere flutists Joshua Smith of the Cleveland Orchestra and Thomas Robertello, formerly of the Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra.  Performed under renowned maestros such as David Robertson of the St. Louis Symphony, Franz Welser-Most of the Cleveland Orchestra, and Gerard Schwartz of the Seattle Symphony.  Began playing flute at age 6 and has been teaching privately for the past 9 years all levels and ages with immense satisfaction.