Jazz/Rock Faculty at AMI

Jazz/Rock Studies

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.

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.

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.

Nathan Kawaller – Piano - 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.

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.

Brad Wahlen - Guitar - Bachelor of Music in guitar performance at DePaul University in Chicago. Studied privately with teachers, Mark Maxwell, Steve Vasquez, and Peter Aglinskas; playing guitar for over 15 years and has seven years experience teaching students of all ages and abilities. Brad is also an active performer and plays in a trio around the Chicago area.

Rodrigo Villanueva - Drummer and composer, Mr. Rodrigo Villanueva holds a bachelor’s degree (’01 Magna Cum Laude) and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies (’03) from the University of North Texas. He has played and/or record with several jazz, classical and pop artists in Mexico and the U.S. Among them are Stefan Karlsson, Lynn Seaton, Eugenio Toussaint, Meyer Kupferman, Terry Hankins, Lee Tomboulian, Carlos Guedes, Takagoshi Yoshioka, Jon Nelson, Roberto Aymes, Rodolfo “Popo” Sánchez, Edison Quintana, Carlos Prieto, Roberto Limón, Sandra Kaye, Carla White, Alejandro Fernández, and the Mexican Pop icon Lucero, for whom he played drums from 1991 to 1998, touring the U.S., Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Chile and Spain.

As a composer, he has arranged and sequenced music for many pop artists, and has composed several pieces in the jazz and pop idioms, among them are his jazz big band compostions Not Yet, El Nino & Keep Tryin’ published by Walrus Music and Increase Music.

As an educator Mr. Villanueva has taught drumset and percussion courses, clinics and workshops at many institutions in Mexico, Peru and the U.S. He is currently assistant professor of jazz studies at Northern Illinois University, where he teaches jazz drumset, jazz arranging, jazz combos, and is the director of the NIU Jazz Lab Band.

Rodrigo currently endorses Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads and Vic Firth Drumsticks.

40 S. Clay St., Hinsdale, IL 60521 #630-850-8505 ---- 214 S. 3rd St., St. Charles, IL 60174 #630-513-3001

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