Current Available Faculty
PIANO / VOICE TEACHERS
Olivia Tsai – Piano – Available Mon – Clarendon Hills
Dr. Olivia is an associate professor of VanderCook College of Music and Steinway Teacher through the prestigious STEP Program. She has performed as a soloist with the QingDao Concert Hall Orchestra, Southern Illinois Symphony, and Highland Park Strings, and served as staff pianist and faculty at major international festivals in the U.S., Brazil, and Portugal. Author of Schubert’s Piano Trios (Scholar’s Press, 2014), she co-founded the Yang and Olivia Foundation to promote cultural exchange and diversity through classical music. Read more..
Ivona Kesic – Voice / Piano – Available Sat – Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / In-Home
Ivona Kesic holds her Master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University. Originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, she has attended masterclasses with esteemed European pianists and has won the Elyse J. Mach Concerto Competition. With over a decade of teaching experience, Ivona has taught students of all ages, from beginners to advanced pianists and is known for her creative, student-centered approach, always finding innovative ways to tackle technical and musical challenges. Read more..
Kasey Pennington – Voice / Piano – Available Tues / Wed / Thur – Geneva / St Charles / In-Home
Kasey Pennington is a classically trained vocalist and pianist with performing experience in opera, musical theater, and contemporary repertoire. Kasey studied voice and piano at Northern Illinois University, where they received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with vocal emphasis. Read more..
STRING TEACHERS
Yang Liu – Violin – Available Mon – Clarendon Hills
Yang Liu is the first prize winner of the International Artists Award Competition, the Medici International Music Competition, China’s National Violin Competition, and a prize winner of the Twelfth International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. He studied at Central Conservatory in Beijing China and the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati and performed as a soloist with world-leading orchestras as well as released an award-winning album “Song of Nostalgia”. He is a founder of the Yang and Olivia Foundation and Momento Virtuosi. Read more..
Remus Badea – Violin / Viola – Available Thur – Geneva / St Charles
Remus Badea received his Bachelor and Masters of Music from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (CCM) in Violin Performance while under full scholarship. There he studied under world renowned violin teachers Dorothy Delay, Won-Bin Yim and Piotr Milewski. He performs on a regular basis in solo concerts, recitals, and chamber music, including acting as concertmaster of several orchestras. Currently, concertmaster of Southwest Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Badea and is the Executive Director of American Music Institute. Read more..
Silje Sevcech – Bass / Cello / Guitar / Piano – Available Wed / Sat – Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / In-Home
Silje Sevcech is a bassist who received their Bachelor’s degree attending Illinois Wesleyan University under the instruction of Trevor Jones. Silje currently performs around Chicago, either as a bassist, or playing their original music with a string quartet. As an educator, Silje strives to build their students a holistic foundation upon which students can grow. This includes learning solid technique, developing practice skills, fostering the student’s passion and appreciation for music. Read More..
Ryan Koranda – Cello / Guitar – Available Wed – Clarendon Hills / Downesr Grove / In-Home
Mr. Koranda holds his bachelor’s degree in music from Illinois State University and his master’s degree in cello performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. With a serious pedagogical passion, Ryan greatly enjoys teaching all ages and helping them achieve their lifelong goals through music. His students have performed in part of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s Rising Star Showcase, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra, and ILMEA All-State orchestras. Read more..
Jon Gould – Guitar / Ukulele / Drums – Available Tues & Sat – Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / In-Home
Jon Gould graduated from The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies. Jon has recorded and performed with dozens of artists at some of the most well known venues and festivals around the world. Inspired by those who had led him in becoming a musician, Jon began teaching students of all skill levels and ages in the Chicagoland area and has been for the past 16 years. Read more..
WINDS / BRASS TEACHERS
Terry Leahy – Brass – Available Thur- Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / In-Home
Dr Terry Leahy holds degrees from the Australian National University, the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University. He has performed as a soloist in recitals in the UK, Finland, Australia, the US, South Africa and Austria. As an orchestral musician, Dr Leahy has held tenured positions in the Finnish National Opera Orchestra, The Savonlinna Festival Opera Orchestra (Finland) and currently performs with the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra (WI), the Chicago Philharmonic and is Executive Director of Landmark Brass Chicago. He is equally at home on alto, tenor and bass trombones and, additionally has recorded and performed on bass trumpet and tenor tuba. Read more..
Tommy Shermulis – Winds / Brass – Available Mon / Wed – Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / In-Home
A multi-instrumentalist, who received his Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music and his Bachelor in Music degree from Illinois State University. Currently, he is Bass Clarinetist for the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and is founder and performer of multiple ensembles, including the Elite Four Jazz Band and the Delicious Bass Clarinet Choir. He is an avid teacher, teaching lessons on all woodwinds at a professional level, as well as brass and piano to beginner and intermediate students. Read more..
Brian Payne – Trumpet / Guitar / Piano / Voice / Drums – Available Tues – Clarendon Hills / In-Home
Brian received his BA in Music Education from Loyola University New Orleans where he was awarded scholarships for music and academics, earning his teaching certificate in Louisiana. During his time there, he continued studying trumpet, piano, guitar, voice, and drums in addition to the required music education curriculum. Mr Payne has performed trumpet for theater companies, performed as a soloist, and as part of brass quintets He has played in numerous bands, performing at venues and festivals. Read more..