Strings Faculty

Yang Liu - Violin. String Department Head.

Tamara Gonzalez - Suzuki Department Head. Violin, Viola, Suzuki Dept. Head. M.M. & B.M. (violin performance), DePaul University. Trained in Suzuki method through book 5. Has performed with Chicago Classical Symphony, Rockford Symphony, and Chicago Sinfonietta. *

Christie-Keiko Abe - Violin. B.M University of Sydney, Sydney Conservatorium of Music; M.M, Australian Institute of Music. PhD Specialist in Music Performance, University of Michigan School of Music. Performs with IRIS Orchestra, Chicagoland pops Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, and Elgin Symphony Orchestra. *

Bryan Albert - Guitar. M.M., Northwestern University, B.M., Northeastern Illinois University. Active teacher and performer in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

Marjie Belcher-Shemanski - Violin, Off-Site Programming

Jeremiah Benham – Guitar. M.M., B.M., DePaul University; A.A., Vincennes University; SAA-trained in Suzuki method. Performances with Chicagoguitar.com. *

Martine Benmann – Cello. Artist Diploma, Roosevelt University, M.M., American Conservatory of Music; SAA-trained in Suzuki method. Performances with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Ars Musica Ensemble, Calliope Piano Trio, and the Albert Schweitzer Chamber Orchestra. *

Emilia Blaszak-Freymiller – Violin. M.M.Pedagogy, M.A. in Violin, Nowowiejski Music Academy of Bydgoszcz (Poland); SAA-trained in Suzuki method. Performances with the Polish American Symphony Orchestra, Pomeranian Philharmonic, Salonowa Promendowa Orchestra of Chicago. *

Anthony Bracco - Guitar

Marija Bubanj – Violin and Viola. Head of Suzuki Department. M.M., Roosevelt University, B.M., Music Academy of Novi Sad (Yugoslavia); SAA-trained in Suzuki method. Performances with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, North Shore Symphony, active chamber musician and recitalist. *

Bridget Callahan - Violin, Viola *

Ying Chai - Violin, Viola, Ensembles. M.M., Juilliard School of Music. Artist Diploma, Manhattan School of Music. Undergraduate work at Lynn University, Florida. Performances with Grant Park Symphony and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Thomas Clippert - Guitar

Christopher Gorcik - Bass (upright and electric). B.M. (bass performance, with emphasis in jazz studies), Northern Illinois University. Performances with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and at the Montreux Jazz Festival and Chicago Jazz Festival. Active freelance musician in Chicago. Has taught through the NIU Community School of Music and at the NIU Jazz Camp.

Terrance Gray - Violin. B.M., DePaul University, studies with Ruben Gonzalez, Mark Zinger, and Eugene Drucker. Member of the Chicago Sinfonietta; conducting staff, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras; music director of the South Side Family Chamber Orchestra.

Christine Knodle-Albarran - Violin (Suzuki)*

Janelle Lake - Harp.  M.M. (performance), Northwestern University; B.M. (performance), Northwestern University.  Principal Harpist with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and Dal Niente New Music, Harpist for the Drake Hotel, and Staff Harpist for the Venus Harp Factory.  Also teaches harp at the University of Chicago. *

Erica Lessie - Cello. M.M., Florida State University; B.M., Indiana University. D.M.A. candidate, Florida State University; studied with Fritz Magg; SAA-trained in Suzuki method; registered Music Together® teacher. Cello coach with the University of Illinois Summer Youth Music Program; cello instructor, Maine East High School and Lincoln Hall Middle School. *

Veronica Nettles - Cello *

Iris Wei - Violin.

* Suzuki Faculty