Strings Faculty

Martine Benmann – Cello, Head of String Department. 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. *

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

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. *

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. *

Kristina Dutton - Violin. B.M., DePaul University; additional studies at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. Orchestral performances with the Kankakee Valley Symphony, Lake Shore Symphony, DuPage Symphony, San Francisco International Summer Music Festival, Las Vegas Music Festival and DePaul Symphony. SAA-trained in Suzuki method. *

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.

Olga Katkova-Trevino - Violin. B.M, Texas Christian University. Member of Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Rockford Symphony, the Green Bay Symphony, the Peoria Symphony, the South Bend Symphony, Concertante di Chicago, and concertmistress ofMillennium Chamber Players; teaching experience includes positions as violin instructor with the British School of Chicago and as a teaching fellow for Chicago Opera Theater’s outreach program.

Megan Lauterbach - Cello. M.M. (Cello Performance), Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University; B.A., Kalamazoo College. Active performer and chamber musician.  SAA-trained in Suzuki method (piano and cello). *

Courtney Lawhn - Harp. M.M., Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University; B.M., Northwestern University. Performances with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Des Moines Metro Opera, Illinois, Elgin and New Mexico Symphony Orchestras. SAA-trained in Suzuki Method. *

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. *

Alexa Muhly - Cello. M.M, Yale University; B.M., Cleveland Institute of Music.  Performances with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Burdick-Thorne String Quartet, and West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.  Teaching experience with the Naperville School District, Christopher Laughlin School of Music, Kalamazoo College, New England Music Camp, and Ohio University. 

Bob Sherman - Guitar. M.M. (jazz studies) and Performer's Diploma (classical guitar), Indiana University; B.M. (political science), University of Vermont. Instructor at Powers Music School and Brookline Music School in Boston; active teacher and performer in the Chicago area.

* Suzuki Faculty