Northern Illinois University

External Programs - Visual and Performing Arts

NIU Community School of the Arts Teachers

Community school teachers are divided into different categories according to their level of teaching experience. Many are beginners who are in the early stages of training, while others have teaching and/or performance degrees. All student teachers have received at least one faculty recommendation. Faculty members serve as teaching mentors. Call the office at (815) 753-1450 if you have questions about a teacher.

 

Teachers by Instrument

Accordion
John Novak 

Art
Lila Chavez 
Victoria Peel 
James Rousonelos

Bass
John Floeter

Cello
Kerena Moeller
Nissa Sampson 
Linc Smelser

Clarinet
Anthony Armstead
Gregory Barrett 
Cena Duran
Shari Heda 
Diana Zaleski

Drumset/Percussion
Jamie Apperson
Krissy Bergmark 
Xavier Breaker
Will Cooley
Juan Pastor 
Rodrigo Villanueva

Euphonium
Kirk Lundbeck
Dan Mueller
Gene Vanden Bosch 

Flute/Piccolo
Lila Chavez 
Areum Choi
Lynn Cook 
Cheryl Haines 
Lynn Vogl 

French Horn
John Fairfield 
Laura Fairfield 
Gene Vanden Bosch 

Guitar
Lisa Baker
Quentin Dover 
Paul Moeller
Eric Schroeder 
Julio Smarcaro 
Sam Smiley

Harp

Michelle Heuer
Faye Seeman 

Piano
Susan Breitner-Hurm 
Yung-Ching (Sunny) Chang
Collin Clauson
Jodeen Coulter
Glenda Courtois-Garcia
William Goldenberg 
Carly Gorman 
Ke-Yin Kilburn 
JeongSoo Kim
William Koehler
Bethany Lager
Mei Li
Marilyn Montzka 
John Novak
Georgia Price 
Paul Rogers 
Sara Vogeler
Jui-Ching Wang
Margaret Wendt
Julie Wilson
Barbara Wirz-Ellsworth 
Haerim Yoo

Recorder
Cheryl Haines 

Saxophone
Katherina Alvarez Illescas
Marybeth Kurnat 
Jacob Slocum

Trombone
Kirk Lundbeck
Dan Mueller
Gene Vanden Bosch 

Trumpet
Brian Balika 
Quentin Coaxum
Gene Vanden Bosch 

Tuba
Bin Gao
Kirk Lundbeck
Dan Mueller
Gene Vanden Bosch 

Viola
Alin Cernaianu 
Amber Dolphin
David Lee
Ann Montzka-Smelser 

Violin
Alin Cernaianu 
Amber Dolphin
Kara Eubanks
Danielle Giulini
Jie Huang 
Andrea Lager
Julie Lee
Ann Montzka-Smelser 
Laurie Rodriguez
Lynn Vogl 
Karen Weckerly

Voice
Deborah Jedlicka Ahlgrim  
Orna Arania
Aleia Chambers 
Jodeen Coulter 
Jennifer Griffin 
Ke-Yin Kilburn 
Emily Sites 
Victoria Watts
Margaret Wendt

Teachers by Level

Faculty Level 

Fees listed under "Faculty" on the price grid
William Koehler (piano)
Ann Montzka-Smelser (Suzuki violin, violin, viola)
John Novak (piano, accordion)
Linc Smelser (cello)
Rodrigo Villanueva (percussion)
Jui-Ching Wang (piano)

Call for fees
Orna Arania (voice)
Gregory Barrett (clarinet)
John Fairfield (French horn) 
John Floeter (bass)
William Goldenberg (piano)
JeongSoo Kim (piano)
Faye Seeman (harp)

Classes only
Mary Lynn Doherty (CSA Children's Choir)
Billie Giese (Pysanky Easter Eggs)

Associate Level
Susan Breitner-Hurm (piano, Suzuki piano)
Lynn Cook (flute)
Jodeen Coulter (voice, piano)
Quentin Dover (guitar, guitar classes)
Laura Fairfield (French horn)
Cheryl Haines (flute, recorder)
Ke-Yin Kilburn (piano, voice)
Kirk Lundbeck (trombone, euphonium, tuba)
Kerena Moeller (cello)
Paul Moeller (guitar)
Marilyn Montzka (Suzuki piano) 
Donnie Norton (saxophone, Jazz Band)
Alice Pacyga (Theatre Boot Camp)
Victoria Peel (art lessons)
Georgia Price (piano)
Laurie Rodriguez (violin, Suzuki violin, early ed classes)
Paul Rogers (piano)
James Rousonelos (art lessons)
Eric Schroeder  (guitar, Suzuki guitar)
Gene Vanden Bosch (trombone, tuba, trumpet, French horn)
Lynn Vogl (flute, violin)
Karen Weckerly (Suzuki violin, violin)
Barbara Wirz-Ellsworth (piano, Piano Players)

Apprentice III Level
Aleia Chambers (voice)
Shari Heda (clarinet)
Sara Vogeler (piano)
Margaret Wendt (voice, piano)

Apprentice II Level
Jamie Apperson
(percussion)
Anthony Armstead (clarinet)
Lisa Baker (guitar)
Brian Balika (trumpet)
Alin Cernaianu (violin, viola)
Yung-Chin (Sunny) Chang (piano)
Collin Clauson (piano)
Quentin Coaxum (trumpet)
Will Cooley (percussion)
Glenda Courtois-Garcia (piano)
Amber Dolphin (violin, viola)
Cena Duran (clarinet)
Kara Eubanks (violin)
Carly Gorman (piano)
Jennifer Griffin (voice)
Michelle Heuer (harp)
Jie Huang (violin)
Marybeth Kurnat (saxophone) 
Andrea Lager (violin)
Bethany Lager (piano)
Julie Lee (violin)
Mei Li (piano)
Dan Mueller (trombone, euphonium, tuba)
Juan Pastor (percussion)
Julio Smarcaro (guitar)
Sam Smiley (guitar)
Victoria Watts (voice)
Julie Wilson (piano)
Haerim Yoo (piano)
Diana Zaleski (clarinet)

Apprentice I Level
Deborah Jedlicka Ahlgrim (voice)
Krissy Bergmark (percussion, marimba, timpani)
Xavier Breaker (percussion)
Lila Chavez (flute, piccolo, art lessons and class)
Areum Choi (flute)
Austin Cliffe (Circuit Bending class)
Bin Gao (tuba)
Danielle Giulini (violin)
Katherina Alvarez Illescas (saxophone)
David Lee (viola)
Jeni Lodolce (photography class)
Nissa Sampson (cello) 
Emily Sites (voice)
Jacob Slocum (saxophone)