- Music Classes & Lessons
- Group Classes & Ensembles
- Private Lessons
- Early Childhood
- Summer Camps
- View by Instrument/Age
- Why Choose Merit
Individual lessons and group classes for students at any level.
- Community Programs
Bringing accessible, high-quality music education to Chicagoland communities.
- Selective Programs
The highest level of achievement for Merit students in tuition-free, audition-based programs.
- About
- Impact
- Support
Merit's supporters remove barriers to music education, ensuring access for Chicago's youth.
- Resources
Board of Trustees
We are proud to have a dedicated Board of Trustees who are passionate ambassadors for Merit and music education. Business leaders, artists, innovators, as well as Merit alumni and parents—this group of dedicated volunteers supports our mission by contributing their skills in various ways.
Trustee Officers

board Chair
Charles K. Huebner*
RCP Advisors, LLC
What inspires you to be a Merit Board member?
I’m inspired by a desire to perpetuate the amazing mission that has been followed for over 40 years; along with the opportunity to innovate and meet challenges that are unique to today’s environment.

Vice Chair
Ryan DeVore*
William Blair
What inspires you to be a Merit Board member?
Seeing young, talented, impressive musicians and students find success and pride and confidence in their abilities. Human spirit and finding the discipline to become great are truly inspiring.

Vice Chair
Jennifer Montague*A
NiSource
What’s your favorite Merit moment?
My favorite Merit moment was at the Conservatory graduation in 2018. I got to award a college scholarship to a student I had driven to Merit for the past three years—a youth choir member at my church.

Treasurer
Julie Baumeister*
Ernst & Young
What inspires you to be a Merit Board member?
I was introduced to Merit by another long-time board member who invited me to be his guest at the Merit gala. I will never forget how incredibly moving it was to listen to the talented Merit students perform and hear their stories of how the opportunity to study music and to be a part of the Merit community had changed their lives in sometimes dramatic ways. I instantly knew this was an organization that I wanted to become involved with and soon thereafter started my journey as a Merit parent and board member.

Secretary
Marisela Rosales Lawson*
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Trustees
Susan S. Aaron†
DePaul University; Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development
Duffie Adelson†
Merit School of Music (ret.)
Michael Andrews
Reynolds Consumer Products, LLC
Sonia Antolec
The 1937 Group
David P. Bolger†
Civic Leader
JeNyce Boolton
US Bank
Jeffrey Breslow
Jeffrey Breslow Sculpture
Binta Niambi Brown
omalily projects
Nick Bubnovich†
Willis Towers Watson (ret.)
Dr. Huan J. Chang
University of Illinois-Chicago & Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Carol Clavadetscher*
Skills For Chicagoland’s Future
Samuel H. Ellis†
Samuel H. Ellis & Co.
Ginny Foreman†
Civic Leader
Peter B. Foreman†
Sirius Partners, LP
Jason Gatchell
JPMorgan Chase
Dr. Derrick GayA
Diversity and Inclusion Strategist
Joseph B. Glossberg*†
Gofen and Glossberg, LLC
Howard L. Gottlieb*†
Glen Eagle Partners (ret.)
Janice Honigberg†
Sun Belle Inc.
Jeremiah S. James†
Edward R. James Partners, LLC
Emily T. Knight, Ph.D.†
Clinical Psychologist
Thomas Leopold
Bank of America (ret.)
Thomas Linguanti*
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (LLP)
J. Barry Mitchell†
ComEd (ret.)
Cynthia Mufarreh
CAM Comm
Shelley Ochab†
Civic Leader
Edward H. Oppenheimer†
Oppenheimer Family Foundation
Nishad Parmar
Loud Capital
Ellard L. Pfaelzer, Jr.*†
Bruss Company
Harry Porterfield†
CBS (ret.)
Jon L. Powell†
People Advisory Services
Michael J. Powers
Howard and Howard
Abiman Rajadurai
McDonald’s Corporation
Earl J. Rusnak, Jr.†
Harris Associates L.P. (ret.)
Raymond L. Rusnak†
Civic Leader
David Schulz
Salucro Healthcare Solutions
Julie K. Stapel
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Nina G. Stillman*†
Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, LLP (ret.)
Susie Pfaelzer Sultan
Advocate Medical Group
Thomas H. Stone†
Stone Capital Group, Inc.
David P. Thomas*
Bright Horizons Family Solutions (ret.)
Richard L. Thomas†
First Chicago NBD Corp. (ret.)
Dr. Jennifer TurnerA
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Jennifer Vianello
Cars.com
John F. Young*
Norton Rose Fulbright US
* Executive Committee
† Life Trustee: Life Trustees are individuals who have served at least four terms as a Regular Trustee and have given outstanding service to Merit.
A Merit Alumni
# Associate Board Representative