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Faculty & Staff

Meet Our Celebrated Faculty & Staff

Merit School of Music’s expert teaching artists and staff create a deep, inspiring, and motivating learning experience for music-lovers from across Chicagoland.

Get to know the faces of Merit who are dedicated to ensuring music students of all backgrounds, ages, and experience levels are able to reach their full musical and personal potential.

Department Chairs | Brass | Early Childhood | Ensembles | Guitar | Jazz | Percussion | Piano | Strings | Theory & Composition | Voice & Choir | Woodwind

President’s Office | Programs | Student Services | Development & Marketing | Finance & Administration | Operations | Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI)

Department Chairs

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claire bachman, department chair for strings, cello faculty
Claire Bachman Department Co-Chair: Strings; Faculty: Cello
dr. elena doubovitskaya, department chair: piano, piano faculty
Dr. Elena Doubovitskaya Department Chair: Piano; Faculty: Piano
Michael Nearpass Department Chair: Theory & Composition; Faculty: Theory
bob sherman, guitar department chair, ensemble director, guitar faculty
Bob Sherman Department Chair: Guitar; Ensemble Director: Guitar; Faculty: Guitar
Iris Wei, strings department co-chair, and violin faculty
Iris Wei Department Co-Chair: Strings; Faculty: Violin

Brass

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david allie, concert band ensemble director, merit music in communities, trumpet faculty
David Allie Faculty: Trumpet
ryan berndt, trumpet faculty
Ryan Berndt Faculty: Trumpet
Nick Collins Faculty: Tuba & Euphonium
timothy riordan, trombone faculty
Timothy Riordan Faculty: Trombone
Emma Sepmeier
Emma Sepmeier Faculty: Horn

Early Childhood & General Music

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francy acosta, merit music in communities choir director, voice faculty
Francy Acosta Choir Director: Merit Music in Communities; Faculty: Voice
sally blandon
Sally Blandón Early Childhood and General Music Program Director
Frances Kennedy
Frances Kennedy Early Childhood & General Music Program Manager
miro hernandez, early childhood faculty
Miro Hernandez Faculty: Early Childhood
ben jacobs
Ben Jacobs Faculty: Early Childhood
annaeka johnson, early childhood faculty
Annaeka Johnson Faculty: Early Childhood Music
ben weber, violin and viola faculty, early childhood faculty
Ben Weber Faculty: Violin/Viola, Early Childhood
johanna wiesbrock
Johanna Wiesbrock Faculty: Early Childhood

Ensembles

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francy acosta, merit music in communities choir director, voice faculty
Francy Acosta Choir Director: Merit Music in Communities; Faculty: Voice
Alexander Beltran
Alexander Beltran Ensemble Director: Jazz Ensembles & Combos; Faculty: Jazz
justin berchtold
Justin Berchtold Faculty: Band, Merit Music in Communities
Hope Wittmus
Hope Bogusch Ensemble Director IVM Choirs; Faculty: Voice
evan bruno
Evan Bruno Department Chair: Voice; Choir Director: Merit Music in Communities
bonnie heather campbell, clarinet ensemble director, clarinet faculty
Bonnie-Heather Campbell Ensemble Director: Clarinet Ensemble; Faculty: Clarinet; Conservatory: Clarinet Technique Class
scott casagrande
Scott Casagrande Director: Wind Symphony
Roger Dekind Director: Conservatory Band
steven goodman, merit philharmonic and conservatory symphoic band director, clarinet faculty
Steven Gooden Merit Philharmonic Director, Conservatory Symphonic Band Director, Merit Music in Communities Band Director, Clarinet Faculty
kristin hedlund, cherub orchestra and merit music in communities ensemble director, violin private lessons instructor
Kristin Hedlund Ensemble Director: Cherub Orchestra, Merit Music in Communities; Violin Private Lessons Instructor
jennifer huang, chamber orchestra music director
Jennifer Huang Music Director, Chamber Orchestra
janet janz
Janet Janz Ensemble Director: Stradivarius Strings; Faculty: Cello
Daniel Klingler Ensemble Director: Gunsaulus Orchestra
timothy riordan, trombone faculty
Timothy Riordan Faculty: Trombone
bob sherman, guitar department chair, ensemble director, guitar faculty
Bob Sherman Department Chair: Guitar; Ensemble Director: Guitar; Faculty: Guitar
christian smith, encore orchestra ensemble director, violin and viola faculty
Christian Smith Ensemble Director: Encore Orchestra; Faculty: Violin & Viola
arturs weible, merit music in communities orchestra director, viola faculty
Arturs Weible Orchestra Director: Merit Music in Communities; Faculty: Viola

Guitar

bob sherman, guitar department chair, ensemble director, guitar faculty
Bob Sherman Department Chair: Guitar; Ensemble Director: Guitar; Faculty: Guitar
Gabrielle McCarthy
Gabrielle McCarthy Faculty: Guitar

Jazz

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david allie, concert band ensemble director, merit music in communities, trumpet faculty
David Allie Faculty: Trumpet
Alexander Beltran
Alexander Beltran Ensemble Director: Jazz Ensembles & Combos; Faculty: Jazz
jimmy farace
Jimmy Farace Faculty: Concert Jazz Band
aaron mcevers, music theory, jazz, saxophone, and combos faculty
Aaron McEvers Faculty: Music Theory, Jazz, Saxophone and Combos
Adrian Ruiz
Adrian Ruiz Faculty: Jazz Piano

Percussion

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brandon podjasek, percussion faculty
Brandon Podjasek Faculty: Percussion
rebecca mcdaniel
Rebecca McDaniel Faculty: Percussion
avo randruut
Avo Randruut Faculty: World Percussion
john ringor
John Ringor Faculty: Percussion
Joe Sonnefeldt
Joe Sonnefeldt Faculty: Percussion

Piano

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dr. elena doubovitskaya, department chair: piano, piano faculty
Dr. Elena Doubovitskaya Department Chair: Piano; Faculty: Piano
dr seungwha baek, piano faculty
Dr. Seungwha Baek Faculty: Piano
maya galperin, piano faculty
Maya Galperin Faculty: Piano
mio isoda hagle, piano faculty
Mio Isoda-Hagle Faculty: Piano
Mikayla Jang
Mikayla Jang Faculty: Piano
Mijin Kim Faculty: Piano
anna kovalevska, piano faculty
Anna Kovalevska Faculty: Piano
weiwen ma, piano faculty
Weiwen Ma Faculty: Piano
Gleise Montemagni Faculty: Piano
Alessandra Odazaki Rodriguez
Alessandra Odazaki-Rodriguez Faculty: Piano
cynthia papierniak
Cynthia Papierniak Faculty: Piano
tina qi, piano faculty
Tina Qi Faculty: Piano
Toshiko Suzuki
Toshiko Suzuki Faculty: Piano
ligia takei, piano faculty
Ligia Takei Faculty: Piano
diego tapia
Diego E. Tapia Faculty: Piano
pedro uceda, piano faculty
Pedro Uceda Faculty: Piano
Ethan Valentin
Ethan Valentin Faculty: Piano
Lillia Woolschlager
Lillia Woolschlager Faculty: Piano
ann yi, piano faculty
Dr. Ann Yi Faculty: Piano
Yuhan Xue Faculty: Piano

Strings

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claire bachman, department chair for strings, cello faculty
Claire Bachman Department Co-Chair: Strings; Faculty: Cello
Iris Wei, strings department co-chair, and violin faculty
Iris Wei Department Co-Chair: Strings; Faculty: Violin
scott bakshis
Scott Bakshis Faculty: Bass
Brian Beach Program Director: Strings & Orchestra
hillary bayley
Hillary Bayley Faculty: Violin & Viola
Erica Carpenedo Faculty: Violin
rebekah dotzel, cello faculty
Rebekah Dotzel Faculty: Cello
christine fliginger, violin and viola faculty
Christine Fliginger Faculty: Violin and Viola
dan galat
Dan Galat Faculty: Violin and Viola
Nicole Gallucci Faculty: Cello
Matt Gold Faculty: Theory and Bass
Eva María Barbado Gutiérrez
Eva Barbados-Gutierrez Faculty: Cello
kristin hedlund, cherub orchestra and merit music in communities ensemble director, violin private lessons instructor
Kristin Hedlund Ensemble Director: Cherub Orchestra, Merit Music in Communities; Violin Private Lessons Instructor
jason hurlbut
Jason Hurlbut Faculty: Violin
janet janz
Janet Janz Ensemble Director: Stradivarius Strings; Faculty: Cello
Daniel Klingler Faculty: Cello
monica lugo, head of alegre strings, violin faculty
Mónica Lugo Head of Alegre Strings; Faculty: Violin
julian ng
Julian Ng Faculty: Violin
Samantha Peng
Samantha Peng Faculty: Violin & Viola
sophie petroski, violin faculty
Sophie Petroski Faculty: Violin
Chad Polk
Chad Polk Faculty: Cello
molly rife, cello faculty
Molly Rife Faculty: Cello
Desiree Ruhstrat
Desirée Ruhstrat Faculty: Chamber Music
Patrick Rustandi
Patrick Rustandi Faculty: Violin and Viola
Nina Saito Faculty: Strings
Everardo Sanchez
Everardo Sanchez Faculty: Cello
Julie Schreiner Faculty: Violin & Viola
hope shepherd, cello faculty
Hope Shepherd Faculty: Cello
Peter Slowik Faculty: Viola
christian smith, encore orchestra ensemble director, violin and viola faculty
Christian Smith Ensemble Director: Encore Orchestra; Faculty: Violin & Viola
nathan sonnenfeld, violin and viola faculty
Nathan Sonnenfeld Faculty: Violin and Viola
ben weber, violin and viola faculty, early childhood faculty
Ben Weber Faculty: Violin/Viola, Early Childhood
arturs weible, merit music in communities orchestra director, viola faculty
Arturs Weible Orchestra Director: Merit Music in Communities; Faculty: Viola
john xia, violin faculty
John Xia Faculty: Violin
Caitlin Yambao Faculty: Strings
henry zheng, strings faculty
Henry Zheng Faculty: Strings

Theory & Composition

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Michael Nearpass Department Chair: Theory & Composition; Faculty: Theory
Matt Gold Faculty: Theory, Bass
Carl Kennedy Faculty: Theory
aaron mcevers, music theory, jazz, saxophone, and combos faculty
Aaron McEvers Faculty: Music Theory, Jazz, Saxophone and Combos
shirley mosteller, voice and theory faculty
Shirley Mosteller Faculty: Voice and Theory
Ashley Pribyl Faculty: Theory
Emily Thompson Faculty: Voice and Theory

Voice & Choir

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francy acosta, merit music in communities choir director, voice faculty
Francy Acosta Choir Director: Merit Music in Communities; Faculty: Voice
Hope Wittmus
Hope Bogusch Ensemble Director IVM Choirs; Faculty: Voice
evan bruno
Evan Bruno Department Chair: Voice; Choir Director: Merit Music in Communities
Dr. Elektra Carter Faculty: Voice
Ayana Cheston Faculty: Voice
Katelyn Curtin Faculty: Voice
Carling Fitzsimmons
Carling FitzSimmons Faculty: Voice
kaitlin foley
Kaitlin Foley Faculty: Voice
terry henderson, contemporary voice instructor
Terry Henderson Contemporary Voice Instructor
amanda kohl
Amanda Kohl Faculty: Voice
jade j maze, voice faculty
Jade J. Maze Faculty: Voice
shirley mosteller, voice and theory faculty
Shirley Mosteller Faculty: Voice and Theory

Woodwind

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Alexander Beltran
Alexander Beltran Ensemble Director: Jazz Ensembles & Combos; Faculty: Jazz
richard brasseale
Richard Brasseale Faculty: Saxophone
bonnie heather campbell, clarinet ensemble director, clarinet faculty
Bonnie-Heather Campbell Ensemble Director: Clarinet Ensemble; Faculty: Clarinet; Conservatory: Clarinet Technique Class
Susan Crandall
Susan Crandall Faculty: Flute
steven goodman, merit philharmonic and conservatory symphoic band director, clarinet faculty
Steven Gooden Merit Philharmonic Director, Conservatory Symphonic Band Director, Merit Music in Communities Band Director, Clarinet Faculty
christine janzow phillips, oboe faculty
Christine Janzow Phillips Faculty: Oboe
galina kiep, bassoon teacher
Galina Kiep Bassoon Teacher
betsy ko, flute faculty
Betsy Ko Faculty: Flute
Kenneth Leftridge Jr. Faculty: Saxophone
anna najoom, clarinet faculty
Anna Najoom Faculty: Clarinet
michael thompson
Michael Thompson Faculty: Clarinet
claire werling, clarinet faculty
Claire Werling Faculty: Clarinet

President's Office

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Charles Grode, president and executive director
Charles Grode President & Executive Director
Khelsey Zarraga
Khelsey Zarraga Chief of Staff & Culture

Programs

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kurtis gildow
Kurtis Gildow Dean & Vice President for Educational Affairs
Brian Beach Program Director: Strings & Orchestra
amy bischoff merit school of music
Amy Bischoff Director of Program Operations
sally blandon
Sally Blandón Early Childhood and General Music Program Director
Jeremiah Price Band & Jazz Program Director
pamela shorthall
Pamela Shortall Voice, Guitar, & the Marlene M. Bowen Piano Program Director
Nylah Bradshaw Band & Jazz Program Manager
sara mitchener
Sarah Forbes Piano, Voice, & Guitar Program Manager
nicole hernandez
Nicole Hernandez String Program Manager
Todd Humphrey
Todd Humphrey Music & Instrument Librarian
Frances Kennedy
Frances Kennedy Early Childhood & General Music Program Manager
Autumn Selover Program Coordinator

Student Services

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adrienne thompson, vice president for enrollment and student services
Adrienne Thompson Vice President for Enrollment & Student Services
talar khosdeghian, director of student services
Talar Khosdeghian Director of Student Services
Dy'Anna Augustus merit school of music headshot
Dy'Anna Augustus Student Services Associate
anna garcia
Anna Garcia Student Services Associate
carmia lowe merit school of music headshot
Carmia Lowe Student Services Associate
daniel rios
Daniel Rios Student Services Associate

Development & Marketing

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Meredith Barber, vice president for development and marketing
Meredith Barber Vice President for Development & Marketing
Mark richard, director of institutional giving
Mark Richard Director of Institutional Giving
amy riske
Amy Riske Director of Development Operations
laura stillman
Laura Stillman Director of Marketing & Communications
erin darge marketing specialist merit school of music headshot
Erin Darge Marketing Specialist
Sam Doran
Sam Doran Marketing Manager
elizabeth forrey merit school of music
Elizabeth Forrey Manager of Annual Giving & Events
maggie lin, donor database manager
Maggie Lin Donor Database Manager

Finance & Administration

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Amy Johnson, vice president for finance and administration
Amy Johnson Vice President for Finance & Administration
anderw bedessem
Andrew Bedessem Director of Finance
andrew levine, director of human resources
Andrew Levine Director of Human Resources

Operations

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roger esparza, operations manager
Rogelio "Roger" Esparza Operations Manager
Cairo Benitez Assistant Manager
Yesenia Avila Front Desk Coordinator
Alejandro Luna Front Desk Associate
Rafael Campos Operations Staff Member
alberto dejesus
Alberto DeJesus Operations Staff Member
Carolyn Esparza Operations Staff Member
Raul Esparza Operations Staff Member
marycarmen luna
Marycarmen Luna Operations Staff Member
Claudia Mendoza Operations Staff Member
Ramon Mendoza Operations Staff Member
Dayanis Rivera Operations Staff Member
Bobbie Robinson Operations Staff Member
Claudia Rodriguez Operations Staff Member

Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI)

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James hall, cmpi project director
James Hall CMPI Project Director
Sarah Vander-Ploeg
Sarah Vander-Ploeg CMPI Project Manager
becca dora, CMPI student navigator
Becca Dora CMPI Student Manager
Merit School of Music

Joy Faith Knapp Music Center
38 S Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60607
312-786-9428

Accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools

© Merit School of Music

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