We believe very strongly that students who take private lessons will be successful on their instrument because they have good adult mentors.  The list of teachers that we endorse are the very best teachers in the Oswego area, and we believe they will assist each of our students in their music studies.

Flute – Dr. Cate Hummel
Founder and director of Dr. Cate’s Flute Camp in Naperville since 2000, for flute students ages 12-15.   DMA and MM from Manhattan School of Music in New York.  A Doctor of Musical Arts from Manhattan School of Music is a degree designed to make the recipients performer/scholars and includes three full recitals, an orchestral excerpt jury, two years of course work, comprehensive exams and a dissertation. More than 25 years teaching experience at colleges, community music schools and private studio. Solo debut recitals at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, Dame Myra Hess recital broadcast on WFMT, and other recitals including appearances at Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, Donnell Public Library Center in NY, Harold Washington Library in Chicago. For more information, go to www.fluteline.com.

Flute – Ashlee Schneider

Flute – Gwen Petersen
Bachelor of Arts – Western Illinois University; Master of Music – University of Kansas (Lawrence);Graduate of Oswego Community High School.  She has work experience in the following: West Suburban Symphony Orchestra – Piccolo/3rd Flute;West Suburban Chamber Orchestra – 2nd Flute/Piccolo; Wheaton Symphony Orchestra – Piccolo/3rd Flute – 1990; 20 years Private Teaching Experience.  Previous Instructors include Mary Louise Poor, Gerald Carey, John Boulton, and Sue Calebaugh-McKeever.

Oboe – Judy Schneider
Judith Schneider is a music educator and oboist. She graduated with Bachelor of Music Education Cum Laude from the School of Music Montclair University in New Jersey. She also studied oboe with James Lakin at the University of Iowa for two years. While in Germany with her husband, who was in the Air Force Band, she created and taught two elementary bands in Wiesbaden, Germany. Mrs. Schneider taught music in the Westwood N. J. Schools for five years. After raising three children who are all musicians, she taught Band and Music Appreciation in the Englewood Cliffs N. J. Schools for eighteen years. She was the assistant editor of the classroom music series, Music and You. Judith Schneider has performed a professional oboist throughout her life, performing as principal oboe with the N. J. Philharmonic, Seton Hall Chamber Symphony, and the Garden State Band. She has also performed on Oboe and English Horn with the New Jersey Pops, St. Peter By the Sea Orchestra, Ridgewood Symphony, Wycoff Chamber Players, and the Staten Island Philharmonic. Recently, the Schneiders retired and moved to Yorkville, Illinois to be near their musical family. Judi enjoys sharing her musical talents by teaching oboe, and clarinet to students in the Oswego and Yorkville area and being a grandmother.

Clarinet – Anna Najoom
Clarinetist Anna Najoom of Chicago, IL maintains a diverse performing and teaching career. As an avid chamber musician Najoom is a member of The Sapphire Woodwind Quintet, Claraconbrio and The Chicago Clarinet Ensemble, The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Chamber Music Project and performs with Jason Seed and the Elixor Ensemble. Najoom appears frequently with orchestras throughout Chicago-land and the Midwest. Some include the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra of Chicago, Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Wisconsin Philharmonic, and Kenosha Symphony. Najoom was appointed Principal Clarinet of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra for the 2008-09 Season. Najoom has been on faculty of the Merit School of Music since 2003 and maintains her own private teaching studio. She holds a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance (M.M. 2003) from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where she studied with Burt Hara, Principal Clarinet of the Minnesota Orchestra and a Bachelor of Music (B.M. 2001) from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI.

Clarinet – Erin Roller
Bachelor of Music and a Master’s of Music-Clarinet Performance and Pedagogy from Northern Illinois University. In addition to her private studio, she is the Professor of Clarinet at North Central College in Naperville.  She is a permanent member of the Park Ridge Civic orchestra as well as a freelance musician in the Chicago area.

Bassoon – Kim Richter

Saxophone – Shawn Maxwell- www.shawnmaxwell.com
Shawn Maxwell of Aurora, Illinois is an accomplished woodwinds multi-instrumentalist (saxophones, clarinet and flute) professional jazz performer. He is also a teacher, composer, arranger and clinician. Leader of the Shawn Maxwell Quartet, he provides excellence in jazz entertainment in Chicagoland and beyond. Shawn attended Milikin University in Decatur, Illinois and received a Bachelors Degree in Commercial Music in 1999. Since 1999 Shawn has been in high demand. He began his career as an entertainer on a Caribbean cruise line. Since that time he has toured in Sweden, London, Portugal, and Greece. Additionally, he has played with numerous jazz combos at venues throughout greater Chicagoland.
Known for his high-level and high-energy playing Shawn Maxwell has a loyal fan base and regularly draws an appreciative crowd at his engaging performances. His current group, The Shawn Maxwell Quartet, was put together in 2004. In late 2004 Shawn took the band into the studio to record what would be his debut CD, “Originals.” “Originals,” features the compositions, arranging and production skills of Shawn. In the Fall of 2006 The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Committee placed Shawn Maxwell on the Official First Nominating Ballot for the 2007 Grammy Awards in the following categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
In 2006 Shawn signed with the prestigious and legendary Conn-Selmer Company to join their Performance and Educational Artist Roster.
In 2008 Shawn released his second album, “Originals II,” on his newly formed label, “Dangerous Curve Productions.” “Originals II” features another twelve works that feature the writing, arranging and production skills of Shawn Maxwell.  In 2009 Shawn recorded his first CD, “Maxwell’s House,”  for the Chicago Sessions Jazz Label.  “Maxwell’s House” features another ten original compositions.
Shawn currently performs with his own group, The Shawn Maxwell Quartet, as well as several other groups. In addition to his busy performance schedule Shawn maintains a private lesson studio of 50 students in IL and continues to work as a clinician with young performers throughout the Chicago area.

Trumpet – Gene Arnold
Born and raised in central Illinois. He studied trumpet with Herb Stoskopf of Peoria, and graduated with a BM in trumpet performance from Northwestern University. He studied at NU with Vincent Cichowicz and Luther Didrikson. Other teachers have been Bill Scarlett and Tom Crown.  Gene currently plays first trumpet with the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra and second chair with the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra. As an active free lance trumpeter he performs in wedding ceremonies, church services and community theatre productions.Gene has taught private trumpet lessons in the Aurora/Oswego area for about ten years. Gene and his family moved to Oswego five years ago. They have three children all of which play instruments, though not trumpet!

Trumpet – James Knabe – www.trumpeter.com
James Knabe began his studies at Inerlochen School for the Arts late in high school. Studies and experiences continued at Eastern Music Festival (NC), Operafestival di Roma (Italy), and Ashlawn-Highland Opera (VA).  James received his BM in music performance from the School of Music at the University of Iowa, and received his MM in music performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.  Principal teachers include Charles Schlueter (Retired Principal Trumpet, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Peter Chapman (Boston Symphony/Boston Pops), and David Greenhoe (Principal Trumpet, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra and Lake Placid Sinfonietta). Additional studies with Nello Salza (Principal Trumpet, Rome Opera). Performed in masterclasses with Philip Smith, Frank Kadarabek, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Shew, and Norman Bolter.  James has performed solo and baroque ensemble recitals accross New England, the Midwest, as well as in Rome, Italy. Additionally he has served as principal trumpet with opera and concert orchestras in the Boston/New England area. Today, James continues a busy schedule of performances in the greater Chicagoland area as a soloist, church musician, and chamber musician. James is on the teaching faculty of several fine music schools in the Chicago area.

Trumpet – Ron Glynn

Bachelors Trumpet Performance Western Illinois University 1991
Masters Trumpet Performance Northwestern University 1993
Teaching privately: Marian Catholic HS 1993-present, Lincoln Way HS 1993,94,95, Frankfurt Jr. High 1993,94, Richards HS1995, The Treble Clef
Performing: Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Lyric Opera, Illinois Philharmonic, Jazz Clubs around Chicago, Weddings etc.
Employed by Schilke Music Products, Inc. as a trumpet maker from 1997-present.
Owner Benchmark Music, Inc. 2006-present
rsglynn698@sbcglobal.net
708 415 0483 Cell

French Horn – Eric Kaiser

Trombone – James Felts
Trombone student of Dr. Robert Gray; BS and MS degrees in music education from the University of Illinois; OHS Band Director from fall of 1964 through spring of 1994; 42 years experience as a private brass instructor.

Tbn./Euph. – Matt Cameron

Tuba/Euphonium – Kevin Harrison
Currently a Chicago based, freelance musician and private low brass instructor. He received a Bachelor of Music from Truman State University (Kirksville, MO) in 2004 and graduated with distinction from DePaul University in 2006 where he received a Master of Music degree. His principal teachers have included Steve Seward (Kansas City Symphony), Warren Deck (retired, New York Philharmonic), and Floyd Cooley (retired, San Francisco Symphony) in addition to private studies with such distinguished artists as Gene Pokorny, Charlie Vernon, Daniel Parentoni, Jennifer Montone, Mike Sanders, and Roger Oyster among others. Mr. Harrison spent the summer of 2001 as a student of the Eastern Music Festival and the summers 2003-2006 as a student of the Aspen Music Festival and School,one of the world’s leading summer music institutions. It was at Aspen that he gained unparalleled instruction with Warren Deck, world class orchestral experience, and worked closely with the members of the American Brass Quintet in solo and chamber music performance. Mr. Harrison is currently the principal tuba of the Northwest Indiana Symphony having won the job in the 2004/2005 season and gaining tenure the following season. He has performed with the Saint Louis Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Ottumwa Symphony, the Lira Ensemble, the New Philharmonic, and the City Lights Orchestra. His solo appearances have included performances with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, the Truman State University Orchestra, and the Truman State University Wind Symphony. Kevin Harrison has given several clinics and masterclasses throughout Missouri and in the Chicago area, and he currently maintains a regular teaching and performance schedule.

Private Percussion – Walt Schneider
Walt Schneider is a music educator and percussionist. He graduated with Bachelor of Music Education in Percussion from U.M.K.C. Conservatory of Music, and received a Master of Arts in Percussion and Music Literature from the University of Iowa. He served in the United States Air Force Bands, and was Percussion Leader in the USAFE Band. Schneider completed his Doctoral Studies in Percussion at the Manhattan School of Music studying with Paul Price. For thirty five years Mr. Schneider taught Band, Percussion and Music Appreciation in Tenafly, N. J., near New York City. During this time he was continuously performing with many orchestras and bands in the New York/Jersey area including the N. J. Philharmonic and the Garden State Band. He served as the New Jersey All-State Band Percussion coordinator for over fifteen years. In 2001, Mr. Schneider was chosen by the New Jersey Music Educators Association to receive the Governors Award in Arts Education.  Recently, the Schneiders retired and moved to Yorkville, Illinois to be near their musical family. Walt now performs percussion with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and is the drummer with the Yorkville Big Band. He looks forward to working with young people, who want to develop their musical and percussion performance.

Group Percussion – Vern Spevak
Vern Spevak is a graduate of Northern illinois University in DeKalb, IL where he was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree in percussion performance, while on a four year, full tuition scholarship.  Mr. Spevak was a member of the internationally acclaimed NIU Jazz Ensemble, where he performed and toured with jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Bellson, Don Menza, Clark Terry, Carl Fontana and many others.  As a private instructor and clinician, Mr. Spevak remains highly in demand with a large weekly roster of private students and is a percussion consultant to many schools throughout the Chicagoland and Northern Illinois area.  For more information, please go to www.spevakpercussionconcepts.com

String Bass – Mike Daley