Nicole Long, Flute Instructor:
Specialty: Flute, Piccolo
Professional experience: Faculty member at Heartland Community College, central Illinois chamber musician
All ages, all levels

Valerie A. Lapinid, Woodwind Instructor:
Specialty: Oboe, English horn, Saxophone, and Clarinet
Professional experience: Private studios in Indiana and Illinois, Valparaiso University Classical Sax Quartet
All ages, all levels, experienced with preparation for IMEA events

Terry Maher, Bassoon Instructor:
Specialty: Bassoon
Professional experience: Danville Symphony, The Prairie Ensemble, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Peoria Symphony, Heartland Festival Orchestra, Sugar Creek Symphony and Song opera festival
All ages, all levels

David Hoffman, Trumpet, Brass and Jazz Piano Instructor:
Specialty: Trumpet, Jazz Piano
Professional experience: Soloist, Composer, and Arranger for Ray Charles, faculty member at Knox College.

Ruthie Skinner, Violin and Viola Instructor:
Specialty: Violin and Viola, Beginning Piano
Professional experience: Topaz String Quartet, Orchestra teacher for Unit 5 public schools, church pianist
All ages, strings all levels, piano beginners

Christine Bock, Viola and Violin Instructor:
Specialty: Viola and Violin
Professional experience: Illinois Symphony, Millikin-Decatur Symphony, Peoria Symphony, South Bend Symphony, faculty member at Millikin University, Knox College, and Andrews University
All ages, all levels, Experienced in teaching students with special needs.

Kevin Yarger, Percussion Instructor:
Specialty: Percussion, Drum set
Professional experience: Performing in Dan Hubbard & The Humadors, Brushfire, Oh, Alchemy, and Exit 167
All ages, all levels

Denise LaGrassa, Vocal Instructor:
Specialty: Voice
Professional experience: Veteran Chicago vocal artist, CDs All ages, private and group lessons available

Steve “The Harp” Mehlberg, Harmonica Instructor:
Specialty: Blues Harmonica
Professional experience: Education Director for The Blues Blowtorch Society, Blues Harmonica Workshops All ages—Free harmonicas are presented by Steve “The Harp” on behalf of the Blues Blowtorch Society Educational Fund to every student 17 or younger.

Robert Nakea, Piano Instructor:
Specialty: Piano
Professional experience: Soloist Honolulu Symphony, Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, Joseph Fisch, International Piano Competition, National Beethoven Sonata Competition.
All ages, all levels

Mary Roffers, Piano Instructor:
Specialty: Piano
Professional experience: Millikin University Preparatory Department
All ages, all levels

Afrim Shabani, Piano Instructor:
Specialty: Piano
Professional experience: Faculty member at Illinois State University and Heartland Community College, member of the American Composers Forum
All ages, all levels

Sam Strakovsky, Piano Instructor:
Specialty: Piano
Professional experience: Owner Sam’s Piano Service (tuning and repair), church music director
Ages 6 and up, all levels

Sarah Strand, Piano Instructor:
Specialty: Piano
Professional experience: Music teacher for public schools, studio teacher for 30 years
Children, all levels

Marita Brake, Music Shoppe Music Education Center Director and Guitar/Dulcimer Instructor:
Specialty: Guitar, Voice, Songwriting, Dulcimer, and Autoharp.
Professional experience: Carnegie Hall, Presidential inaugurals, PBS projects, CDs
All ages, all levels, all styles.

Kirk Ellis, Guitar/Fiddle/Mandolin Instructor:
Specialty: Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin
Professional experience: Country/Rock group Brushfire, Regional Coordinator for Nashville Songwriters Association International, Songwriting workshops.
All ages, all styles

Michael W. Hull, Guitar Instructor:
Specialty: Classical Guitar
Professional experience: Twin City Guitar Duo, former Soviet Republic of Belarus, pit orchestra for Broadway production of Spamalot, faculty member at Heartland Community College, Illinois Central College, and Bradley University.
All ages, all levels, Classical style

Christopher Pond, Guitar Instructor:
Specialty: Guitar (rock, folk, classical)
Professional experience: Local bands, solo CD
All ages, all levels, all styles

Erik Swanson, Guitar Instructor:
Specialty: Guitar, classical and popular
Professional experience: Faculty member at Heartland Community College and Lincoln Christian College
All ages, all levels, all styles

Scott Terrell, Guitar Instructor:
Specialty: Guitar
Professional experience: Performing in As the Crow Flies, The Abacinators, and The Dexrays
All ages, all levels, all styles