Hope Kim · Baby STEPS® Instructor; Music LEAPS Instructor (since 2005)
B.A. in Music - DePaul University with piano as her instrument. Studies voice with Fay Kaiser. Private piano instructor for over seven years. Teaches summer school group keyboard class for a Des Plaines elementary school. Pianist for Jesus Community Church (English Ministry) in Morton Grove.

Lisa Lithall · Suzuki Cello Instructor (since 1988)
B.A. in Performance - Northern Illinois University. M.A. in Performance - Western Illinois University. Received Suzuki teacher training through Book 6 with Tanya Carey at Western Illinois University and short-term teacher training courses with Marilyn Kesler, Jean Dexter, and Nancy Hair. Studied with Marc Johnson of the Vermeer Quartet at Northern IL University. Participated in masterclasses with Raya Garbasova and Irene Sharp. Certified in Kindermusik. Worked with Abby Newton as a participant in both the 2000 National String Workshop and the 2002 Rocky Mountain Fiddle Competition. Plays in the Buffalo Grove String Quartet. Member of the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra. Also teaches private cello in the northwest suburbs and at Barrington High School.

Kristen McManus · Baby STEPS® Instructor; Music LEAPS Instructor; Clap, Sing and READ!® Instructor; Composition and Theory Instructor (since 2003)
B.F.A. in Music Theatre and M.M. in Music Therapy - Colorado State University. Served as a music therapist in classrooms for developmentally disabled children and in inpatient and outpatient departments of a pediatric hospital. Manages a private practice and works at a facility for developmentally disabled adults.

Erin Murphy – Orff Instructor (Since 2006)
B.M. in Flute Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music.  Performance Certificate from The Studio of Trevor Wye in Kent, England.  M.M. in Flute Performance from Northwestern University School of Music.  On faculty at Peoples Music School and Chicago Center School.  Presently obtaining Orff-Schulwerk certification.  Teachers include Jeffrey Zook, Amy Porter and Lorna McGhee.

Joanna Newby · Suzuki Violin Instructor (since 2003)
began as a Suzuki student at age 3. She has a B.M. violin performance from Chicago College of Performing Arts, student of Cyrus Forough and a M.M. violin performance from DePaul, student of Ilya Kaler. Joanna is a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago since 2002, has had her own private studio since 1998, and has been teaching Suzuki private & group lessons since 2002. She has training in Suzuki Books 1-3.

Billy Oh · Suzuki Violin Instructor (since 2007)
B.A. in English and Creative writing from Loyola University in Chicago. Received raining at the Chicago Suzuki Institute. Billy has performed professionally in Chicago for the past 8 years, specializing in folk and roots music from around the world. He is also the founding member of Tangleweed, a Chicago based bluegrass ensemble.

Clara Reaves – Baby STEPS;® & Outreach Instructor (Since 2007)
Background: M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University. B.S. in Psychology from Georgia State University with a minor in sociology. Created and led a friendship group at an inner city school for children ages six to nine, focusing on developing the skills necessary to create and maintain healthy social relationships with peers. Advanced training in classical voice, musical theater, and music theory. Actively involved with professional and community theatrical performances and concerts in Chicago and Atlanta. Clara is a musical director, manager and weekly performer at Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret.

Matt Rutherford · Suzuki Guitar Instructor (since 2007)

Virginia Sensenbrenner · Suzuki Piano Instructor (since 1991)
B.A. in Music - American Conservatory of Music. Received Suzuki teacher training from Mary Craig Powell and Yasko Joichi. Also trains and shows dogs in obedience and agility. Participates with canine companions Nikki and Basil in pet therapy at area hospitals and nursing homes through organizations such as Pawsitive Therapy.

Ana Simonovska · Suzuki Violin/Viola Instructor (since 2007)
Ana Simonovska hails from Skopje, Macedonia, where she began playing the violin at the age of five. She attended Skopje's performing arts high school, where she studied violin and viola with Prof. Jelena Stanischich and Prof. Marina Chado. A graduate in viola performance under Prof. Ognyan Stanchev at the State Music Academy "Pancho Vladigerov" of Sofia, Bulgaria, she also holds a master's degree at DePaul University as a student of Rami Solomonow. She has performed with numerous symphony orchestras, Including the Macedonian Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, New Symphony Orchestra, National Bulgarian Radio Orchestra,Illinois Symphony Orchestra,Rockford Symphony Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra "KolegiumMusicum -Bankya". Ms. Simonovska has also performed at chamber music festivals throughout the world, including the "Ohrid Summer Festival" (Macedonia), "Varna Summer Festival" (Bulgaria), "Dartington Summer School Festival" (England), "Fjord Kadenza Festivalen" (Norway), and the "Texas Music Festival" (Texas).