Faculty & Staff
Executive and Artistic Director
José OchoaMr. Ochoa is the founding Executive Director of The Chicago High School for the Arts. Most recently he was the Superintendent of Cultural Arts for the Metro Parks and Recreation Department in Nashville, Tennessee, where he supervised the dance, music, theatre, and visual arts departments, two museums and the special events department.
As an educator, he has served as a private teacher and instructor in music, dance, and theatre and also taught in traditional school settings both in academic and arts areas. In addition, he was taught in charter schools in Texas and North Carolina as well as a bilingual private school in Honduras.
Besides his work in arts administration and in education, Mr. Ochoa has had a diverse career in the performing arts. As a musician, he has performed solo flute recitals including the Festival Internacional de Arte e Cultura de Suchitoto in Central America. In dance, he danced with several regional ballet companies and he was the choreographer for the the official state play of Texas for three seasons. Mr. Ochoa also produced an arts festival Steinbeck on Stage...of words and dance which premiered his ballet La Perla based on the novel by John Steinbeck at West Texas A&M University and has directed/choreographed for theatres throughout the Southeast and in Central America.
Mr. Ochoa is a graduate of the North Carolina School for the Arts in music performance and has a master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies-Dance, Music, Theatre, from West Texas A&M University. He is currently an honorary trustee for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a board of trustee for the National Guild of Community Schools for the Arts, and serves on the Advisory Board of Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts.
Director of Finance and Operations
Dorothea RoqueDorothea Roque joined ChiArts in August 2009. Ms. Roque brings more than 20 years of financial experience, including work as a consultant and full time employee providing controllership and consulting services to various Fortune 500 companies and emerging small businesses. Her diverse background includes working with companies such as Chicago Christian Industrial League, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, LaSalle Partners, Harris Bank, Foote Cone & Belding and more. Ms. Roque received her Bachelor degree in accounting and business information system from Western Michigan University and is a member of the National Notary Association.
Student Recruitment + Outreach Coordinator
Peter GaonaPeter Gaona is a native of Chicago. He trained at the Joel Hall Dance Center, Deeply Rooted Center of Cultural Enrichment, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Broadway Dance Center, and Columbia College. Peter has danced with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Ascension-The Kirby Reed Project, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Instruments of Movement, Tyego, Joel Hall Dancers, The Willingham Project, The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (Denver, CO), Dance Loop, Thodos Dance Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. He has also appeared a s a background dancer for Paul McCartney's Driving USA Chicago tour, Cece Penniston, and Jennifer Holiday. Mr. Gaona has taught for AileyCamp Chicago and is currently on faculty at the Joffrey Academy.
Office Manager
Hananne HanafiBorn and raised in Chicago, Hananne Hanafi earned her Bachelor's Degree from DePaul University in Anthropology and Media Art. While in college, Ms. Hanafi began working for the non-profit organization Enlace Chicago. Through the organization, she served as a visual arts instructor and mentor at Eli Whitney Elementary School in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. With the encouragement of a passionate team of instructors and coordinators, she received numerous grants to initiate youth arts programs and projects that addressed the lack of arts support and outreach throughout the neighborhood. Recently, she spent nearly a year in Spain designing t-shirts and logos for a variety of clients. Ms. Hanafi's photographs, paintings, and sculptures have been featured in numerous publications and exhibited throughout local galleries.
Recruitment + Administrative Assistant
Rachel HallOriginally from the western suburb of St. Charles, Rachel Hall trained at the Faubourg Ballet Theatre and the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts in both ballet and modern dance. She danced professionally with the Nashville Ballet Company and recently returned to Chicago to join ChiArts, first as a Recruitment Ambassador and now as Recruitment and Administrative Assistant. Ms. Hall is looking forward to yet another great year at ChiArts.
ChiArts Academic Leadership
Principal and Chief Academic Officer
Terri MilsapMs. Milsap was a high school teacher for 11 years and a principal of a Chicago charter school for 2 years. Ms. Milsap has an MA in School Leadership from Concordia University, a BA in English Education from Governors State University and a BA in Speech Communications from Illinois State University. She is currently working toward her Ed. D in the nationally recognized Urban School Leadership program at the University of Illinois–Chicago. In addition to school leadership and teaching, Ms. Milsap has experience in school reform, charter renewal, curriculum development, and entrepreneurship.
Assistant Principal
Elaine BrooksMs. Brooks began her career in education sixteen years ago as a special education teacher working primarily with students with learning disabilities. She has served as principal of night school, assistant principal of summer school, head cheerleading coach, founding sponsor of ESSENCE Mentoring Program, and mentor teacher. She has successfully led school programs and served the school community via food drives, social activities, and workshops. Ms. Brooks has a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Governor's State University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education from Illinois State University.
Instructional Coach
Lori BirenbergAn English teacher-leader who was on the founding team of Al Raby High School, Lori Birenberg has experience developing curriculum as well as presenting at College Board facilitating roundtable discussions and presenting workshops on designing and implementing a post-secondary course at national and regional forums. She completed her Master's degree at National-Louis University and obtained a double major in English and Communications at Indiana University. She completed her certification work at DePaul University. As instructional coach, Ms. Birenberg will work with teachers on curriculum development and creation of rigorous lessons and will provide professional development programs.
Guidance Counselor
Dana GrubeMs. Grube completed her internship at Evergreen Park High School. She was a counselor for 2 years at Morgan Park Academy where she designed an advisory program, established a freshman tutoring program, and provided individual, group, and crisis management counseling services. Ms. Grube received her MA in School Counseling and Community Agency Counseling from Saint Xavier University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Psychology from Saint Xavier University. In addition, Ms. Grube is a licensed therapist and an actress.
ChiArts Teachers
English
Meg ArbeiterA teacher who has achieved National Board Certification, Meg Arbeiter received a grant from *Facing History and Ourselves* to travel to South Africa in order to build relationships with educators, community leaders, and students to enrich a human rights unit on the legacy of apartheid. She collaborated with *What Kids Can Do* to develop and publish curriculum and student work (*Mentors That Matter*, 2007; *Fires in the Mind,* 2010). Ms. Arbeiter has always been passionate about the value of arts education and wrote "Seeking Inner Truth," an article that was published in *AIMPrint *(2008). She received a Master's of Education from DePaul University, a Master's of Industrial Relations from Loyola University Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has served as Department Chair of English and Instructional Leader for Chicago Public Schools.
Tina Boyer BrownA creative English teacher who in the process of revising her first novel, Ms. Brown holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing. She is an instructor at Story Studio Chicago, and has also worked in theatre and improvisation. She graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor's in Communication Studies with a focus on Rhetoric. She completed her teacher education coursework at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana.
Rob SchroederRob Schroeder is formerly an English Instructional Coach with Chicago Public Schools writing, developing and presenting professional workshops and advancing teacher best practice. He served on faculty at Roberto Clemente Community Academy where he built an effective arts-integrated English curriculum and award-winning theatre and spoken word programs through successful partnerships including Steppenwolf, the American Theatre Company Mosaic Program, The Goodman, and Chicago Dramatists. He consults on English and theatre curricula and contributed to the Office of Arts Education Chicago Guide for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. He will share his arts-integration experience with The National Council of Teachers of English at their national conference. Prior to teaching, Mr. Schroeder worked nationally as a theatre professional as an actor, singer, choreographer, director, teaching artist, administrator, and writer. He holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in Theatre & Drama and Radio/TV/Film and an M.Ed. from DePaul University in Secondary English Education.
Abdel ShakurAbdel Shakur has a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Indiana University. He graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a major in English and a minor in African-American Studies. He completed his teacher education coursework at National Louis University.Mr. Shakur has worked as a journalist in Minneapolis, Minnesota; an Americorps Vista in Baltimore, Maryland; and as both an associate instructor of Composition and editor-in-chief of the literary magazine, Indiana Review, at Indiana University. Most recently he taught 9th grade English at ACT Charter School.
History and Social Science
Julio QuinteroJulio Quintero will enter his sixth year of teaching and begin his first year at Chi Arts teaching World Studies. Mr. Quintero earned his Bachelor's of Arts in History and Type 9 certification from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Recently in 2009, he was awarded his Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University. Prior to joining Chi Arts, he taught for five years at the Morton Freshman in Cicero, Illinois. Mr. Quintero is a proud graduate of the Chicago Public Schools graduating from William J. Bogan High School.
Timothy SermakMr. Sermak earned his Masters degree in teaching at Brown University after completing his B.A. in American Studies at American University in Washington, DC. He comes to ChiArts after seven years experience teaching and developing curriculum in a wide variety of social studies and history courses at the Fishers Island and Plainedge school districts on Long Island in New York. He also spent three years working as an academic advisor at the Met School, a public urban charter school in Providence, RI.
Math
Anthony CappettaAfter earning his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education from NIU, Mr. Cappetta taught at Joliet Central High School for two years. Always drawn to the lights of the big city, he finally moved to Chicago. While completing a year of residency at Collins Academy High School on the west side, he earned his Master of Education in Instructional Leadership from UIC. Before coming to ChiArts, Mr. Cappetta was a teacher at Orr High School. He's also a regular presenter/teacher for the Golden Apple Scholars Program, which trains college students across the state to become excellent teachers.
Padraic O’DonnellPadraic O’Donnell earned his Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University in Political Science (International Relations) and his Master’s degree from St. John’s College in Liberal Arts (Western Classical Studies). He holds a Type 9 Illinois teaching certification from North Park University in History & Mathematics. The 2010-2011 school year will be his eleventh year teaching high school students having taught mathematics, history, and English during his career.
Suzanne MelecioThis will be Ms. Melecio's second year teaching Algebra at ChiArts. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois where she majored in Mathematics and minored in Computer Science. She completed her Master's of Education at DePaul University and received her certification in Secondary Mathematics in 2009. Prior to becoming a teacher, Ms. Melecio worked as an analyst at a top consulting firm. Though she learned a lot in her former position, she is very happy with her decision to change careers and even happier with the opportunity to teach at ChiArts.
Ryan MurphyRyan Murphy earned his Bachelor of Arts from Ashford University in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Science and an Endorsement to Teach Secondary Mathematics. This will be his sixth year teaching mathematics. Mr. Murphy most recently taught algebra, geometry, honors geometry, and pre-calculus in West Liberty, Iowa.
Science
Mike WangMike Wang has wanted to be a Biology Teacher since he was a freshman in high school. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology as well as his Type 09 Certification from Northeastern Illinois University. He is currently seeking his Master's Degree in DePaul University's Educational Leadership Graduate Program. Mr. Wang is currently in his fourth year of teaching.
Nathan YkemaMr. Ykema is a creative chemistry teacher who earned his Master's of Education from DePaul University after completing his B.S. in Environmental Science from Calvin College. Mr. Ykema has spent the last five years working as an Environmental Engineer in the Chicago area and is also a bass player and studio musician.
World Language
Jessica LeporeSpanish/English
Jessica Lepore is a veteran teacher certified at the high school level in both Spanish and English and has experience teaching both subjects to high school students. In addition to her experience at Ridgewood High School in Norridge, IL, she has taught at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and at North Lawndale College Prep Charter School. Ms. Lepore has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Michigan. She obtained her Master's of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix and has further studied curriculum development at National-Louis University. Ms. Lepore also studied Spanish in Oaxaca, Mexico and has traveled to various locations in Mexico and most recently to Puerto Rico. Ms. Lepore is a National Board Certification candidate in Spanish. She also is the coordinator of the mentoring program for new teachers at Chiarts.
Jenna ReidFrench/English
Jenna Reid received her Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of French with a minor in English Literature from the University of Illinois-Chicago. She completed her student teaching in French at Benito Juarez Community Academy. Ms. Reid holds Illinois state teaching certification with endorsements in French and English. Ms. Reid looks forward to continuing to develop a rich French curriculum to meet the needs of all students at ChiArts.
Elva RodriguezSpanish
Elva Rodriguez is certified to teach Spanish, Business and Marketing and is endorsed in ESL/ELL. Native of Puerto Rico, she spent her formative years in Chicago where she attended Jones College Prep. She studied Spanish both at the Benedictine University in Lisle and at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. With a degree in Business Administration/Management and a minor in Marketing, Ms. Rodriguez worked for many years in the business sector in Chicago, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. She worked at the UIC Medical Center as Assistant to the Hospital Executive Director and the ICU Director, as well as Assistant to UIC Dean of the College of Engineering. Always having the desire to become a high school teacher, she went to Arizona State University to obtain her teaching credentials and her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. She taught seven years in Arizona and has recently relocated back to Chicago.
Marcella TrahanFrench
Marcella Trahan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in English Literature and also studied French as an undergraduate student. After graduating, Ms. Trahan taught English in Carcassonne, France for a year; it was there that she decided to teach languages. Upon her return from France, she began her graduate studies in Second Language Acquisition and Education with a focus on French and Spanish at Northern Arizona University. Prior to beginning her Master's degree, she completed two Spanish immersion programs while living in Cuernavaca, Mexico and Flagstaff, Arizona. While completing her graduate degree, she taught Navajo high school students Spanish and attained grant funding to take a cultural exchangetrip with those students to Mexico with an emphasis on indigenous cultures. Ms.Trahan has experience teaching French and Spanish at a bilingual high school in Tucson, Arizona and also at Steinmetz Academic Centre in Chicago, Illinois.
Special Education
Tammy WalkerCase Manager
Ms. Walker’s passion to advocate for special needs students began during her teenage years when she served as a volunteer for an autistic child. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Illinois State University and a Master of Arts in Education from Governors State University. Ms. Walker served in the United States Army Reserve for 8 years, during which time her unit was activated for duty during Operation Desert Storm. She has over 10 years experience in teaching and administration, including four years as a CPS Vice Principal. Ms. Walker holds type 10 and type 75 principal’s certificates.
Dr. Sunni AliDr. Ali has been teaching at the secondary, high school level for 12 years. He earned his Doctorate in Educational Administration from Roosevelt University, holds a type 75 Principal's Certificate, Type 9 Social Science Certificate, and LBS1 Special Education Certificate Endorsement. Dr. Ali has taught a variety of college prep, honors and AP History classes. He is also an adjunct History Professor at Northeastern Illinois University.
Beth WangelinBeth Wangelin received her bachelor's of Arts in Psychology from The University of St. Mary's in Winona, Minnesota in 1996. In 1999 she received her Masters of Arts in Teaching in Special Education from National Louis University and holds a type 10 certificate. Ms. Wangelin has taught special education for 6 years and this is her 2nd year at ChiArts.
Physical Education
James SalazarJames Salazar is a first year teacher out of Villa Park, IL. He graduated in December 2009 from Northern Illinois University with a BSEd in Physical Education, certified grades K-12, with a minor in secondary Health Education. After student teaching at York High School in Elmhurst, IL, Mr. Salazar stayed on the staff to fulfill a full-time substitute position for the Spring semester. He will be teaching Health Education this year as well as assisting with the physical education classes.
Arts Departments
Dance
Lisa Johnson-WillinghamDance Department Head
Since moving to Chicago in 1999, Ms. Willingham has worked as the Dance Director of the Whitney Young Dance Department and the Director of AileyCamp Chicago. Her credits include work with several dance companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Joel Hall Dance Company, and Hubbard Street II. She founded The Willingham Project, a multi-cultural dance company providing dance and educational programs for underserved communities. Currently, she is on the faculties of Columbia College, Olive-Harvey City College, and the Academy of Dance, the official school of the Joffrey Ballet.
Reginald HarrisNovice Ballet + Department Administrative Assistant
Reginald Harris began his dance training at the age of five with his uncle and mentor Marshall Lindsey. He began his classical ballet training at age twelve with former Dance Theatre of Harlem principal dancer Homer Bryant. After high school, Mr. Harris studied year round as a professional division student at The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He has danced professionally with the River North Chicago Dance Company, Dances Patrelle, and Ballet Austin, dancing the works of Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, Stephen Mills, Thang Dao, Thaddeus Davis, Viktor Kabaniev, Sidra Bell, Gina Patterson, Frank Chaves, Harrison McEldwoney, and Kevin Iega Jeff. Mr. Harris has taught at the Ballet Austin Academy and various studios around the country. As a choreographer, he was commissioned to create five ballets for Ballet Austin II and was named Resident Choreographer for the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas for the 2006-2008 seasons. He was the 2008 winner of the Gem City Balletʼs choreographic competition. Mr. Harris is also a regular guest teacher for the River North Chicago Dance Company.
Sarah Ford ThompsonBallet
Originally from Georgetown, Kentucky, Ms. Ford began her dance training at age 8 at the Lexington Ballet under the direction of Karl Kaufman. She went on to earn her B.F.A. in Dance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. While studying at CCM, she trained with James Truitte and fell in love with the Horton Technique and modern dance. After relocating to Chicago, Ms. Ford danced for 9 years as a company member with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and self-produced several dance concerts as Nucleus Dance Collective. Currently, Ms. Ford serves as Associate Artistic Director to Hyde Park School of Dance, Tyego Dance Project and Tyego Next Generation. She is the director of Hyde Park School of Dance's outreach program for the community and director of the modern dance department. She is delighted to be returning to ChiArts for a second year in the dance department. Ms. Ford is also a certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor, certified group fitness instructor and Clinical Exercise Specialist.
Zineb Chraibi
Graham Technique
A former dancer with the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, Zineb Chraibi grew up in Casablanca, Morocco where she first started training. She later returned to her native city of Paris to study ballet, modern, and jazz, then to Montreal to pursue her training at Les ballets Jazz De Montreal. In 1991, she completed her BA in Dance Magna Cum Laude at Point Park College in Pittsburgh, PA while performing with the Playhouse Dance Theatre. Since moving to Chicago, Ms. Chraibi has performed with with the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, Winifred Haun and Dancers as well as with various independent choreographers. She has served on the faculty of the Conservatory of Dance at Barat College, The Chicago Academy for The Arts, The Joel Hall Dance Center and taught at the Lou Conte Dance Studio. She is currently on the faculty at the Dance Center of Columbia College, the Joffrey Ballet and guest teaches in the U.S. and abroad.
Ginger Davis
Dance Literature & Language
Ms. Davis is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, where she danced with the Saint Louis Muny Opera and trained in ballet, lyrical, jazz, and tap. At the "Muny," she served as assistant to directors Matt Lenz, Peter Flynn, and Ed Hastings on their productions of Aida, Gypsy, and Oliver, and was exposed to such choreographers as Liza Gennaro, Darren Lee, and Gemze de Lappe. She received her B.A. in Performance Studies from Northwestern University, focusing on the adaptation of literature to the stage with an emphasis on French theater. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Davis worked as the Assistant Dramaturg and Development Associate for Greasy Joan & Co, a former Chicago theater that produced modern interpretations of classic plays. Most recently, Ms. Davis received her Master's in Education in Communication Arts from Webster University, and continues to pursue her love of dance. As an arts educator, Ms. Davis has worked with Variety Club of St. Louis and St. Louis Metro Theater Company's Young Artists' Theater Lab. She currently teaches at Francis W. Parker School as well as at ChiArts.
Mike Przygoda
Dance Accompanist
Mike Przygoda is a freelance composer and multi-instrumentalist. As a composer he has written an opera, numerous works for orchestra and chamber ensembles (some of which were performed at Orchestra Hall), film and theatre scores, and rock and jazz songs. He has toured the United States several times with bands and as a music director for Second City. He has accompanied dance classes at the Joffrey Ballet, Columbia College, Northwestern University, River North, and Giorodano. Mr. Przygoda is a company member with Barrel Of Monkeys which is an educational arts-ensemble that teaches creative writing to kids at Chicago Public Schools, as well as Strawdog Theatre where he works as a composer and music director. Currently, he is very active composing music for storefront theatre around Chicago, teaching private instrumental lessons, performing with bands, and producing recording sessions.
Music
Betsy KoMusic Department Head
Betsy Ko, flutist, has been an active performer and teacher in Chicago since moving to the area in 1991. She joined the faculty at Merit School of Music in 1994, where she teaches individuals and groups of all levels. During the 2008-09 school year, she coached the Lewis Weinberg Honors Flute Quartet which was one of the winning ensembles in Midwest Young Artists’ 2009 Chamber Music Competition. She was also a member of Merit's administrative staff, serving as Director of Bridges: Partners in Music from 2006 to 2009. As a performer, Ms. Ko freelances in a wide variety of settings. Performance resume highlights include being a soloist on “Live from Studio One” on WFMT and at the National Flute Association’s annual convention. She can also be heard performing on the compact disc “Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano”, a collection of Jewish cabaret music released in 2002 by Cedille Records. Ms. Ko received her M.M. in Flute Performance from DePaul University, where she studied with Mary Stolper, and she holds an undergraduate degree in Pure Mathematics from Brown University. She is currently completing her Illinois Type 10 certification in music at DePaul University.
Alicia PootWoodwind Technique + Department Admin. Assistant
Flutist Alicia Poot is an active performer in orchestral and chamber music in and around Chicago. She is a core member of the "Palomar Ensemble" of Accessible Contemporary Music (ACM), and the Chicago Composers' Orchestra. She has also performed with the Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Southwest Michigan, and Northwest Indiana Symphonies, as well as the Pine Mountain Music Festival, the Lira Ensemble, The Irish Tenors, and Chicago-based chamber groups Anaphora and International Chamber Artists. Ms. Poot is also a faculty member at Merit School of Music and has worked with student composers through the Young Composers' Program at Cleveland Institute of Music and ACM's High School Composers' Workshop. She has been a winner or finalist in several competitions and has performed in festivals in Canada and Italy: Orford Arts Centre, Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific, Rome Festival, and the Julius Baker Masterclasses. She has studied at DePaul University, The University of Akron (MM), Western Michigan University (BM), and The Catholic University of America.
Brian BeachMusic History + Upper String Technique
A 2008 graduate of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Mr. Beach is principal violin for Chicago Folk Operetta. He began studying the violin at the age of 12 and holds a B.M. in violin performance from the University of Memphis. Mr. Beach is currently completing his thesis requirements for a M.M.E. with a concentration in Violin Pedagogy from Indiana University. He is on faculty at the Merit School of Music in Chicago and performs with a variety of orchestras and ensembles throughout Illinois and Indiana. He has performed in orchestras and chamber groups throughout United States and Europe. In Chicago he has performed with a diverse set of ensembles which include the Millennium Chamber Players, the Anaphoria Quartet, New Philharmonic, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony, and duo recital with pianist Toshiko Suzuki for the Peace Concert series. Mr. Beach has worked with distinguished conductors Cliff Colnot, David Effron, Sir Mark Elder, Alan Gilbert, Bernard Haitink, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Stern, and Leonard Slatkin. His major teachers have included Susanna Perry-Gilmore, Susan Waterbury, and Mimi Zweig.
Anthony Bruno
Jazz
Anthony Bruno is woodwind player in Chicago specializing in jazz saxophone as well as clarinet and flute. He performs at the Green Mill in Chicago every Thursday with the Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra and has also played the Jazz Showcase, Andy's, and nearly every other jazz club in Chicago with various ensembles. He has shared the stage with the likes of R. Kelly and Wynton Marsalis and can be caught on screen in two Universal movies, "The Express" and "Public Enemies". Mr. Bruno is currently adjunct faculty at DePaul University School of Music and DePaul University Community Music Division, as well as teaching privately at area schools and out of his home studio. Mr. Bruno received a B.M. in Music Education from DePaul University.
Edgar Campos
Brass Technique
Originally from Costa Rica, Mr. Campos was a member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra. He also performs for the Joffrey Ballet and the Chicago Sinfonietta. He has performed with a variety of orchestras in the area including the Milwaukee Symphony and the Elgin Symphony, as well as the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica and the World Youth Symphony. Mr. Campos received a Master of Music Degree from Roosevelt University and his Bachelors Degree from Conservatoire de Musique de Quebec. His trumpet teachers include Adolph Herseth of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Marc Ridenour of the CSO, Channing Philbrick of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Jean Louis Chatel of the Montreal Symphony and Robert Platt from the Berlin Philharmonic. The Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation awarded him with a second prize in National Competition in Cadada and third prize in the International Brass Quintet Competition in Narbon France.
Natalie Chami
Music Theory, Keyboard Skills, Vocal Technique
A recent graduate from Northwestern University, Natalie Chami holds a Bachelors in Music for Music Education with a choral and voice concentration. She has studied with renowned professors such as choral conductor Robert A. Harris, soprano Pamela Hinchman, and music educators and researchers Bennett Reimer and Maud Hickey. With her degree progress, she is also Illinois Teacher Certified for grades K-12 music. During her time at Northwestern, she volunteered and coordinated groups such as the Music Learning Community (MLC) and UpBeat!, organizing free music lessons for the Evanston and Chicago community with collaboration from Northwestern students. Along with studying and performing classical voice and opera, Ms. Chami enjoys composing in experimental and electronic medium. The aspect of music that she loves the most is in its social context—music brings people together. It is an outlet for emotion, creativity and tradition, it is a constant in all cultures, and the music classroom is an opportunity to fulfill these human needs and expressions during the school day. She hopes for ChiArts students to leave the classroom with a connection to how music exists with all people, and the tools to pass the passion and joy of music on to others.
Thomas Clippert
Guitar Ensemble + Technique
Thomas Clippert indulges the wide variety of music available for the guitar, from the early Renaissance to the present day. He frequently performs as both soloist and chamber musician throughout the Chicago area. He has appeared with a variety of ensembles including L’Opera Piccola, Heartland Voices, CUBE, The University Of Chicago New Music Ensemble, the Yale Guitar Orchestra, and the Northwest Chicago String Quartet. Mr. Clippert is a graduate of the Yale School of Music where he studied with Benjamin Verdery and was awarded the Eliot Fisk Guitar Prize. Additional studies include Phillip de Fremery at the the Mount Holyoke Guitar Master Class and Patrick Roux at the Domaine Forget Music and Dance Academy in Quebec. Mr. Clippert currently teaches guitar, jazz guitar, and chamber music, at The Merit School of Music, Oakton Community College, Wilbur Wright College, and The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.
Racheli Galay
Low String Technique, Ensemble & Repertoire + Music Theory
Racheli Galay is an international strings education specialist. She has performed and conducted worldwide and has presented clinics and workshops at universities, colleges and school-orchestras. Dr. Galay has taught at VanderCook College of Music, the Music Institute of Chicago and at New-Trier High School. She is also co-author of an Improvisation Method for String Orchestra and has arranged and composed works for the cello. Dr. Galay completed her Doctorate in Music at Northwestern University, an M.M. at Indiana University and a B.A. in Musicology, magna cum laude, at the University of Tel-Aviv. Dr. Galay is a member of the American Strings Teachers Association (ATSA), Music Education National Convention (MENC) and the Suzuki Society of the Americas (SSA). She is an adjudicator for the Society of American Musicians (S.A.M.) Competition and director of the Chicago Improvisation Institute at the Music Institute of Chicago. http://www.rachelgalay.com.
Jeff Kelly
Snare Technique
Jeff Kelly has played and studied drums and percussion for more than two decades. He received a large part of his training from the late Alan Dawson, who mentored such drum set luminaries as Tony Williams and Vinnie Colaiuta. He studied Music at Boston University, and went on to earn his Masters Degree in Jazz from The Berklee College of Music / Boston Conservatory. There he continued his drum set work under the tutelage of Ron Savage, and Jon Hazilla. Mr. Kelly studied Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music with Ed Uribe, Sa Davis, and Bobby Sanabria and West African drumming with Joe Galeota (maker of JAG drums). He traveled to Ghana for additional study with Emanuel and Rueben Agbeli, the sons of Master Drummer Godwin Agbeli. Mr. Kelly is an experienced and dedicated drum teacher and an active performer in jazz, funk, folk, rock, pop, and other genres. In addition to his work as a professional musician, he is also a producer, a recording engineer and a songwriter.
Tom Kociela
Brass Ensemble
Thomas Kociela is currently the Winds and Brass Coach for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra's Debut Orchestra and serves as an instructor for the CYSO's Music Pathways program, which provides comprehensive music instruction to students in Chicago Public Schools. Mr. Kociela also works individually with brass students at Riverside Brookfield High School and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. He has taught rhythm classes to beginning and intermediate instrumental students at the Triton College Preparatory Music School and was the acting band director at Rhodes Elementary School (K-8) in River Grove for winter 2007. Mr. Kociela is a frequent substitute trombonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has been featured on the Euphonium and Bass Trumpet within the orchestra. He has twice gone on tour with the CSO to Carnegie Hall, performing under Pierre Boulez on both occasions. Mr. Kociela has also performed with the Ars Viva Symphony of Skokie, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Kenosha Symphony, Racine Symphony and the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Roosevelt University (CCPA) in Chicago and studied music education with Charles Groeling and trombone with Jay Friedman.
Kevin Korschgen
Jazz
Kevin Korschgen, jazz drummer and music educator, first moved to Chicago in 1980 to join a band called "Rush Hour". He began teaching jazz in 1983 as band director at Notre Dame High School for Boys, where he led the school's award-winning jazz ensemble. He later developed a dynamic multi-cultural Latin Jazz Ensemble at Lake View High School in Chicago, and has instructed jazz combos at Shell Lake Arts Center, Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association, and New Mexico School of Music. Mr. Korschgen recently served as the Artistic Director of the Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association and Director of Bands at Santa Fe High School in New Mexico. He returned to Chicago in 2007 and is presently the Principal Conductor of the Chicago Public Schools All-City High School Jazz Ensemble and teaches music at Harlan Community Academy High School. He is an Illinois certified teacher (Fine Arts K-12) with degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (BME) and VanderCook College of Music (MME). As a musician, Mr. Korschgen has performed with many of Chicago's finest jazz artists, toured with trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, and worked with pianists Lyle Mays and Dave Grusin. In collaboration with The Jazz Institute of Chicago, he has presented workshops in jazz arranging for CPS band and choral instructors. His compositions and arranging skills are also displayed on the recording First Session by The Kevin Korschgen Jazz Quartet.
Tina Laughlin
2 Mallet Technique
Tina Laughlin was born in Elgin, Illinois and attended high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. She received both her B.M. and M.M. in Percussion Performance with a minor in Art History from DePaul University. Her training also included eight years with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, where she performed under the direction of Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez and Sir Georg Solti. As a freelance artist, Ms. Laughlin performs with many orchestras and theaters in the Chicagoland area including the Lyric Opera Orchestra, Grant Park Orchestra, The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Sinfonietta and the Elgin Symphony. In 2000, Ms. Laughlin became a core member of the Fulcrum Point New Music Project, dedicated to presenting thematically inspired programs that reinvigorate the concert experience through the presentation of works influenced by jazz, latin, rock, literature, film and theater. In 2003, Ms. Laughlin performed in the Midwest Premiere of the Philip Glass operas "The Sound of a Voice" and "Hotel of Dreams" at the Court Theatre in Chicago. In 2009, she recorded Michael Abels' "Aquadia", currently playing at the Shedd Aquarium as accompaniment to the live show "Fantasea". Ms. Laughlin is also seen in the film "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" as the cymbal player in Carnegie Hall.
Mary Martell
Choral Experience, Chorale, Keyboard Skills, Vocal Technique
Canadian Choral Director and Pianist, Mary Martell received her Masters Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Calgary where she studied with Charles Foreman, Martin Isepp, Donald Bell and Talmon Hertz and participated in intensive Master Classes with various performers including Christopher Hogwood. She has studied choral conducting with Wayne Riddell, George Evelyn, Carleton Elliott and Sir David Willcocks. From 1988 -1990 she was the Choir Director at Universite Canadienne en France, in Nice, France. Mary came to Chicago in 1991. She recently conducting performances include: Faure Requiem, Missa Criolla, Randall Thompson's Testament of Freedom and has worked extensively in recital with singers in the Chicago Land area. In addition to performing Ms. Martell has a long standing interest in teaching music. She is Choral Conductor for ChiArts, Columbia College and Merit School of Music. She teaches piano, has written a group piano method - "Keyboard Connection"-and many of her former students have pursued careers in music.
Nicole Mitchell
Jazz Combo
"A compelling improviser of wit, determination, positivity, and tremendous talent..." (*Chicago Reader*), Nicole Mitchell is a creative flutist, composer, bandleader and educator. Founder of the critically acclaimed *Black Earth Ensemble* and *Black Earth Strings*, Ms. Mitchell has been called "the most important jazz flutist of her generation," and was awarded "Jazz Flutist of the Year" (2010) by the Jazz Journalist Association, Top Flutist (2010) by Downbeat Magazine and "Chicagoan of the Year" (2006) by the Chicago Tribune. Ms. Mitchell is the first woman president of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), and her work has been a highlight in festivals throughout Europe, the U.S. and Canada. As a composer, she has won fellowships from Chamber Music America and the Illinois Arts Council and has been commissioned by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Ravinia, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art and the Jazz Institute of Chicago. She enjoys working with talented jazz students at Chicago High School for the Arts and is also a Visiting Lecturer at University of Illinois, Chicago. Ms. Mitchell performs with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Anthony Braxton's 12+1-tet, Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra, David Boykin Expanse, and the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra. She has seven recordings as leader and composer and is honored to be the Artist in Residence at the 2010 Chicago Jazz Festival.
Devvora Papatheodorou
Piano Ensemble, Repertoire + Technique
Devvora Papatheodorou has an M.M. in Piano Performance from DePaul University, a B.M. in Piano Performance from Nikos Skalkotas Conservatory and a Degree in Harmony from Model Conservatory. In addition, she studied piano technique and chamber music for five years with Deborah Sobol of the Chicago Chamber Musicians. She has had master classes with Mary Stolper, Yehuda Hanani, Jerry Grossman, William Cernota, and Christopher Costanza, among others. Ms. Papatheodorou has extensive experience in teaching piano, piano ensemble and theory. She has had training and certification in YAMAHA's Clavinova lab and trained piano faculty in group class repertoire, class management and methodologies. Ms. Papatheodorou has coached one‐piano four‐hand and two‐piano ensembles, as well as mixed chamber groups for several years and currently teaches at Dominican University. She has had several years of solo, chamber music and one-piano found-hands performing experience, as well as accompanying other instrumentalists and vocalists.
Jeff Silva
Guitar Repertoire + Keyboard Skills
A native of Chicago, Jeffrey Gabriel Silva began studying classical guitar at the Merit School of Music and received a BM degree from DePaul University, majoring in classical guitar and composition with Mark Maxwell and Juan Campoverde. He is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he studied composition with Mara Helmuth, Michael Fiday, and Joel Hoffman. Mr. Silva has also participated in numerous summer festivals as a classical guitarist and/or composer including the Domaine Forget Summer Academy, Mount Orford Summer Electronic Music Workshop, and June in Buffalo. Mr. Silva is currently a faculty member at Wilbur Wright College, the Chicago High School for the Arts, and the Merit School of Music, as well as a founding member of the Avanti Guitar Trio. http://www.jeffreysilva.com
A. J. Wester
Vocal Technique
Ms. Wester was the Stage Director/Vocal Coach for Chicago Opera Theater's ‘Chicago Opera Theater for Teens' - a paid apprenticeship program sponsored by the City of Chicago with Chicago Opera Theater and has just completed her fourth season as the Director of the Summer Musical Theater Workshop with Light Opera Works. She has been an Asssistant Director for Chicago Opera Theater, Utah Opera, Indianapolis Opera and San Diego Opera. As a classical singer, Ms. Wester was a Studio Artist with Utah Opera and has also appeared as a featured soloist in the *Welcome Yule* Christmas concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dabeeb in the North American Premiere of *Marriages between Zones 3, 4 and 5* by Phillip Glass, as well as productions with Chicago Opera Theater, Court Theater, DePaul Opera Theater, Intermezzo Opera in Hartford, CT, American Opera Group, Elgin Opera and multiple productions with Light Opera Works in Evanston, IL. Ms. Wester holds a B.Mus. from Roosevelt University and an M.Mus from DePaul University. http://ajwester.com
Theatre
Rob ChambersTheatre Department Head
Rob Chambers has more than twenty-five years of professional theater experience as a director, actor, educator and administrator. He is the founding Artistic Director of Theatre Mir and directed the company's productions of "Beautiful City," "The Arab-Israeli Cookbook," and "The Prisoner's Dilemma. He has taught acting, directing, playwrighting and theatre history and literature courses at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Mr. Chambers is a guest artist faculty member of The Second City Training Center where he was formerly President of Training and Education for The Second City. While at The Second City, he oversaw programs in the United States and Canada, growing the division into one of the largest actor training programs in the world. At Second City, he also served as Producer of The Second City Detroit, Producer of “The Laugh Track” television program, and Board member of The Second City Foundation. He has held staff positions at Hartford Stage Company, Goodman Theatre, League of Chicago Theatres, Melanie Stewart Dance and South Jersey Regional Theatre, and has served as a consultant, board member, and volunteer for numerous arts and service organizations. As a director, he has worked with Common Ground Stage & Film in New York, and with The Second City Educational Touring Company, Silk Road, Circle, Live Bait, City Lit, Bailiwick, Public Trust, Donny's Skybox, Chicago Dramatists, Women's Theatre Alliance The Theatre School at DePaul University, and Barat College in Chicago. He earned an M.F.A. in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University, and a B.A. in Radio-TV-Film from Temple University.
Rachel SlavickActing + Department Administrative Assistant
Rachel Slavick is in her second year as a teacher in the theatre program at Chiarts. She also teaches acting at The Theatre School of DePaul University. She is the Artistic Director of Theatre Mir. Ms. Slavick was most recently seen in Beautiful City, Arab-Israeli Cookbook and The Prisoners Dilemma and has directed a number of plays including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Exonerated and The Glory of Living.
Lawrence GrimmActing
Lawrence Grimm has been both a freelance and full-time arts educator for over 15 years. A graduate of DePaul University's School of Education, he most recently taught for three years at Stevenson High School as an English and Drama teacher. Other teaching endeavors with young people include co-director and founder of A Red Orchid's Youth Ensemble, the Illinois Arts Council, Urban Gateways, Second City, Piven Theater Workshop, Audition Studio, CAPE, Lookingglass, Steppenwolf for Young Adults and Second CIty. For seven years, Mr. Grimm directed the Thresholds Theatre Arts Project, a program designed to give adults with mental illness a theatrical voice for their personal stories. Currently he is the Director of Erasing The Distance's "What's Behind our Eyes": a high school touring show on mental health issues for young people. He served in a similar capacity with Omni Youth Services' REALITY Troupe in Buffalo Grove. In New York, Mr. Grimm taught at the Lincoln Center Institute, Roundabout Theatre, Arts Connection and Theatre for a New Audience. His acting credits include work with A Red Orchid Theater (co-founder and ensemble member), Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, Raven, Collaboraction, Piven Theatre and Famous Door among many others. He is the recipient of Joseph Jefferson Citation.
Annie Calhoun
Acting + Theatre History & Literature
Annie Calhoun is a Chicago native who received her undergrad degree in Theatre Arts and English Education from Taylor University in Indiana, then went on to receive her Masters in Fine Arts in Acting from DePaul University's Theatre School. While attending DePaul, she fell in love with improvisation and has since then completed the iO Training Program and performs there with her group Almost ATLANTa. As an actor, Ms. Calhoun was most recently in *Anne Frank* at Metropolis Performing Arts Center. She is an avid writer and has also composed music for Northlight Theatre Academy, where she directs and teaches in the summer. Ms. Calhoun recently had five short pieces she wrote and directed performed in a festival at A Red Orchid Theatre this June. She is thrilled to be coaching the ChiArts Improv Team and feels blessed to teach such amazing students.
Erin Crowley
Movement: Yoga
Erin Crowley earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University in 2003 and her yoga certification at the Temple of Kriya Yoga in 2001. She has been teaching yoga, movement, theatre, and writing to youth for 13 years in the public and private schools of Chicago, Boston, New York, and San Francisco. Her love of invention and creative movement landed her at summer camps in New Hampshire and Colorado, teaching yoga and theatre performance to young people and touring original youth theatre productions along the New England Coast. Ms. Crowley has 10 years experience teaching yoga to adults and, in addition to teaching at ChiArts, teaches yoga for the youth-based organizations Our Common Threads and Mindful Practices. She continues to study yoga with her mentor, Gabriel Halpern, at the Yoga Circle in Chicago.
Devon de Mayo
Movement for Acting
Devon de Mayo is a director, devisor and teacher. She currently serves as the Director of Education for Northlight Theatre, co-teaches the Agnes Nixon class at Northwestern University and teaches every summer at the National High School Institute. Most recently, she devised and directed "The Twins Would Like To Say" for Dog & Pony Theatre at Steppenwolf Theatre. Ms. de Mayo has taught theatre in London, Sydney (Australia), Albuquerque and Chicago, and is one of the founders and Co-Artistic Director of Dog & Pony Theatre Company. She has also worked at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, American Conservatory Theatre and South Coast Repertory Theatre. Ms. de Mayo received her MFA in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University in London and her BA in Drama and Political Science from Kenyon College. She did further studies at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts(GITIS) in Moscow and the Indonesian Institute for the Arts in Bali.
Saffron Henke
Movement for Acting
Saffron Henke has worked nonstop as a professional actor, director, and educator since receiving her M.F.A. from the University of Washington's Professional Actor Training Program. Traveling internationally, Ms. Henke has performed in over 60 professional productions, ranging from Taming of the Shrew to Tartuffe to the one person, 24 character show, The Syringa Tree. She is experienced on camera work including commercials, industrials and film, has been profiled in many publications, received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, and is the recipient of the 2005 Princess Grace Foundation Honorarium for Emerging Artists. As a director, her work has been produced at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Sacramento Theatre Company (STC) the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble. As a teacher, she has taught ages preschool through adult in a variety of subjects. Her teaching experiences include the Sacramento Theatre Company, where she served as director of the Young Professional's Conservatory, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, University of Iowa, University of Southern California, Center Theatre Group, A Noise Within Theatre, Market Street Theatre School, and the Chicago High School of Performing Arts. Ms. Henke is a proud member of the Actor's Equity Association.
Leslie Danzig
Movement for Acting
Leslie Buxbaum Danzig is a founding member of 500 Clown, where she has co-created and directed 500 Clown Macbeth, 500 Clown Frankenstein,500 Clown Christmas, and 500 Clown and the Elephant Deal, which have had multiple runs in Chicago at theaters including Steppenwolf and Lookingglass Theatre. Ms. Danzig directed Redmoon Theater's Hunchback and co-directed Blair Thomas & Co.'s The Ox-Herder's Tale at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in MD. She has toured nationally and internationally with NYC's Elevator Repair Service and was dramaturg with choreographer Molly Shanahan. She trained in physical theater at Ecole Jacques Lecoq and in clown with Philippe Gaulier. Ms. Danzig received her BA from Brown University and PhD in Performance Studies from Northwestern University. She also teaches at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, and was recently on faculty with the National High School Institute's Theater Arts Program.
Scott Westerman
Voice & Speech
Scott Westerman is a Chicago-based actor, director, and teacher. As an actor, he has worked with numerous theatre companies in the Chicago area, including Chicago Shakespeare, Northlight, Apple Tree, Chicago Dramatists, Strawdog, Lifeline, Stage Left, Crew of Patches, Mary Arrchie, Festival Theatre of Oak Park, Pegasis Players, Incognito, Borealis, and Reverie Theatre Company, of which he is a co-founder and co-Artistic Director. Nationally, he has worked with The Shakespeare Theatre Company and Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.; with Everyman Theatre in Baltimore; with The Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, South Carolina; and with The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. Mr. Westerman has done several commercials and has appeared in the television show Prison Break on FOX, as well as a pilot for HBO's The Washingtonienne. He received his MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre Company's Academy for Classical Acting at the George Washington University.
Matt Gawryk
Theater Production
Matthew Gawryk has been producing theater for 14 years. Primarily a lighting designer, he has worked as a scenic designer, master electrician, production manager, and producer for theater, dance, and music. His work has been seen at A Red Orchid, Mary-Archie, Lookingglass, Piven, Lifeline, Gallery 37, Raven, Live Bait, Dog & Pony, Sansculottes and Athenaeum theaters, among others. He has toured with Hubbard Street Dance and the gypsy/punk/marching band Mucca Pazza, as a production electrician and stage manager. He is a co-recipient of an After Dark Award, and a Jeff Award Nominee. Having worked as an educator for 5 years, Mr. Gawryk is glad to be at ChiArts to help guide the maturation of young artists.
Visual Arts
Diana StezalskiVisual Arts Department Head
Born and raised in Chicago, Ms. Stezalski received her B.F.A. in Film and Television from the Tisch School of the Arts of New York University in 1994. In 1996, she enrolled at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy to study classical drawing and painting. She returned to Chicago in 2000, where she became an instructor at the School of the Art Institute (SAIC) and the Urban Gateways Center for the Arts. She also served as the SAIC resident teaching artist in Advanced Placement Drawing and Painting at the Chicago Public Schools/Gallery 37 Advanced Arts Education Program. Ms. Stezalski continues to paint and is a recipient of a grant from the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and received recognition as a teacher from the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts. Her work has been exhibited in the United States, England, Sweden, and Italy. http://www.DianaStezalski.net.
Nicole NorthwayDrawing + Department Administrative Assistant
Nicole Northway moved to Chicago for graduate school. She earned her MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago in May of 2008. She currently maintains a studio in Bridgeport as well as her Humbolt Park apartment. Her work has been recognized by the Union League Civic and Arts Foundation, whose support has helped her tremendously in transitioning into her professional career. Ms. Northway has been making and exhibiting work for nearly ten years in the cities of St. Louis and Chicago. Her work has been shown most recently in a solo exhibition at the Contemporary Art Workshop. Her paintings have also been exhibited in the Next Fair at Art Chicago, Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts in St. Louis, and the Ah…Decadence show at the Sullivan Gallery. Ms. Northway also teaches at Columbia College and DePaul University.
Monica BalcThree Dimensional Design + Sculpture
Monica Balc was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania. She attended “Liceul Nicolae Tonitza,” an art high school. A year after her admittance to Universitatea de Arta in Bucharest, she moved to Arizona. She obtained a B.F.A. from Arizona State University in 1996. A year later, Ms. Balc moved to Chicago where she obtained an M.F.A. from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her selected exhibits include: Juried Shows: Knoxville Art Museum (TN); Old Town Art Fair (IL); Women Made Gallery (IL); Beverly Arts Center (IL); Suburban Fine Arts Center (IL); Three Arts Club (IL); Solo Shows: Galeria 003 (Bucharest); Lee Dulgar Gallery (IL); Selected Group Shows: North Park University (IL), Artemisia Gallery (IL); ARC Gallery (IL); Contemporary Art Workshop, Chicago (IL); School of the Art Institute of Chicago (IL). Currently, Ms. Balc teaches art and works as an independent artist. http://www.chicagosculpture.com.
Joel Wanek
Visual Communication + Digital Photography
Joel Wanek is a Chicago-based photographer and educator. He teaches photography at many of the city's premier arts organizations, including the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Center for Community Arts Partnerships, Marwen Foundation and the Hyde Park Arts Center. His photographs have been featured in a variety of publications including Stop Smiling, DownBeat, Jazz Times, Chicago Sun-Times, The Chicago Reader, ZoneZero, Vibrations (France) & The New Cosmos of Photography (Japan). Mr. Wanek has participated in group shows at Bucket Rider Gallery and The Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago, and CENART in Mexico City. He holds a B.F.A. in Photography & Cinematography from Webster University in St. Louis and has carried out advanced studies at The Center for Documentary Studies at both Duke University and Columbia College Chicago. http://www.joelwanek.com
Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford
Sculpture
Born in Vermont, Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford received his M.F.A. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2009. He has taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the British Institute and co-directed the Children's Expressive Arts Project, a not-for-profit that works domestically and internationally to effect change through the arts. Recently he spent a year living and working in Sicily as a Fulbright Scholar where he carried out a project that spanned teaching art to underprivileged teens, studying traditional boat building, and staging a reenactment of Ulysses escaping from the Cyclops Polyphemus on a large-scale floating sculpture. His work has been exhibited at the Hyde Park Art Center, Mess Hall and Gallery 400, among other spaces.
Iain Muirhead
Painting
Iain Muirhead is a contemporary visual artist and an entrepreneur. He received his B.F.A. in 1996 from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) with emphasis in studio arts, design, and exhibition studies. He is a founding partner at NFA SPACE, a pioneering artist run space programming curated exhibits of contemporary emerging artists from 1996 through 2002. The project has received critical attention in leading art industry publications such as Art Forum, Art in America, Art Papers, and Sculpture Magazine and was featured in the 2009 Hyde Park Art Center exhibit Artists Run Chicago. Mr. Muirhead maintains a contemporary studio practice with roots in painting and performance. He was awarded professional artist residencies at The Cliff Dwellers Club in 2006 and The Ragdale Foundation in 2008. He works both individually and collaboratively, recently creating site specific installations with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and an ongoing project titled Chon Ji Dojang, an environment devoted to the study of Korean martial arts and violence prevention located in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood. In Chicago, he exhibited at Northern Illinois University, Evanston Art Center, Beacon Street Gallery and Performance Space, Dogmatic Gallery, and Deluxe Projects, among others. http://www.iainmuirhead.com
Ryan Swanson
Graphic Design
Ryan Swanson is a visual artist and designer. He received a BFA degree from Savannah College of Art and Design and an MFA degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His exhibition history includes the Chicago Cultural Center, The Shelburne Museum in Vermont, Rowland Contemporary Gallery, and the Hyde Park Art Center. Mr. Swanson has also worked as a graphic designer for over ten years. He currently designs in web and print, for a variety of clients, in addition to his art practice and teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. http://ryanswansondesign.com
W. Keith Brown
Art History
W. Keith Brown is a Chicago-based art educator, researcher, and writer, whose practices center on contemporary art education, visual studies, visual arts research, and postmodern art history, theory, and criticism. In 2003, Mr. Brown received a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (BAFA) from the University of Kentucky. In 2007, he earned a Masters of Arts in Art Education (MAAE) from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2010, Mr. Brown received a Master of Education (Med) and Illinois State certificate in secondary visual art instruction from DePaul University. Aside from being an art history teacher at ChiArts, Mr. Brown is also a contributor to the artist-pedagogical collective, Stockyard Institute, founder of the Critical Visual Art Education (CVAE) Club, an art critic for Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art's Chicago division, contributor to Proximity Magazine, and editor for the Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA). http://www.williamkeithbrown.com/