Music School Westgate Music School
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Our Teachers
| Teacher Name | David Kohut |
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| Teacher Biography | Dave began teaching guitar and bass lessons in 1995 at the age of 17. It was through this initial experience with teaching that he realized he wanted to make music education his career. Since then he has taught private lessons at numerous music schools and stores in the Chicago area. In addition, he has taught orchestra, guitar, and jazz band at Lincoln Park High School and Rolling Meadows High School. In 2000 Dave graduated from the University of Northern Illinois with a degree in jazz and classical guitar where he studied with world-renowned fusion guitarist Fareed Haque. In addition, Dave has studied guitar with some of the best guitar players in the world including Dave Uhrich and Andy Timmons. In 2009 he attended VanderCook College of Music and earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education. Dave is the author of a series of guitar method books titled The Modern Guide to Guitar. |
| Teacher Name | Joe McKee |
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| Teacher Biography | Joe McKee has been a professional musician and teacher for over 35 years. He recieved a BA from the American Conserveratory of Music and recieved an MA from Rosevelt University. He is proficient is all percussion instruments including drumset, handrums, mallets, marching percussion; orchestral; pipe band marching snare, and bodhran. He has studied and taught a wide variety of musical styles such as rock, jazz, Latin, world music, orchestral, marching band, pipe band drumming, and Celtic percussion. |
| Teacher Name | Maureen Kelly |
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| Teacher Biography | Maureen attended the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM) studying music, Music Theatre, and dance, and has been a working professional in the field of entertainment since she was eighteen years old. Maureen first started teaching to singers and recording artists in Los Angeles, and is now continuing to teach music to students of all levels in her native Chicago and suburbs. Maureen specializes in teaching voice, and beginning and intermediate piano. |
| Teacher Name | Diane Tragos |
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| Teacher Biography | Diane earned her degree from Saint Xavier University. She has been teaching music for over 30 years. Over the course of her career, she has taught at Rossi Music and House of Music As a performer, her experience ranges from Wedding to Rock & Roll bands. Currently Diane plays in 2 bands. Bad-Medicine is a tribute band featuring the music of Bon Jovi and ’80′s Hair Bands. Her other band, Frontline, plays original Rock music. She has performed internationally (Japan) and nationally while also performing at various local clubs and festivals. As a teacher, Diane strives to create educational lessons in a fun environment with music theory and performance as an integral part of each lesson. She exhibits a divers teaching style which allows her to structure her lessons for each individual student based on their age, ability, and musical preference. |
| Teacher Name | Bethany Brewer |
| Teacher Name | Ian Murrell |
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| Teacher Biography | Ian Murrell is a native of Vandalia, Illinois and has been praised for his “Powerful, resonant baritone” and “commanding stage presence” by Indiana Public Media. Ian holds performance degrees from University of Evansville (BM) and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (MM). While at IU, Ian served as an associate instructor of voice, teaching private lessons where he had several students audition for and be accepted by the Jacobs School of Music. Along with teaching voice, Ian has also been teaching beginning and intermediate piano for six years. Ian has performed several operatic roles such as Belcore in The Elixir of Love, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Harry Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life, Ned Keene in Peter Grimes, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, and much more. Mr. Murrell has performed with several ensembles and companies around the United States such as the Florentine Opera, Chautauqua Opera Company, Indianapolis Opera, Asheville Lyric Opera, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Aspen Music Festival. |
| Teacher Name | Lois Shive |
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| Teacher Biography | Lois grew up in Chicago and NW Indiana. A lifelong learner, she has a BA from Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing MI as well as attending Michigan State where she studied with Dr. Tudy Solberg.Lois’ elementary music teacher inspired her to become a music teacher. However, after her student teaching and a class in Vocal Pedagogy, she knew that having the one-on-one relationship with private students was what she excelled in and what she loved. Lois first taught voice for Great Lakes while she was a student there. She went on to study Piano Pedagogy at Chicago State University on the master’s level. In GA, she taught voice and piano at Augusta College Conservatory. While there, she studied with William Toole (formerly of Juilliard). Mr Toole was instrumental in introducing Lois to Alexander Technique, which she studied for years. Though not a “teacher of AT,” she integrates what she has learned into many of her lessons. While in Augusta, Lois also sang with Collegium Musicum. Around the Chicago area she has sung with many choirs and groups, including Chicago Master Chorale, Bach Chamber Chorale, Moraine Valley Chorale, and Acappellago (an a cappella choir in the western suburbs). She’s sung Soprano solos in many of the cantatas and requiems these groups have performed. She’s also guest soloed with Chicago Swing Project. In groups and as a soloist, she’s sung all over the Midwest, SouthEast, Great Britain, and Mexico. Lois is often a guest soloist and/or cantor at churches around the Chicago area. In the past she has served as worship leader and directed adult and children’s choirs at several churches. Lois loves to push her musical boundaries, often trying totally new types of music at karaoke, to keep her musical chops current. Lois has sung The National Anthem for the Chicago Cubs, Windy City Thunderbolts and Joliet Jackhammer games as well as several other minor league teams around the area. |
| Teacher Name | James DiGirolamo |
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| Teacher Biography | James has performed professionally for more than 30 years, with extensive experience in upright and electric bass and guitar. He studied at DePaul University’s School of Jazz Music and privately with Larry Gray. James received scholarships from SIU and DePaul University. For 19 years, James owned and operated Garage Band U where he developed rock bands of children and adults, directing, rehearsing and preparing them for live public performances. James has been teaching professionally for over 36 years. As a jobbing musician, James has done radio and television jingles, studio session work, pit work and orchestral performances at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and The Paducah Symphony Orchestra. James has experience playing: swing, blues, classical, pop, rock and jazz and has also played country, zydeco and rock-a-billy. Some of the groups James has performed with include The Rhythm Rockets, The Willie Hayes Band, Pinetop Perkins, Barrel House Chuck, The Big Guitars from Memphis, Nick Moss, Burnt Toast and many others. James was nominated for a WC Handy Award with Nick Moss James has professional endorsements with Bag End, Gallien Krueger and Lakland Basses. |
| Teacher Name | Matt James |
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| Teacher Biography | Matt has been teaching professionally for over 20 years. He has taught at a variety of music store and schools including, Rossi Music, Horizon Music, and Midlothian Music. He has been teaching at Westgate Music School for over 2 years. |
