Woodwinds

Department Head

Off

Education

MM, Indiana University
Fulbright Scholarship Certificate, Rotterdam Conservatory, the Netherlands

pomalley@musicinst.org

Instrument(s)

Suzuki Recorder

Recorder

Location(s)

Name

Patrick O'Malley

Person Type

Administration

Faculty

Phone

847.448.8324

Photo

O'Malley-Patrick-web.jpg

Photo Credit

Mike Canale

Professional Affiliations & Activities

Suzuki Association of the Americas
American Recorder Society
Early Music America

Featured performer with Lyric Opera, Music of the Baroque, Haymarket Opera, Rembrandt Chamber Players, and many early music and chamber groups.

Founding member of Chicago Recorder Quartet

Program Area

Three Questions

A few of my favorite things…

What do you love about Chicago?

What does music mean to you?

Three Questions Answer

What do you love about Chicago?
Chicago has the exciting cultural diversity of a big city, plus the friendliness of the Midwest. I love living near Lake Michigan.

Favorite composer: Georg Phillip Telemann. Incredibly prolific, and each piece is a gem. My favorite musical form is Theme and Variations. It holds the key to our ability to make a better world. An eternal challenge to look at situations in new ways.

In architecture school I learned that design “problems” have “solutions.” Just when you think you’ve composed the last possible variation, your mind shifts and discovers yet another way. That’s beautiful and hopeful.

Weight

-95

GUID

179

Media ID

472

Willing to Teach at

Chicago - St. James

Erica Anderson

ntakagi — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 19:04:39 +0000

Erica Anderson ntakagi Sun, 10/01/2023 - 14:04

Erica Anderson has been a member of the Music Institute’s oboe faculty since September 2000 and is currently the head of the Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion Department. She has a bachelor of music degree from Eastman School of Music and a master of music degree from DePaul University, both in oboe performance. She is a member of Music Institute ensemble-in-residence Quintet Attacca and plays second oboe with Music of the Baroque and Chicago Philharmonic, with which she also plays English horn. She is an adjunct faculty member at Carthage College.

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Every Child Can

Academic Title

Oboe Faculty, Department Head of Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion

Anything else we should know?

My children take lessons with two of the terrific teachers at MIC.
My son studies cello with Daniel Hoppe and my daughter studies horn with Jeremiah Frederick.

Available For

Online

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

My passions are teaching and playing the oboe.
I have been teaching the oboe for 27 years (20 at MIC, 6 at Carthage College where I also teach a class in woodwind pedagogy).
I implement a thoughtful yet humorous approach to oboe teaching, and my students have fun and excel. Currently, I have 30 students. Typically, my students stay with me for 6 or 7 years. I currently have former students at Colorado College, Washington University, the Naval Academy, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Rice, Harvard, Jacobs School of Music at Indiana, and Eastman, and I wrote letters of recommendation for all of them.
I continually work on professional development to keep my teaching fresh and topical. I specialize in early student pedagogy, fitting oboe/music into a busy student's life, and preparing serious oboists for college. My students have performance opportunities at MIC that include department recitals, studio recitals, chamber music, and outreach concerts.

Courses

Private instruction
Chamber music

Department

Department Head

Education

MM Oboe Performance, DePaul University
BM Oboe Performance, Eastman School of Music

eanderson@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Fri, 09/01/2000 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Woodwinds

Oboe

Location(s)

Name

Erica Anderson

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

Photo

Anderson, Erica.jpg

Professional Affiliations & Activities

Quintet Attacca - oboe
Chicago Philharmonic - Second oboe and English horn
Music of the Baroque - Second oboe
Carthage College, adjunct oboe faculty

Program Area

Group Classes

Chamber Music

Three Questions Answer

Most memorable musical moment:
One of my most gratifying and exciting musical moments was when I played English horn on Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet with the Chicago Philharmonic and the Joffrey Ballet at Lincoln Center in New York City. The entire ballet ends with a beautiful English horn solo and it felt magical to get to play it!

The benefits of studying music are myriad and still being discovered. Music is one of the only professions that can be identified via brain scan because of the profound neurological impact music has on the brain. The neural pathways that are formed by musical studies have an increasingly acknowledged positive effect on humans throughout their lives. I love observing how studying music helps organize my children's and my students' thoughts and emotions.

Playing an instrument is the perfect blend of the mental, physical, and emotional capabilities of a person. What do I love about playing the oboe? I love the oboe because we get to make reeds! How cool is it that I get to make a part of my instrument and working on that aspect is as important as practicing? And I can talk to friends or listen to podcasts while doing it. I love playing the oboe because I feel like I can express part of my soul that is nonverbal and true.

Weight

GUID

113

Media ID

427

Willing to Teach at

Jennifer Bartel

Educo — Sat, 06 May 2023 19:04:40 +0000

Jennifer Bartel Educo Sat, 05/06/2023 - 14:04

Jennifer Bartel has been a member of the Music Institute’s flute faculty since November 2005. She earned a bachelor of music degree from DePaul University and a master of music degree from Manhattan School of Music. She has performed with the Elgin and Rockford Symphony Orchestras, Park Ridge Civic Orchestra, and Kenosha Symphony Orchestra and as a guest artist on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series at the Chicago Cultural Center. She served as a director on the board of the Chicago Flute Club and coordinator of its Annual Solo Competition, and she has frequently adjudicated Chicago-area student competitions.

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Ms. Bartel was the winner of the Union League Civic and Arts Foundation Competition, the Society of American Musicians Young Artist Competition, and the University of Chicago Concerto Competition. She also had the honor of being a guest artist on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, held at the Chicago Cultural Center and broadcast live on WFMT.

Academic Title

Flute Faculty

Available For

Online

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

Jennifer's philosophy centers around viewing herself in a supportive role in making sure her students have the tools they need to make music a permanent part of their lives. Some may continue playing the flute for many years through high school and into adulthood, possibly even aspiring to play professionally. Others will become avid concert-goers in their communities but have no interest in pursuing a highly advanced level of playing. Ms. Bartel supports the individuality of each student, customizing their lessons and repertoire to each student as opposed to following a set curriculum.

Department

Department Head

Off

Education

BM, DePaul University
MM, Manhattan School of Music

jbartel@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Wed, 11/30/2005 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Flute

Location(s)

Lake Forest

Name

Jennifer Bartel

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

Bartel, Jennifer web pic2 copy.jpg

Photo

Photo Credit

Jennifer Bartel

Professional Affiliations & Activities

Ms. Bartel has performed with the Elgin and Rockford Symphony Orchestras, Park Ridge Civic Orchestra and Kenosha Symphony Orchestra.

She served on the board of the Chicago Flute Club both as Coordinator of the Annual Solo Competition and as Director and is a frequent adjudicator in Chicago area student competitions.

Program Area

Three Questions

Interests/hobbies outside of music

A few of my favorite things…

What do you love about playing your instrument?

Three Questions Answer

Hobbies include swing dancing, paper quilling, wine-tasting and exploring Traders Joe’s universe.

Some favorite things include books by Elizabeth Berg, music by Beethoven and chocolate.

What's not to love about the flute? It's a beautiful instrument, we get to play the melody more often than not, and it's portable!

Weight

GUID

117

Media ID

431

Willing to Teach at

Lake Forest

Meret Bitticks

ntakagi — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 15:40:24 +0000

Meret Bitticks ntakagi Sun, 10/01/2023 - 10:40

Altus Artist Meret Bitticks maintains an active schedule as a soloist, chamber musician, and clinician in the U.S. and abroad while on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago (since September 2004) , DePaul University, Lake Forest College and Roosevelt University.
She earned a master of music degree from DePaul University and a bachelor of music degree from Ohio State University and she has studied extensively in Japan and in the U.S.
Meret is a registered Suzuki Flute Teacher Trainer and in 2013 became the first flutist to receive a Certificate of Achievement for excellence in Suzuki instruction from the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
She joined Trio Chicago and Friends for international concert tours, including the United Arab Emirates and Australia. A frequent volunteer at music camps in Haiti, Meret serves on the board of BLUME Haiti, an organization that promotes leadership through music education.
Meret has performed as a soloist and with various ensembles, and her recordings include Hysterical Stars with Head of Femur.

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Toshio Takahashi, Suzuki Flute Method Founder
Talent Education and Research Institute, Matsumoto, Japan:
  Suzuki Flute Books 8, 10, 12, and 13
2004 Every Child Can!, Kim Lorimier
2015 Every Child Can!, Pat D’Ercole
2004 Suzuki Flute Book 1, Jerilee Kechley
2012 Suzuki Flute Book 1, Kelly Williamson
2005 Suzuki Flute Book 2, David Gerry
2007 Suzuki Flute Book 3, Kelly Williamson
2014 Suzuki Flute Book 3, Noelle Perrin
2008 Suzuki Flute Book 4, David Gerry
2009 Suzuki Flute Book 5, David Gerry
2009 Suzuki Flute Book 6, Kelly Williamson
2008 Suzuki Flute Book 7, Kenichi Ueda
2013 Suzuki Flute Book 7, David Gerry
2015 Suzuki Flute Book 9, David Gerry
2013 Suzuki Flute Book 14, David Gerry
2010 S. P. A. Course, Joanne Melvin
2009 Suzuki Flute Practicum, David Gerry
2012 Baroque Style, Courtney Westcott
2012 Suzuki Flute Overview, Toshio Takahashi
2016 Dalcroze Teacher Workshop, Jeremy Dittus
2013 Musikgarten: Family Music, Leilani Miranda
2013 Musikgarten: Cycle of Seasons, Leilani Miranda

Awards:
Altus Flutes - Artist
Suzuki Association of the Americas - Teacher Trainer and Certificate of Achievement (Level One)

Academic Title

Flute (Suzuki) Faculty

Anything else we should know?

Favorite quote:
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” - Jane Goodall

Favorite composer or piece to play:
Meret loves playing the repertoire from Suzuki Flute Book 1 and believes that Cuckoo and Moon Over the Ruined Castle are particularly beautiful and always offer room for advanced musical concepts. Of course, Meret also agrees you're never too old to Twinkle!

Available For

Online

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

Teaching philosophy and areas of expertise:
Meret's true goal as a teacher is to help nurture beautiful hearts that are open to the potential in all things and all people. She works with the whole person as well as the whole musician with a vision of her students becoming accomplished, independent learners. When given the opportunity, all people, regardless of their background, can learn to play music. As a Suzuki Teacher Trainer, Meret is one of nine flutists in North America authorized by the Suzuki Association of the Americas to train teachers in the Suzuki Approach.

Courses

Private Instruction
Suzuki Education
Group Lessons

Department

http://www.fleautiful.com

Department Head

Off

Education

Master of Music in flute performance, DePaul University School of Music,
Bachelor of Music in flute performance, The Ohio State University School of Music

mbitticks@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Wed, 09/01/2004 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Location(s)

Name

Meret Bitticks

Personal Website / Link

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

Bitticks, Meret web pic.jpg

Photo

Professional Affiliations & Activities

Significant Teachers and Mentors:
Katherine Borst Jones, Mary Stolper, Toshio Takahashi

Recordings
Tiny Tunemakers Sing-along CD Volume 1 (Flute)
Tiny Tunemakers Sing-along CD Volume 2 (Flute and Piccolo)
Hysterical Stars, Head of Femur (Flute and Piccolo)

Professional affiliations/activities
BLUME Haiti: noard member
Suzuki Association of the Americas: teacher trainer
Great Lakes Suzuki Institute: director
Chicago Flute Club: member

Program Area

Suzuki Education

Three Questions

Interests/hobbies outside of music

What do you love about Chicago?

What do you love about playing your instrument?

Three Questions Answer

Hobbies/interests outside of music:
Standup paddle board yoga, rabble rousing, falconry.

What do you love about playing your instrument:
I love that the flute can sound like a bird one minute and a person mourning the next. There's such tonal variety that we can get out of this little metal tube and so many opportunities for expression. We can make air dance and the flute sing—it's an amazing instrument.

What do you love about Chicago:
What's not to love about Chicago???

Weight

Willing to Teach at

Barbara Drapcho

ntakagi — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 21:20:35 +0000

Barbara Drapcho ntakagi Fri, 08/18/2023 - 16:20

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Significant teachers and mentors:
During her years at Northwestern University, Barbara studied under Russell Dagon, who became one of her most significant teachers. She also had several other instructors over the years who had a large influence on her such as: Charlene Zimmerman, Alan Kay, and Dennis Nygren.

Awards and achievements:
Member, Quintet Attacca, Grand Prize Winner of the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, member of Community Outreach Ensemble for Chicago Chamber Musicians, and Ensemble-in-Residence at the Music Institute of Chicago.

As a member of Quintet Attacca, she has performed on New York City's Schneider Concert Series, the Cranbook Music Guild in Detroit, and numerous Chicagoland series such as NEIU's Jewel Box, Lake Forest Lyrica, Rush Hour, Dame Myra Hess, and many live broadcasts on WFMT.

Academic Title

Clarinet Faculty, (Quintet Attacca, Ensemble-in-Residence)

Available For

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

Ms. Drapcho's teaching philosophy is one that relates directly to starting with the basics in music. She believes that, no matter how quick one is to learn or how capable they are of picking up new techniques, the basics are everything.

"Learn the basics well and there's no limit to what you can do."

Courses

Private Instruction

Department

Department Head

Off

Education

Master's Degree in performance, Northwestern University.
Bachelor's Degree in performance, Northwestern University

bdrapcho@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Clarinet

Location(s)

Name

Barbara Drapcho

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

Barbara Drapcho concert pic Web_0.jpg

Photo

Professional Affiliations & Activities

Ms. Drapcho enjoys the role of outreach coordinator with her quintet and has helped write numerous original programs performed in hundreds of schools throughout Chicago and the Midwest.

Her chamber music experiences outside of Quintet Attacca includes performances with the Chicago Chamber Musicians and the Pacifica Quartet.

She is also a member of the New Philharmonic, Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra, and has performed as a soloist with Chicago Arts Orchestra.

Barbara is currently on faculty at the Merit School of Music and the Music Institute of Chicago.

Program Area

Three Questions Answer

Interests outside of music:
When Barbara is not practicing music, she enjoys lawn games and picnics, running, spoiling her cats, and spending time on the Lake Erie Islands.

Weight

David Fivecoate

ntakagi — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 19:04:45 +0000

David Fivecoate ntakagi Sun, 10/01/2023 - 14:04

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Doctoral Studies with Frederick L. Hemke, Northwestern University

Academic Title

Clarinet and Saxophone Faculty

Available For

Online

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

I strive to empower my students to be independent learners of music and of their instruments.

Courses

Private Instruction

Department

Department Head

Off

Education

MME, University of North Texas
BM, University of North Texas

dfivecoate@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Tue, 05/01/2001 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Location(s)

Name

David Fivecoate

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

Photo

Program Area

Three Questions

Most memorable musical moment?

Three Questions Answer

Saxophone performance in Gothic cathedrals of England and Scotland
Singing with CSO members in a male a capella quartet in front of a capacity crowd in Symphony Center; Performing and rehearsing with legendary musicians in big bands - these were awesome experiences!

Weight

GUID

140

Media ID

444

Willing to Teach at

Nicole Gurt

ntakagi — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 23:32:13 +0000

Nicole Gurt ntakagi Fri, 08/18/2023 - 18:32

Academic Title

Sectional Leader, MIC Concert (Clarinet)

Available For

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Courses

Adult Studies
MIC Concert Band Sectional leader - Clarinet

Department

Department Head

Off

ngurt@musicinst.org

Instrument(s)

Clarinet

Name

Nicole Gurt

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

Program Area

Weight

Laura Hamm

ntakagi — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 18:47:18 +0000

Laura Hamm ntakagi Thu, 08/24/2023 - 13:47

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Teachers that impacted her career:
Walfrid Kujala, William Bennett, and Julius Baker

She took master classes with Jean Pierre Rampal, James Galway, Doroit Dwyer.

Various performances with well-regarded organizations:
Chicago Sinfonietta, Joffery Ballet, Chicagoland Pops, and the Elgin Symphony.

Ms. Hamm was also a flutist with Trio Chicago and Friends, and had the opportunity to be a part of the touring Chamber ensemble traveling to Africa in 2004 and 2005, and Vietnam in 2005.

She has done several performance duos with her husband, George Goetschel on World Cruise Company tour, as well as performances with Larry Coryell, Nestor Torres, Michael Feinstien, Howard Levy, Chick Corea, and many more.

Academic Title

MIC Concert Band Sectional Leader - Flute

Available For

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Courses

Group Lessons
Adult Studies -
MIC Band Sectional - Flute

Department

Department Head

Off

Education

Master's in Music and Certificate in Performance, Northwestern University
Bachelor's Degree in Music, University of Washington

lhamm@musicinst.org

Instrument(s)

Flute

Name

Laura Hamm

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

Professional Affiliations & Activities

Ms. Hamm also has a relationship/background with various music programs around the area. She was a former member of the Goodman Theater Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater, and the New Black Music Repertory Ensemble.

She is the Executive Director for the Musical Source of Chicago which is a booking agency for live musical performances

Served on the Board of Directors for Seattle and Chicago flute clubs for over ten years.

Program Area

Adult Studies

Weight

Suzanne Hannau

ntakagi — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 19:04:48 +0000

Suzanne Hannau ntakagi Sun, 10/08/2023 - 14:04

Additional Studies / Recent Awards / Recordings

Musikgarten Certified
Blocki Flute Method

Academic Title

Flute & Musikgarten Faculty

Available For

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

I love teaching, and I love my students. I love figuring out what each student needs from me to understand a concept. I love making learning fun! I love working through the breakdowns as much as I love celebrating the breakthroughs. I love doing my part to help nurture creativity and expression. I love fostering space for students to begin thinking critically, and I love seeing my students flourish when they’re equipped with the tools to succeed without me.

Department

Department Head

Off

Education

MM Flute Performance, DePaul University
BM Flute Performance, DePaul University

shannau@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Sun, 05/01/2016 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Flute

Location(s)

Chicago - St. James

Name

Suzanne Hannau

Personal Website / Link

http://suzannehannau.com

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

8479051500

Photo

shheadshotlaugh1.jpg

Photo Credit

Gold Grid Studios

Professional Affiliations & Activities

National Flute Association
Chicago Flute Club
Trade Winds Ensemble
New Music Chicago

Program Area

Early Childhood - Musikgarten

Three Questions Answer

Hobbies/interests outside of music:
I'm a Muay Thai instructor. Music and martial arts require overlapping skills like focus, discipline, and mental toughness. Sometimes I'll put the metronome on in class when drilling combinations!

Most memorable musical moment:
Any time Trade Winds and I get to perform the compositions of our students is extremely special. I love fostering creativity and seeing wonder and joy on their faces as their art comes to life.

What music means to you:
Music makes us grow! Music can challenge how we see the world, and give us the tools and courage to make it a better place. Music can be polished or raw, but both will make the world more beautiful.

Weight

GUID

150

Media ID

503

Willing to Teach at

Chicago - St. James

Galina Kiep

ntakagi — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 20:55:07 +0000

Galina Kiep ntakagi Thu, 08/31/2023 - 15:55

Galina Kiep is a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician. She has been a member of the Sarasota Opera Orchestra since 2014, and has played with ensembles such as the San Diego Symphony, the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Ballet orchestras, the Atlanta Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has participated in many music festivals including the Atlantic Music Festival, the Pacific Music Festival, the Colorado College Music Festival, and Music From Angel Fire. In addition to her performance engagements, she currently serves on the faculty at Carthage College, and Olivet Nazarene University.

Academic Title

Bassoon Faculty

Available For

Online

In-Person

Available Offsite

Off

Basic Teaching Philosophy or Special Music Interests/Specialties

My mission is to provide a comprehensive bassoon education to any dedicated to bassoonists. Whether you are interested in preparing for a professional life in music or simply looking to improve your skills, my studio has a place for you. I believe in providing a supportive environment in which we face challenges, celebrate success, and build friendships together.

Courses

Private Instruction

Department

Department Head

Off

Education

MM, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University
BM, Curtis Institute of Music

gkiep@musicinst.org

Hire Date

Sun, 01/01/2023 - 12:00

Instrument(s)

Bassoon

Location(s)

Name

Galina Kiep

Person Type

Faculty

Phone

Photo

GalinaKieppic2022.jpg

Program Area

Adult Studies

Three Questions Answer

Interests outside of music:
I'm an avid yogi and practice every morning. I find it a wonderful compliment to balance out my professional performing and teaching life.

A few of my favorite things:
I love to bake, read a good book, and go on walks outside in all kinds of weather!

Why study music? :
You'll never be bored, and the more you progress the better it gets!

Weight

Willing to Teach at