Piano and Voice Teachers at Naperville Music Academy

Piano and Voice Teachers
	Mr. Kristofer Spike: Piano ($39.90) Tuesday, Wednesday Kris has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and also a licentiate diploma in piano performance from Trinity College, London. As well as performing the standard classical repertoire, Kris has diversified into many different styles of music as performer, composer and arranger. His teaching philosophy is based on the belief that all students deserve to be taught in a way that sequential, logical and thorough. After making sure that students have a firm grasp of the basics Kris is able to tailor his approach to match the interests of the student and work towards achieving their goals and musical aspirations. As an active composer Kris places great importance on developing a working knowledge of music theory and being able to incorporate that into practical music performance. Examples of Kris's composing and performing can be heard on his YouTube channel. Examples of Kris's composing and performing
	Ms Caitlin Miller: Piano ($38.90) and Voice ($38.90) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday Caitlin Miller received her Bachelor of Music Degree in classical vocal performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and has a background in musical theater and vocal jazz. Caitlin began studying piano and voice at age nine, igniting a lifelong passion for music and performance. She is also well versed in music theory and enjoys composing. A virtuosic performer, Caitlin's opera credits include Carmen, The Medium, La Bohème, The Secret Marriage, La Traviata, The Mikado, Tosca, The Marriage of Figaro, and many more. She loves working with voice and piano students of all ages and prides herself on meeting each individual student’s unique needs with patience and a penchant for nurturing a student's love of their craft.
	Mr. Eric Poe: Piano ($38.90) and Voice ($38.90) Monday, Thursday Eric Poe is a passionate individual who's studied both music and communication at Aurora University and is translating that experience into teaching aspiring minds here at Naperville Music Academy. They have been singing for over 10 years in a variety of settings as well as playing piano for almost 3 years. They strive to help in creating learning environments that are playful yet rewarding so that our students can enjoy themselves as they practice and gain experience. Eric is a confident personality that not only wants to see their students succeed, but also wants to instill the same passion for learning music that was given to them at an early age. Eric welcomes any age and level when it comes to teaching and looks forward to seeing their students grow musically as we collaborate and learn.
	Mr. Gabriel Wade: Piano ($38.90) Tuesday Pianist, trumpeter, and educator, Gabriel Wade, is a talented musician who looks to share his sound in a variety of different settings. Born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Wade earned his B.A. in Music with a Jazz Emphasis from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and has recently earned his M.M. in Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University as a graduate assistant. At UAM, he was able to study closely with Jason Smith, Les, Pack, Dr. Alex Norris, and David Kane. At NIU, he was able to study closely with Pharez Whitted, Reggie Thomas, Dr. Christopher Scanlon, Bobby Broom, Geof Bradfield, and Tom Garling. His musical experience on piano consists of concert piano, jazz combo, big band, accompanying vocalists, and freelancing in various styles. Mr. Wade's goals as an educator are to help students develop a greater sense of awareness and appreciation of the many facets of music and the music industry. He is committed to providing students with the tools needed to understand how to practice efficiently and to overcome challenges when they arise. His education experience consists of teaching private lessons, masterclasses, clinics, and directing combo and big band rehearsals. Mr. Wade was recently the instructor for the Jazz Piano class at Northern Illinois University for the 2023-2024 school year. He has had the opportunity to teach and mentor students through the Art Porter Minors in Music program, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Jazz Camp, the Northern Illinois University Jazz Camp, and the Northern Illinois University Community School of the Arts. He translates the same passion and dedication that he has for his own musicianship to his own students’ success.
	Mr. Mateus Furtado: Piano ($39.90) Saturday Mateus Furtado holds a Bachelor’s Degree in piano from the University of São Paulo, where he studied with Eduardo Monteiro and Luciana Sayure. In the Spring of 2024, he completed a Master’s Degree in piano performance at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, DePaul University, under the guidance of Winston Choi. Mateus is currently pursuing a Performance Diploma at the same institution. He has performed at prestigious venues in Brazil, Europe and United States, and has also performed as a piano soloist with orchestras such as the Orquestra Jovem de Guarulhos, Orquestra Sinfônica de Campinas, Orquestra Sinfónica de Yucatán, Orquestra Experimental de Repertório and CCPA Chamber Orchestra. Mateus has participated in four editions of the Festival Internacional de Campos do Jordão, Festival Internacional de Música de Ávila (Spain) and he has been awarded prizes in various national and international competitions, including Concurso Piano en Foco, I Concurso de Piano Gilberto Tinetti, LVMS Piano Competition (Chicago), Concurso Jovens Solistas GruPiano, 8th Concurso Internacional de Piano 'José Jacinto Cuevas' Yamaha (Mexico), CCPA Concerto Competition (Chicago), XIV Concurso de Piano Prof. Edna Basseti Habith and the 1st National Chopin Competition of Brazil. Mateus started teaching in his native Sao Paulo and continued to teach in the Chicago area. He is delighted to have the opportunity to join the wonderful NMA faculty and nurture the young talent.
	Mr. Josh Hylland: Piano ($38.90) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Josh Hylland has been a member of NMA faculty for 3 years now teaching piano, guitar, and drums. He is a member of Music Teacher National Association, and of Naperville Chapter ISMTA, and is active in preparing his piano students for IL State Piano Exam. He also created the curriculum for NMA Merit Certificate Exam in drums. In addition, Josh’s students had great success at IMA Competition in the previous years, many of whom brought home trophies, placing among the top 3 competitors in their class. Josh started his musical journey playing percussion in middle school band, and enrolling in choir shortly thereafter. He has been a dedicated musician since picking up the guitar at age 12, and eventually began taking lessons from local musicians. Prior to legal driving age, Josh had already begun giving lessons to family acquaintances as well as a few friends from school, and in doing so discovered a new type of joy, teaching music to others. Since then he has continued to seek out eager students, giving lessons out of home and thoroughly exploring every musical opportunity he saw, as well as every instrument he could get his hands on. Since graduating high school he studied music theory as well as jazz guitar and piano at Waubonsee Community College before moving on to play bass guitar in a band fronted by former Buddy Guy guitarist, Frank Blinkal for two years. Since then he has played live and in studios with various acts in Chicago and the surrounding areas. Josh continues his search for new musical endeavors, and always strives to help students take the next step.
	Mr. Roman Maroz: Piano ($38.90) Friday, Saturday Roman Maroz is a professional musician and multi-instrumentalist originally from Belarus. In young age, being inspired by his father playing guitar, Roman studied drums, guitar, and piano and graduated with Master’s Degree in Music. He had an opportunity to perform with many different world-famous artists such as, Jose Carreras, Michele Legrand, Al di Meola, Robbin Gibb (Bee Gees) and the others, and participated in different music festivals, competitions and worked in the recording studios. Roman was honored to join professional musicians of the UAE in performing at EXPO 2020, Emirates Palace, World Trade Centre, Dubai Opera, Du Arena and other well-known venues, including five concerts with Andrea Bocelli, as well as recording UAE National Anthem for Expo 2020. Apart from performing music, Roman's great passion lies in teaching and inspiring young talent, while guiding them through their music journey. He is very focused on teaching and inspiring students, helping them achieve their goals and aspire towards new challenges. His students achieved high grades in ABRSM and Trinity College of London exams, and participated in "Tops in Trinity" Concerts. Having an extensive experience in teaching for more than 20 years and more than 200 students, Roman creates special music program designed for each young individual, in order to give them a strong foundation in technique, developing listening skills, coordination and general musicianship. His motto is: Work hard, enjoy music and you will be proud of your achievements!
	Ms Jenna Hintz: Voice ($39.90) and Piano ($39.90) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday She still performs regularly while at the same time finding immense fulfillment in passing along the fundamental elements of music, such as technique, theory and pedagogy, to her students. She has been fortunate enough to not only watch her students grow and expand musically, but she also has seen firsthand the astounding effects a musical education can have on every aspect of a child or adult’s life.
	Mr. Matt Kavanaugh: Piano ($38.90) Monday, Wednesday, Friday Matt Kavanaugh is a multi instrumentalist from Naperville, Il who has been playing, studying, and performing music throughout the last 15 years. In 2017, he graduated from Elmhurst College, where he studied guitar with Frank Portolese, Mike Pinto, and Neal Alger, and piano with Frank Caruso and Mark Streder. Matt is currently working towards a graduate degree from Northern Illinois University, studying under Fareed Haque. Matt can be currently found playing around the Chicagoland area in various jazz, rock, and pop groups. His teaching experience ranges from students ages 5-70, and in all genres. His teaching philosophy focuses on each individual student, their musical interests, music fundamentals, and enjoying your musical journey at your own pace!
	Mr. Jake Foland: Piano ($33.50) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Jake Foland is a multi-instrumentalist who has been playing his whole life. Born into a musical family, Jake began his journey exploring music from a very young age. Learning the basics of guitar from his father, Jake ran with it and educated himself in more advanced techniques. At the same time, Jake taught himself drum set. As he aged, his curiosity grew and he began studying piano in addition to drums and guitar. Having studied with many teachers throughout the years, Jake gained knowledge of not only the instruments themselves, but on teaching as well. In college, Jake studied music theory and composition, as well as voice, piano, drums, and world percussion. Having gained a broad perspective on music as a whole from these varied studies, Jake brings a unique and informed approach to teaching his students.
	Ms Emma Kaminski: Voice ($38.90) and Piano ($38.90) Monday, Wednesday Emma Kaminski is a multi-instrumentalist who holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Business from Elmhurst College with a minor in Music Production. She has started working towards a Master of Arts from Berklee College of Music. She loves to play and sing anything from musical theatre to classical to jazz to pop. She is as comfortable on a stage performing a Schumann lied or a Britney Spears hit. Throughout her journey in music, Emma has studied voice under Brenda Lualdi and Donna Peterson-Tallman, piano with Michael Mongolis and Soyoung Kee, and composition under John Dorhauer. Emma believes that every student's musical experience is unique and no two lessons will be the same. She encourages students to venture into any musical style they want by building on a foundation of healthy technique and music theory.
	Mrs. Mila Taylor: Piano ($39.90) Monday, Saturday After graduation she was accepted to the Rostov College of Arts where she earned a bachelor degree in Music Education and Piano Performance. Mrs. Taylor learned Piano in the class of professor Valeria Varshavskaya - graduate of the Moscow conservatory, an outstanding pianist and teacher, a colleague and a close friend of Sviatoslav Richter - one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. During the study, Mrs Taylor has been awarded several honors as a performer, participating in the competitions of young piano players at the regional and country level. Upon graduation Mrs.Taylor was admitted to the best rated University in Russia - Lomonosov Moscow University, where she got her master degree in History and Theory of Art. Mrs Taylor was teaching in music schools and privately in Moscow, Brussels, and the Chicago area ( since 2003). Also, she has a performance experience as a soloist, accompanist, and with a symphony orchestra. Russian classical piano school is one of the world famous and requires a lot of the discipline and rigorous workload. "In my teaching methods I follow my famous teachers. I am focused on building strong music reading and technical skills, playing from lead sheets and studying music theory and history as it applies to the pieces studied. I am very proud to continue traditions of the world famous Russian musicians." Mrs. Taylor is teaching all ages and all levels - from the beginning up to the conservatory level. Some students may choose to become professionals, others may just want to learn to play piano for fun. The goal is to help each student to open the world of music and enjoy the rewards that music brings.
	Ms Vera Pelin: Piano ($39.90) Thursday Vera Pelin is a pianist from Republic of Moldova. She has been playing piano, harpsichord and organ for 19 years and been teaching voice and piano for seven. She has a Bachelor of Music from the National University of Music in Bucharest, Romania, in piano performance. She has performed at festivals in Hungary, Romania and her home country, and has played in recitals in performance halls in both Romania and Moldova. She participated in national piano and chamber music competitions. She also has been a member of choirs from a young age: choir "Vocile primaverii" R. Moldova, choir "Rapsodia" R. Moldova, music ensemble of folk music "Dor dorulet" R. Moldova and several church choirs.