Our Staff

Begin Your Journey as a Musician

GET STARTED

Nicole Hoffer

Voice, Piano

Nicole Hoffer is a passionate music educator dedicated to blending on-stage experience with formal training for students eager to learn. With a degree in Voice Performance focused on Jazz Studies and further education at Columbia College in Chicago, Nicole fosters a classroom environment that reflects the musician each student aspires to become. Nicole loves teaching […]

I have taught piano for over 25 years and have had the privilege to earn an Associate’s in Fine Arts, Piano Pedagogy, under the tutelage of Cathy Albergo, co-creator of the Celebrate Piano! series of method books, Intermediate Piano Repertoire, A Guide for Teaching, and many other titles. I love sharing music with children and […]

Louise Floyd

Voice, Piano

Louise Floyd is an opera singer and music teacher living in Chicago. She specializes in classical music as a singer, but has experience teaching singers of many different genres. As such, Louise believes in applying classical principles to help singers find their authentic voice regardless of genre. During the 2023-24 season Louise performed the toreador […]

Chris Ray

Bass, Piano, Ukulele, Guitar

Chris has been performing and teaching bass for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Music degree from Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree from DePaul University, both in Jazz Performance. Chris remains active playing and recording with a variety of different art-ists and bands in the Chicago area […]

Luke Maslanka

Woodwinds, Brass, Strings, Piano & Ukulele

Luke received his Bachelor of Music Education at Elmhurst College. He participated in their Wind Ensemble on his primary instrument, the bassoon, and in their Varsity Band on several of his secondary instruments. He also teaches in the Schaumburg School district as an Itinierant Band/Orchestra Teacher working primarily with beginning 5th and 6th grade students.  […]

Nathan Smith

Woodwinds, Trumpet & Piano

Nathan Smith is a dedicated teacher and multi-instrumentalist. He has been teaching woodwinds for over 20 years. As a performer, he has covered many styles of music, from rock to classical, from jazz to noise. He takes great pride in developing lasting relationships with students and teaching them in a way that best speaks to […]