Dave Kohut
Guitar, Bass, Banjo, Ukulele, Orchestral Strings, Music Technology
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 Contemporary Guide to Guitar.
Maureen Kelly
Piano, Voice
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.
Joe McKee
Drums and Percussion
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.
Diane Tragos
Piano
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.
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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.
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Bethany Brewer
Voice and Piano
Bethany Brewer is a native of the Chicagoland area. Bethany graduated from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, where she studied and performed roles such as Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), 2nd Witch (Dido and Aeneas), and 3rd Lady (Die Zauberflöte) and performed several solo recitals featuring works by Schumann, J.S. Bach, Rossini, Fauré, and others. In 2017, she made her way to Denver, Colorado to pursue her Master’s at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she studied with Abigail Nims. Before graduating in 2020 from the University of Colorado Boulder, Bethany explored a variety of opportunities, performing with CU Boulder’s Early Music Ensemble, Boulder Bach Festival, singing Filippyevna (Eugene Onegin) with Ecklund Opera, and performing several recitals featuring works by Dominick Argento, Lori Laitman, and Hugo Wolf. Now, Bethany is working to establish herself as a performer and private voice instructor after recently moving back to Chicago. Bethany has been teaching private voice and piano lessons for eight years, and her teaching philosophy is simple: “I strive to spread a love of music and a hunger to learn through a holistic approach to creating music. I work to challenge the whole musician: their mind, body, and soul through immersive experience, strong technique, and an environment conducive to asking questions and making mistakes, which ultimately leads to the best growth.”
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Ian Murrell
Voice and Piano
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.
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