Alana Grelyak is an experienced musician with over twenty years of training. She started her career with Perla Cudal Studios, where she won numerous awards and accolades as part of the American Guild of Music. Later, she studied with Russian pianist Vladimir Leyetchkiss. Her studies took her all over the United States, Canada, and to Europe for concerts and competitions. Ms. Grelyak earned her Bachelor's Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, partly with Howard Karp and, after his retirement, with world-renowned concert pianist Christopher Taylor. She went on to earn her Master's Degree, also under Mr. Taylor, and while working as a Teaching Assistant at the university. Ms. Grelyak has earned numerous scholarships and awards as a pianist and is now living in Chicago. She writes her own music, performs with other musicians, and her work has appeared on movie scores and in other recordings. She spends her free time volunteering with animal shelters and taking care of her three rescued cats and dog.
Jessica (Rice) Solares grew up in a musical family in Arlington Heights. Her mother always sang with her and her father is a professional musician, so there was always music in the house. She is the eldest of 4 children, 3 of whom are professional musicians. This early exposure to music developed her belief that music brings families together and helps each member grow as an individual. Jessica has sung and played piano since she was a small child, and joined her school orchestra program at the age of 9. She went on to earn her AFA degree from Harper College and her Bachelor of Music degree with a minor in Spanish from Elmhurst College, where she organized the “Together We Stand” benefit concert to send $16,000 of aid to victims of 9/11. She was the 2003 recipient of the NAMM scholarship. Jessica has been featured in many diverse performances, from wedding ceremonies, receptions, restaurant performances, and local festivals such as Buffalo Grove Days, Mount Prospect Fourth of July festival, and Lincolnshire festival. She has performed internationally with orchestral and choral groups, and fronted Wild Rice Band. She started the violin program at Mitchell Elementary School (CPS). Jessica believes that all students have the ability to play and enjoy music, and that parents are the best teachers for their children.
Luis graduated from Harper College with his AFA Fine Arts degree and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Elmhurst College. He studied under Steven Suvada, Peter Aglinskas, and Chris Siebold. Luis was the student organizer of the 2003 Mid America Guitar Ensemble festival. He has experience in many different styles, including pop/rock, blues, jazz, latin, and classical. Luis is a talented songwriter, and has performed his original music throughout Chicagoland, Guatemala, and Spain, most recently at an international music festival in Spain. He believes that students should have a good overall knowledge of their instrument, and that will help them be better able to improvise and create whatever type of music they like. He enjoys working with students of all ages and levels.
Scott Emerick graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, with a Bachelors of Music degree with minors in Education, Psychology, and Music Business. He has taught professionally for several years and specializes in vocal coaching and beginning piano. He has performed in countless shows throughout the country. Some you may recognize are: Oklahoma, Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Damn Yankees, and Kiss Me Kate. He has also performed on cruise ships, and at resorts and theme parks. Scott was the Production Supervisor and Vocal Captain for several production companies in Nashville.
Emily Spiegel has been teaching violin for over 5 years. She received her BA in Violin Performance: Jazz Studies from Columbia College Chicago, where she also took Early Childhood Development classes. She teaches private lessons as well as the Bucktown Music violin program at Mitchell School (CPS). She is also a trained and licensed Kindermusik educator.
Emily strives to inspire each of her students to find their musical voice through the violin. She encourages all her students to reach their highest musical ability through dedicated violin lessons. Emily has taught students of all ages and levels and works to enrich her students’ lives with music.
Emily works as a freelance violinist as well. She frequently performs in the Chicago area at weddings and parties. She works with local bands and writes and performs her own string parts. She is experienced in all types of music, from classical to jazz and rock.
Terell Johnson is a native of South West Florida. He began his journey in music early in his youth studying piano with David Koehler. He received his Bachelors in Music from the University of Central Florida in 2008 studying clarinet performance with Dr. Keith Koons.
While at UCF, Terell was exposed to many performance opportunities, which included being principal of the Symphony orchestra and Wind Ensemble, performing in the Florida Music Educators National Association Conference, the Faculty and Honors Forums held by the UCF Music Department, as well as freelancing in the Orlando area.
In 2010 Terell received his Masters in Music from The Florida State University where he studied with Dr. Frank Kowalsky. Before moving to Chicago Terell spent this past summer in Tallahassee on faculty at The Florida State University Summer Music Camps and freelancing in the city.
Marlene Thompson grew up in a musical family in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Her father is a skilled classical and jazz pianist, so there was always music in her childhood home. She developed a love for music at an early age, taking lessons in flute, piano and voice, later concentrating on guitar.
Marlene has been playing guitar since age twelve. She is experienced in many styles, including classical, jazz and pop/rock. In 2009, Marlene received her B.A. in Music, with minors in Composition and English, from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. There, she was a student of renowned classical guitarist and composer Mario Abril. An experienced teacher, she has a background in composition and bass guitar, and has sung with numerous choirs and orchestras up and down the East Coast.
In her spare time, Marlene writes for a local music magazine, Chicago Innerview, and for the “Girls Rock! Chicago” summer camp. She plans on pursuing a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Marlene is also a trained and licensed Kindermusik educator.
Juan Ortiz began studying guitar at the age of 9. He has been teaching guitar for 15 years. He attended the Escuela de Música Creativa in Spain and then obtained a Bachelor's Degree in jazz studies at the Conservatorio Superior de Navarra.
Juan has developed his professional work also as a performer and as a producer. As a guitar player he worked with jazz and pop artists, and musicals in Madrid, Spain.
In the field of production, Juan has released a variety of songs as a composer, programmer, or producer, for commercial, artistic, and educational projects.
Sara is a new resident to the city of Chicago and is thrilled to be working with musicians in the area! She is a graduate of Indiana University with her degree in Violin Performance. While attending IU, she had the pleasure of studying with the esteemed pedagogue, Mimi Zweig.
Sara believes above all things that music-making should be a fun and enjoyable way of expressing oneself! While maintaining this fun and judgement-free attitude in the studio, she also emphasizes the significance of building a solid technical foundation on which a student can build upon for the rest of their musical development.
Sara freelances in the area and can be seen performing in ensembles such as the Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Arts Orchestra, and the Chicago Modern Orchestra Project.
Photo coming soon!
Born and raised in the small town of Appleton, Wisconsin, Sally Blandon's growing passion for music brought her to the "Windy City" where she graduated with her degree in music from Columbia College Chicago. She has traveled the world bringing music where ever she goes. Singing everything from Nicaraguan folk music to Stevie Wonder, this soulful singer brings music to your ears in a cultural array of styles and genres.
