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THE INSTITUTE

THE FOUNDER-DIRECTOR

Lucinda E. Ali-Landing, violin instructor, licensed Kindermusik Instructor

Rashida Black, harp instructor, has won a number of awards including the Keadue International Harp Competition in Ireland, the Golkin Education Award in New York, the Judge's Choice Award for her solo performance in Jordan Hall, Boston, which was broadcast live on WGBH, and the Bonnie Brae Harp Competition in New Jersey. She has held scholarships from the American Symphony Orchestra League, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Natick, MA, New England Conservatory in Boston and University of
Chicago, IL. Ms. Black has presented solo performances at Falmouth Academy, Massachusetts and was featured as a soloist with the Academy's Orchestra performing the Handel Concerto in B-flat. In the Boston area, she has presented solo performances at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, at Jordan Hall and Montclair Museum of Art. As an orchestral and ensemble musician, Rashida Black has played with various orchestras throughout New England including the Cape & Islands Orchestra, the Southeast Strings Orchestra, All-State orchestra, and the Longy School of Music Opera Orchestra. She has also toured internationally to Israel with the New England Conservatory's Youth Symphony, Mexico and Cuba with the Conservatory'sYouth Philharmonic Orchestra, and nationally with popular recording artist Kanye West. Ms. Black has also performed with both the Plainfield Symphony Orchestra and Hawthorne Symphony in New Jersey. Beyond performing, Rashida Black has taught harp at an after-school program at the Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in a program developed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra to bring music to the public schools. Her curriculum included group lessons incorporating basic theory and harmony skills. Ms. Black's students performed each spring in a concert in Jordan Hall. Ms. Black has also taught harp and piano at the Soumas Heritage School of Music in Plainfield, New Jersey. Rashida N. Black is a graduate of the New England Conservatory having studied with Ann Hobson Pilot of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. During her summers, she studied at Tanglewood with Lucile Lawrence, and in Camden, Maine with Alice Chalifoux. Ms. Black has recently received her Master of Arts degree in Humanities from the University of Chicago. Her thesis was entitled "American Anomalies: 19th Century All-Black Orchestras." She recently founded the Myrtle Hart Society, a resource dedicated to "illuminating the accomplishments of classical musicians of color." The organization encourages all musicians, composers and supporters to discuss various aspects of their careers and perform works by composers of color from around the globe. A monthly electronic newsletter promotes the global activities of classical musicians and composers of color.

Sarah Jackson, cello instructor, holds a Master of Music degree from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of South Carolina. She has completed Suzuki training through Book 8 with Dr. Tanya Carey. In South Carolina, she studied with Dr. Robert Jesselson and taught in the String Project and Suzuki programs at the University. She has been an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and substitutes regularly with the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra. She is a member of the American String Teachers' Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Ms. Jackson also plays in a string quartet with her three sisters, which has received much attention including a feature article in the State newspaper, the largest newspaper in South Carolina. In 2009, her quartet from Roosevelt University traveled to Quito, Ecuador to take part in the Mes Cultural Franz Liszt. She has participated in summer festivals including the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts, Killington Music Festival, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and Hot Springs Music Festival in Arkansas.

Christine Knodle, violin instructor, began study of violin at the age of 3 at the Suzuki Music Academy in Rockford, IL with Eleanor Stanlis, the founder and director of the academy. In high school, Christine participated in the Rockford Youth Symphony Orchestra, pit orchestras for musicals, and various groups that allowed improvisation and writing. In fact, she took a greater interest in composition when she attended college at Illinois Wesleyan University and studied violin with Vadim Mazo and composition with David Vayo . Christine played in the college orchestra and various groups on campus. When transferring to Rockford College, Christine chose to study business and completed a B.A. In Business Management in 2007. Still pursuing music, Christine took the two year "hiatus" as an opportune time for writing and recording. In 2007, Christine completed her first original album, called "Reflection." During this time, she began to explore the jazz music. Participating in the Rock Valley Jazz Ensemble, Christine learned how to read charts and improvise. In January 2008, Christine braved the risk and moved to Chicago to study music again--this time, at Columbia College. With an emphasis in jazz and classical, Christine studied violin and piano with Diane Delin and Dennis Luxion. She completed a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate of Music in May 2009. Christine plays regularly with GOODBYEHOME, an americana band. After all the exploration of music and education, Christine returned to her roots of Suzuki--now as a teacher. Christine is registered with the Suzuki Association of the Americas to teach the method on violin.

Harlie Krug, violin and piano instructor, holds her undergraduate degree in music with an emphasis in viola from the University of Miami and her Masters in Musical Education from Pennsylvania State University.  She has worked at the Arts Conservatory of Central Pennsylvania, the West Kendall Music Center, and the State College Suzuki Program.  She was the conductor of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra for 6 years and an assistant conductor for the Greater Miami Youth Symphony.  She has taught at the State College Summer Camp, Brewster Academy, and Strings for Kids.  She also taught privately for 10 years.  Ms. Krug currently resides in Hyde Park with her family. 

Meg Lauterbach, cello instructor, cello instructor, has been on the faculty at Hyde Park Suzuki Institute since 2005. When she joined the faculty, there were only two cello students. Today the cello program numbers over 20 students, all of whom performed in April 2010 for Cellobration, the school's first all-cello concert. The concert, organized by Ms. Lauterbach with colleagues Sarah Jackson and Kyra Saltman, involved 40 young cellists from Chicago's south side.

Meg is an active member of Suzuki Association of the Americas, Music Teachers National Association, an Chicago Area Music Teachers Association, as well as New Directions Cello Association and the Chicago Cello Society. She maintains an active performing schedule in both classical and improvised styles. Meg holds a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College.

Kyra Saltman, cello instructor, and native of Austin, Texas is an active teacher, and chamber musician. She has presented recitals across the country as a member of the Cicero Trio, the Erda Quartet, the Azore Quartet, and at the Innsbrook Institute, and served as principal cellist of the Chicago College of Performing Arts Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, she was one of twenty Chicago cellists featured on a concert entitled "The Singing Cello" organized by the Chicago Cello Society. As a solo performer, she won prizes in the University of Illinois Concerto Competition, and has played in master classes for Richard Aaron, Jeffrey Solow, Andres Diaz, Emilio Colon, and Yehuda Hanani. She has performed with the Aspen Festival Orchestra, Aspen Opera Theatre Center, the Quad Cities Symphony, the Green Bay Symphony, and the Illinois Symphony. An avid proponent of new music, she has also performed in conjunction with Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, as well as the Chicago-based S.O.N.G (Singers on New Ground). She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois where she studied with Brandon Vamos, and received her Master of Music degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she studied with Tanya Carey. Kyra plays an English cello made by Thomas Smith in 1759.

Bethany (Ehlers) Stefanut, piano instuctor, from northwest Iowa, began sounding out melodies on the piano at age three. Her first lessons were with her mother until she began formal lessons at age seven. Her teachers included Deborah Ausborn and Dr. Jeanette Hinckledey. She participated in the IMTA competitions during her high school years, where she won districts three years in a row, and won state level in 1996. Bethany began teaching piano when she was thirteen, at the behest of some family friends, and her piano studio soon expanded. She earned a B.A. from Dordt College (Sioux Center, IA), where she studied Music History, with a minor in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. She studied piano with Dr. Susan Keith Gray (University of South Dakota) and harpsichord with Dr. Joan Ringerwole (Dordt College). She appeared as soloist with the Northwestern College Chamber Orchestra in 2001 (Orange City, IA), and wrote program notes for the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra for their 2002-2003 season. Bethany has taught at HPSI since 2003.

Alex Wing, composition and improvisation instructor,  is a guitarist, bassist, oudist, composer and creative musician who has been playing since the age of 7 and currently lives and works in Hyde Park. He performs with groups including the David Boykin Expanse, Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble, 8th Day Adventists, Microcosmic Sound Orchestra and The University of Chicago's Middle East Music Ensemble. He offers electives at Suzuki including Improvisation, Jazz, Composition, Rock Band and Middle Eastern Music. He earned a B.A., Music at the University of Chicago 2004.