Kirsten Hedegaard, Comprehensive Music Lessons
Kirsten Hedegaard received her BM from Northwestern University and her MA from the University of California where she was conducting assistant to Paul Hillier. She continued her studies in Copenhagen, Denmark where she researched Danish choral music and performed with several regional ensembles. In North America Ms. Hedegaard has performed professionally as a chorister, soprano soloist, and conductor. As a soloist and ensemble singer she has sung with groups such as Philharmonia Baroque, the Newberry Consort, Ars Antiqua, and Bella Voce (formerly His Majestie's Clerkes), as well as other chamber choirs. She is also a frequent soloist for Bach cantatas, having performed on various music series in Chicago and on the west coast. In 2003 she was engaged for an International tour of Louie Andriessens's The Odyssey, with performances in Chicago, New York, Massachusetts, and in festivals throughout The Netherlands. She has taught conducting at Concordia University, River Forest and has conducted choirs and orchestras for various institutions including Eastman House, Chicago Children's Choir, Gallery 37, Loyola Academy, and the University of California. In 1999 Ms. Hedegaard co-founded The Musical Offering, an innovative new music school located outside of Chicago, where she holds the position of Executive Director and teaches children's classes.

Karen Schulz-Harmon, cello
Karen Schulz-Harmon, cellist, received her BM from Southern Illinois University, where she studied cello, piano and voice.  In May 2004 she graduated from Northern Illinois University with a MM degree in cello performance, where she studied with Marc Johnson and other members of the Vermeer Quartet.  Ms. Schulz-Harmon has also studied with Barbara Haffner, Hans Jensen, members of the St. Louis Symphony, the Pacifica String Quartet and performed in a masterclass for the St. Petersburg String Quartet.A native of St. Louis, MO, she played with the St. Louis Philharmonic, Opera Theatre St. Louis’ Youth Opera and also played in Europe with the Bayerisch Opera Theater in Germany in productions of The Barber of Seville, Rigoletto and Tosca.  Most recently, Ms. Schulz-Harmon was assistant principal cellist for Opera Illinois’ 2005-06 season, which featured productions of Amahl and the Night Visitors, Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi and Così fan tutte.  She also was the cellist for the première of Mae Cohen’s piano trio, Mozart in Love, at The Arts Club of Chicago; performed in two of the Fine Arts Music Society’s chamber music concerts sponsored by Machold Rare Violins; played in Opera Theatre North’s production of Pagliacci; performed a solo recital at the Chicago Cultural Center in Preston Bradley Hall; played in the Chicago Cultural Center’s production of Candide; and was cellist and ensemble coordinator for both the Chicago Cultural Center’s and OT’s production of The Marriage of Figaro. She has been featured in Okanis Performing Artists' east-coast tour and the University of Chicago's New Music Ensemble Series.  Ms. Schulz-Harmon is on faculty at the Musical Offering where she teaches cello and piano, is a chamber music coach for the Chicago Youth Symphony and recently founded Ossia School of Music located downtown in the Fine Arts Building.  She is a member of the Peoria Symphony and a founding member of the Ardnamara String Quartet.

Vannia Phillips, violin and viola
BM Oberlin Conservatory; MM, DePaul University
Wichita Symphony, Bloomfield Quartet, and Canton Symphony, Former Member Lyra Quartet and Chicago Sinfonietta, Member; Kenosha Symphony, Principal Viola

Rebekah Cope, violin
Originally from England, Rebekah Cope studied violin at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she recieved her Bacheleors degree. Rebekah has lived in Chicago since 2000, and has been an active free lancer and teacher since completing her Masters in violin performance at Northwestern University. Rebekah has played with the Elgin Symphony, Chicago Siinfonietta, Chicago Philharmonic and Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

Jesse Langen, guitar
Jesse Langen is currently pursuing a DM in guitar performance at Northwestern University under Anne Waller. He  has played in master classes for Oscar Ghiglia, Sergio and Odair Assad, Bob Guthrie, Elliot Fisk, David Russell, Roberto Aussell, Nigel North, and Paul O'Dette. In the summer of 2002, he was a featured soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

On top of many performances in Chicago, across the United States, and in Europe, Jesse has played in the Minnesota Guitar Society Concert Series, the Chicago Segovia Classical Guitar Series (as a member of the Guitar Camerata), the Memphis "Imagine" New Music Series (as a member of the G-Force Guitar Quartet), and at Columbia University in New York.

An avid player of new music, Jesse has premiered pieces by numerous living composers. He can be heard regularly as a soloist, as well as in duos with flutist Susan Crandall and soprano Amy Conn.

Annette Bjorling, harp and recorder
German native Annette moved to Evanston in 2001 and has been an active teacher and performer in the Chicago area since then. Annette studied harp at the music school of Heidelberg, Germany. Studies of
harp, recorder and cultural education at the University of Hildesheim,
Germany. Annette teaches harp and recorder, as well as classes in renaissance music, and ethnic dances and music. Her musical repertoire ranges from early to modern classical music and through various styles of ethnic music. Her specialty is klezmer (East European Jewish music).
Annette is a member of several performing groups such as Duo Controverso with her husband and clarinetist Kurt Bjorling, and T.I.M.E. (clarinet, violin, harp, cello). She has performed and taught at international music festivals and harp conferences in Europe and North America. Annette was musical co-director of the KlezmerOrchester in Germany, 1997-2003. During the winter 1999/2000, she was engaged as harpist for the Folksbiene Yiddish Theater Company, New York. Annette recorded CDs with the Germany-based trio KaleidoPhon! and the
KlezmerOrchester. Duo Controverso released the first CD in 2002: "Gedanken - Thoughts. Fantasies, Meditations and Improvisatins."

Andrew Harmon, double bass
BA, Southern Illinois University; MA, University of Chicago
Freelance Work: Lake Shore Orchestra, South Suburban Symphony, Alton Symphony, Chicago Philharmonia, Illinois Symphony

Amy Conn, voice
BM, Northwestern University
Music of the Baroque, Chicago Acapella, Urban Baroque, Member and Soloist; Active Performer and Teacher

Susan Crandall, flute
BM, Drake University; MM, Johannes Gutenberg University
Collegium Musicum of Mainz and Oberursler Chamber Orchestra, Former Member
Freelance Work: Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, Kenosha Symphony, Lake Shore Symphony

Jill Greenman, Music Together Instructor
Jill Greenman has a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance from DePaul University and a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from Roosevelt University.  She has done teacher training in the Rudolf Steiner Education Program through the Chicago Waldorf School.  Jill has been on the early childhood faculty at the Sherwood Conservatory of Music in Chicago and is a registered Music Together instructor.  In addition to her love of teaching, Jill is an avid performer and has sung with many different opera companies and choruses including Chamber Opera Chicago, Light Opera Works, Aspen Opera Theatre Center, Grant Park Symphony Chorus ahd The Lakeside Singers.  Jill  has been a featured soloist with many churches and synagogues in the Chicago area.

Cindy Lam, Piano
A native of Hong Kong, China, Cindy Lam has a Masters degree in
Piano Performance and Pedagogy as well as a Performanace Certificate from Northwestern University.  She is the recipient of several scholarships
from the Bernard van Zuiden Fund, Ruth and Ed Meyer Fund, the Flocken Fund and the Amelia A. Hoff Memorial Award. She has received suchaccolades as the "Outstanding Performer" Award in a piano competition for young artists in Hong Kong.  Ms. Lam is an active accompanist and performer in the Chicago area and abroad.  Her teaching experience includes Martin Piano Studio, Northwestern University and Music Arts School, as well as the Musical Offering. She is fluent in Cantonese and English.

Abigail Schmidt, Music Together  Instructor
In 2000, Abby was first introduced to Music Together.  She completed her training in Princeton and taught for several centers around the Boston area.  She and her husband moved to Chicago in 2001 to pursue academic interests and to continue teaching.  Abby soon began teaching for Sherwood Conservatory of Music and Merit School of Music.  She was given the opportunity to take Music Together into Chicago Public Schools and participate in a music program for underprivileged children.  Abby received her Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies and produced a paper on Ancient Greek and Roman music which was presented and performed at the University of Chicago .  She is extremely excited to be returning to Music Together.

Alan Dubois, clarinet and saxophone
Alan currently resides in Chicago , and holds both a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degree from DePaul University where he studied with Chicago Symphony Orchestra clarinetist Larry Combs.  He is a member of the Northshore Concert Band, and has played with the West Suburban Symphony and the Classical Symphony Orchestra.  He is currently an adjunct faculty member at DePaul University and teaches private clarinet students in the northern suburbs.

Therese Ritchie, Violin
Violinist Therese Ritchie is an active performer and teacher in the Chicago area. She was a scholarship student both at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (BM) and Northwestern University (MM). She has performed in numerous music festivals including Tanglewood, Aspen, Lucerne Academy Festival, and Spoleto USA.  She has also played in concert with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, Smoky Robinson, Kanye West, Akron Symphony, and Canton Symphony. She is currently playing with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, , the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, and the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County during the summer.  She resides in Evanston and loves playing chamber music, going to yoga classes, eating and cooking good food and walks by the lake.

Sean Cleland, Irish Music