FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES
2009 Faculty is pictured and listed below and subject to change.

Ricardo Castañeda (Program Director; Oboe), Oak Park, Ill. Mr. Castañeda is principal oboist with the Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Lake Forest Symphony. He is professor of oboe at Northern Illinois University.

Brian Groner (Conductor), Glenwood, Ill. Brian Groner (Conductor) is Music Director of Wisconsin's Fox Valley Symphony and is also the Music Director of the Harper Symphony Orchestra in Illinois. He has been on the faculty of Northern Illinois University and Vanderbilt University, and served as Associate Conductor of the Nashville Symphony (1988-1991). As an active guest conductor, he has appeared on the podium for numerous ensembles including, The San Diego Symphony, The Czech National Symphony Orchestra (Prague), and The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.  He has worked with The Moscow Classical Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, The Nashville Ballet, and served as cover conductor on the farewell tour of the late Rudolf Nureyev.

Robert Hanford (Concertmaster, violin), Evanston, Ill. Mr. Hanford is concertmaster of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, Chicago and a member of the Rembrandt Chamber Players. He also performs with the Sheridan Chamber Players (Chicago), and Richmond (VA) Chamber Players. Mr. Hanford is currently on the faculty of Chicago’s Roosevelt University.

Sheila Hanford (Violin), Evanston, Ill. Ms. Hanford has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera and the Plymouth Music Series. Ms. Hanford maintains a private studio in her home, works as a free-lance musician in the Chicago area, and currently performs with the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra.

Betty Lewis (Violin), Wilmette, Ill. Betty Lewis is an active violinist and violist in the Chicago area, performing with groups ranging from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to the orchestra for Beauty and the Beast. Ms. Lewis is also a member of the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra in Door County and teaches violin and viola at the Francis Parker School in Chicago.

Marcia Henry Liebenow (Violin), Peoria, Ill. Ms. Henry is Concertmaster of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and Lecturer in Music at Bradley University, where she teaches violin, viola and chamber music. She is a member of the Concordia String Trio, the River City String Quartet, and the jazz quartet Marcia Henry +3. A CD of the three Grieg Violin Sonatas that she recorded with pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi is scheduled for release in 2007.

Matthew Mantell (Viola), Orland Park, Ill. Mr. Mantell is principal violist with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and the Elgin Symphony, and assistant principal violist with the Chicago Sinfonietta. He is also an adjunct professor at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL.

Emily Lewis Mantell (Cello), Orland Park, Ill. Ms. Mantell is principal cellist with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and is a member of the Chicago Sinfonietta. She maintains a private studio.

Alan Steiner (String Bass), Buffalo Grove, Ill. Mr. Steiner is a former member of The Jerusalem Symphony (Israel), L'Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, and the Canadian Opera Company. He currently performs with the Lake Forest Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, and The Joffrey Ballet. Mr. Steiner maintains a private studio.

Shannon Finney (Flute/Piccolo), Kansas City, Mo. Ms. Finney is associate principal flutist with the Kansas City Symphony and is also a member of the chamber music ensemble, Summerfest. She has performed with several major US symphony orchestras and has toured internationally with the Chicago Sinfonietta.

John Gaudette (Bassoon), Chicago, Ill. Mr. Gaudette began his career with the Dallas Symphony, then moved to Canada where he spent 28 years with the Vancouver Symphony and CBC Radio Orchestra. Since 2003, Mr. Gaudette has performed with the Lyric Opera Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Lake Forest Symphony, and is a permanent member of the Barossa Woodwind Quintet.

Matthew Lee (Trumpet), Elmhurst, Ill. Mr. Lee performs with the Illinois Philharmonic, the Chicago Brass Quintet, and the Millar Brass Ensemble. He teaches at DePaul University.

Kevin Wood (Trumpet), Oak Park, Ill. Mr. Wood performs with the Kenosha Symphony, Elgin Philharmonic Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Millar Brass Ensemble, and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.   He teaches at Harper College and Carthage College.

Laura Fairfield (Horn), DeKalb, Ill. Ms. Fairfield performs with the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Illinois Philharmonic. She has performed with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Hamburg State Opera, Hamburg Sinfoniker, Honolulu Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Lake Forest Symphony, Rockford Symphony, and Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Coronet Band. Ms. Fairfield currently teaches at Northern Illinois University Community School of the Arts.

Gregory Flint (Horn / on leave of absence), Wauwatosa, Wis. Mr. Flint performs with the Elgin Symphony, Chicago Opera Theater, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, and Chicago Brass Quintet. He teaches at UW-Milwaukee.

Jennifer Gerth (Clarinet), Minneapolis, Minn. Ms. Gerth is principal clarinet with the Duluth-Superior Symphony and is a member of the Prospect Park Chamber Players. She teaches at Augsburg College and the University of St. Thomas.

John Mindeman (Trombone/Low Brass) , Macomb, Ill. Mr. Mindeman is a member of the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. He is professor of trombone at Western Illinois University.

Jodie DeSalvo (Piano), Naples, Fla. Ms. DeSalvo is a frequent soloist with orchestras throughout the world. She has also performed on national and international public radio.

Robert Everson (Percussion), Oak Park, Ill. Mr. Everson teaches percussion at Concordia University. He performs with the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the Lake Forest Symphony, and the Illinois Philharmonic.

Faye Seeman (Harp), Palatine, Ill. is principal harpist of the Chicago Sinfonietta and Joffrey Ballet Orchestras, teaches at Wheaton College and Kindermusik Northwest in Palatine, and is the founder of the Kithara flute, cello and harp trio.

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