Our instructors are world-class!   Space prevents us from listing all their accomplishments and credentials—but if you’d like to know more, just give us a call at 815-254-5778 or email us at info@mwmusicacademy.com

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  Tom Serb, Director and guitar instructor 

  Tom has been teaching guitar since 1978.  He has written many lessons for national guitar magazines and is the author of the published book "Music Theory for Guitarists".  Tom has also worked as a composer, arranger, record producer and studio musician.

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  Anna Mudroch, flute instructor

   

  Anna is an active flute performer and instructor – her background includes teaching flute at the Illinois Summer Youth Music Camp and judging flute competitions for IMEA and IHSA.  During the school year she’s also a band director at Lockport Township High School, where she leads a freshman concert ensemble and the Concert Band, and assists in conducing the Wind Symphony, Marching Band, Pep Band, and Jazz Band.

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  Robert Potsic, vocal, piano and bass instructor

  Robert is a professional operatic baritone and has performed with ensembles across the U.S. and Europe.  He has been teaching voice since 2003-and one of his students was named to the All-State Honors Choir in 2008. Robert is also a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus.

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  Heather Moreno, violin, piano, and guitar instructor

  A Suzuki trained violinist herself, Heather has been teaching since 1992.  She has performed with the Lewis University Community Orchestra, the Joliet Area Suzuki Strings Group, The Joliet Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and many ensembles.  Heather is currently on leave and will return in November, 2010.

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  Daniel Kaluzny, guitar and bass instructor 

  Dan is a very versatile guitarist-as a classical performer he's currently recording a follow-up to his debut release "ancestral Guitar."  As a rock musician he's the lead guitarist in the group "A Negative Silence" and he's also won awards as a jazz guitarist.  Dan has been teaching since 1996.

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  Eric Miller, brass instructor

  Eric is one of the few performers comfortable on all brass instruments-from trumpet to tuba, French horn to trombone. Eric performs with many local ensembles playing jazz, salsa, pop and classical music.  During the school year he also teaches for music programs in three school districts.  Eric is presently on leave, performing in Europe, until December, 2010.

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  Julie Kersaan, voice and piano instructor

  Julie is a three-time winner of the Michigan National Association of Singing Teachers competition.  As a soprano, she has appeared in many opera and oratorio productions.  She was also a silver medalist in the Georgy Dimitrov European Grand Prix of Choral music in Bulgaria.  Julie is also a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus ensemble

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  Josh Lopez, woodwind instructor

  Josh began his career playing the clarinet but switched his principal instrument to bassoon, which makes him a rarity-a teacher equally at home on single reed or double reed instruments.  He is available for lessons in clarinet, saxophones (alto, tenor & baritone),  oboe and bassoon.

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  Terrance Peebles, percussion instructor

  Terrance specializes in all percussion instruments and holds a Masters Degree from Western IL University in percussion performance and a minor in music education. He is currently the adjunct assistant professor of music at Lewis University and is a freelance musician playing jazz, rock, blues, hand drum and steel drums.  Terrance was the winner of WBBZ's Best Drummer contest in 1991, the Drumset 2001 Individual Champion at the Senior Drum Corp finals in Syracuse, NY and is on the Vic Firth Education team.

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  Anne Hatfield, Fiddle & Violin - Guest Instructor - Summer 2010

  Ms. Hatfield, who herself is a past student of our very own violin instructor Heather Moreno, has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe as the stage musician of the hit show “Michael Flatley’s Lords of the Dance”. She also performs with the group “The Hatfield Sisters” playing festivals such as the Chicago Celtic Festival.

  Anne, who is actually a Suzuki trained violinist, will be bringing her extraordinary playing style to Plainfield’s own Midwest Music Academy.  She will be available from July through October to teach classic and contemporary violin and Celtic fiddle.

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  Kasey Ryan, piano instructor

  Kasey is a talented young jazz pianist (who also plays guitar and bass).  In spite of his youth, Kasey has been teaching professionally since 2004.  In addition to teaching, Kasey is an active performer in small jazz ensembles throughout the Chicago area, and produces soundtracks.

   

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  Jim Buehl, brass instructor

  Jim is stepping in for Eric Miller while Eric is performing in Europe.  While in college, Jim was the assistant principal trombonist in the Illinois Wind Symphony and was also the section leader of the Marching Illini.  Some of our students may already know Jim – when he earned his certification as a band director, he did part of his student teaching at Plainfield East High School!