Why Take Private Lessons?
- Students that participate in private lessons excel at a higher level and are very motivated.
- Obvious benefits: “to get better,” “to do well on my next playing test,” “to receive a scholarship,” “to become first chair,” “to get into youth orchestra,” “to make it into ILMEA”.
- Less obvious benefits: “learning to solve problems independently,” “learning to work within timelines to complete projects,” “learning to cope with stress,” “learning how to get back on the horse after we fall off,” “learning how to take pride in an accomplishment,” and “learning how to work as a member of a team”.
- Allows students a chance to work individually and directly with a teacher, at their own rate of progress, with the process of learning.
- Private teachers act as a guide to the process of self-discovery through music.
Private String Teachers
(*) Indicates that teachers offer private lessons at VHHS. Please contact Ms. May if you have questions.
Renee Henley*, violin
305-951-8907
Renee Henley is a graduate of Northwestern University with her Bachelor’s Degree (2011) and Masters’ Degree (2013) in Music Performance. She teaches and performs in the Chicago area on both the violin and viola. She held the position of Concertmaster with the Lakeview Orchestra for three years, and had the opportunity to perform solos with the orchestra while in that position. She also plays in the orchestra pit for non-equity musicals around Chicago, most recently with Next to Normal, with the Boho Theater Company. She has performed as a section violinist in a few regional orchestras, including Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Iowa. Renee is currently a member of the violin section with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.
Daniel Kwok*, violin and viola
[email protected]
773-255-3107
Daniel Kwok received his Masters degree in viola performance from DePaul University, and he has taught violin and viola at Libertyville High School for the past ten years. A member of the viola section of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for three years, Daniel successfully placed many students in the ILMEA District 7 and All-State ensembles. He also teaches at Glenbrook North and South High Schools and lives in Libertyville, Illinois.
Haemi Lee*, violin and viola
[email protected]
847/877-6306
Ms. Lee graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and a second bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2014. Along with teaching the Hawthorn Aspen and Hawthorn Elementary South orchestras, she performs with the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra, plays for weddings and other events, and enjoys giving private lessons outside of school!
Ann Duggan, violin
[email protected]
847.606.1970
Ann Duggan is a graduate of Roosevelt University and University of Michigan. Ann teaches violin and viola at Trinity International University as well as a private string studio. She previously taught 10 years at the Music Institute of Chicago. She freelances in the Chicago area and currently plays with the Haymarket Opera Company, Bella Voce, and the Carmel Bach Festival.
Seongheui Jeon, cello
[email protected]
(774) 670 - 8377
Seongheui was born in Korea. She began playing the piano at the age of four and started her cello studiesat the age of ten. After her solo orchestral debut playing Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1. with Incheon City Orchestra at the age of thirteen, she has been performing with various orchestras and ensemble teams. She studied the cello in Korea and Russia. Seong-Heui Jeon holds a Doctorate degree (D.M.A) and a Magiser (Master) degree in cello performance from St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia. As an active performer, Seong-Heui has given a number of cello recitals in South Korea, Russia and U.S.A. Now she lives in Aspen Pointe in Vernon Hills with her family. Her first son is at VHHS and second son is in 8th grade at Hawthorn South Middle school.
Richard Yeo, cello*
[email protected]
Richard Yeo was born into a musical family. He began playing the piano at the age of six, and took up the cello at age nine. He attended Indiana University where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree while studying with Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and Fritz Magg. He later received his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University studying with Hans Jorgen Jensen. Mr. Yeo was Assistant Principal Cellist with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for ten seasons, and during that time he made his solo orchestral debut playing the Second Cello Concerto of Victor Herbert.
Since 1993 he has been a member of the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin, and he currently maintains an active schedule as a free-lance cellist in the Chicago area. Some of the orchestras he performs with include the Grant Park Symphony, the Chicago Philharmonic, and the Lake Forest Symphony.
Jessica Hudson, cello*
[email protected]
847/867-5255
From the Chicago area, Jessica Hudson began her cello studies at the age of 9 through the Music Institute of Chicago with Gilda Barston and Horacio Contreras, continuing her education at DePaul University with Brant Taylor. She was also a part of the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, and competed in various competitions as a soloist and chamber musician, winning prizes and honorable mentions in the Society of American Musicians, MYAC Walgreens National Concerto Competition, and the Barnett Chamber Music Competition. She later became the Assistant Director of Bach to Rock, in Northbrook, IL. After her time there, she felt compelled to return to her Suzuki roots, completing her first unit in Suzuki teacher training with Sally Gross at the Chicago Suzuki Institute in July 2023. Jessica has been teaching private lessons at Solo Classic Music School in Buffalo Grove, and additionally teaches private lessons at Vernon Hills High School. Today, she is an active performer in the Chicago area, performing in community orchestras, musical productions, and collaborating with musicians of various genres. Jessica credits her musical journey to the teachers and colleagues who have strongly influenced and supported her perpetual love of sharing the joy of playing the cello.
Nazar Dzurhyn, cello
http://www.nazardzhuryn.com/
847/841-7512
Nazar Dzhuryn was born in Lviv, Ukraine in 1982. He began his cello studies with Mr. Evgeny Shpitzer at the age of six and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the Lviv Music School. Nazar earned his Master of Music degree from the Moscow State Conservatory under Professor Igor Gavrysh. Nazar is an active chamber musician and orchestral player and has appeared in concert with many classical music legends such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Mstislav Rostrpovich. Nazar currently maintains active private studios in Chicago and Elgin while sustaining teaching positions with music faculty at Northeastern Illinois University, Elgin Community College, and the Naperville School for the Performing Arts. Nazar serves as the assistant principal cellist of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
Scott Bakshis*+, bass
[email protected]
(847) 370-5295
Scott Bakshis has been active in the Chicago-land orchestra scene since his days at Libertyville High School, when he served as Principal Bassist for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. A three-time all-state musician, Scott went on to study bass performance under Max Dimoff and Jeff Bradetich at the Cleveland Institute of Music. After returning home, he joined the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and made connections with several other regional orchestras and opera companies.
Beyond his work in the classical arena, Scott has played professionally with a broad range of local musicians with styles ranging from chamber pop and folk to rock and jazz. He teaches privately at Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Lane Tech, and Dundee Crown high schools, as well as conducting sectionals and coachings with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and Sistema Ravinia. He is currently back in school at North Park University working on a degree in Arts Administration and a Certificate in Music for Social Change and Human Values. His passion and his goal is to use his knowledge and experience to make great musical experiences available to everyone.
Trevor Jones, bass
[email protected]
717-339-9013
Independent artist, Trevor Jones works in a variety of musical settings. He is the double bass instructor at Illinois Wesleyan University, string pedagogy instructor for bass at DePaul University and the bass instructor and Midwest Young Artists. In orchestral settings performance credits include Elgin Symphony, Rockford Symphony, and Civic Orchestra of Chicago among others. In musical theatre he was bassist for the Jeff Award® Winning Musical Hero. As a jazz bassist he has performed at the Montreux and Vienne Jazz Festivals. He also performs in the Chicago alternative rock act Molehill.