The Music Institute of Chicago board, administration and faculty work hard to further the Music Institute of Chicago mission while dealing with the day-to-day needs of those we serve. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your ideas, questions or concerns.

Main Administrative Office
622 Davis Street, 4th Fl
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: 847.448.8308

Administration

Office of the President

Shalisa Kline Ugaz

President & Chief Executive Officer

Barb Schneider

Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships

Community Music School

Louis Privitera

Vice President & Chief Programs Officer

Sarah Beske

Director of Programs

Hana Marek

Campus Director, Lake Forest

Patrick O'Malley

Recorder Faculty (Suzuki)
Campus Director, Evanston

Anthony Petrucci

Campus Director, Winnetka

Rae Strange

Enrollment Administrator

The Academy

Sue Polutnik

Academy Executive Director
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

James Setapen

Academy Orchestra Conductor, Conductor Faculty
Academy Artistic Director

Ari Barack Fisher

Academy Coordinator & Orchestra Manager

Development

Jennifer Bienemann

Vice President & Chief Development Officer

Justin Berkowitz

Director of Individual Giving

Em Couling

Development Services & Events Manager

Linden Leman

Philanthropic Relationships Manager

Marketing and Communications

Jennifer Hanson

Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

Erin Fusco

Director of Marketing & Communications

Vanesa Elias

Social Media & Content Coordinator

Nora Takagi

Programs & Publications Coordinator

Finance

Marcia Rubin

Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Tyra Holloway

Payroll Specialist

Rose Vakili

Registration & Billing Manager

Operations

Sue Polutnik

Academy Executive Director
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Jerry Wojcik

Facilities Manager

Ntiva IT Support

IT Support Team

Community Engagement

Matt Boresi

Special Projects & Partnerships Coordinator

Campus Support Staff

Maria Alfaro

Administrative Assistant, Evanston Campus

Mary Buckingham

Office Manager, Central Administration

Severin DuSell

Administrative Assistant, Winnetka Campus

Al Loss

Music Production Faculty
Administrative Assistant, Lake Forest Campus

Nichols Concert Hall

Kevin Harrison

Director of Operations, Nichols Concert Hall

Noah Elman

Production Manager, Nichols Concert Hall

Faculty

Aurian Kutner

Cello Faculty

Cindy Lam

Faculty

Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff

Viola Faculty; Academy Chamber Music Faculty

Philip Lee

Cello Faculty, Suzuki Faculty

Dr. Soo Young Lee

Piano & Chamber Music Faculty

Dr. Jeong Min Lee

Piano Faculty (Suzuki)

Dr. Xiaomin Liang

Piano faculty

Dr. Cheryl Lim

Piano Faculty (Suzuki)

Jasmine Lin

Violin Faculty

Dr. Dorothy Jean Lloyd

Voice Faculty

Weiwen Ma

Music Institute Piano Faculty

Timothy Mah

Piano Faculty

Debbie Masloski

Academy Music Theory Faculty

Mark Maxwell

Guitar Faculty

Jennifer McCormick

Voice & Early Childhood Smart Start™ Faculty

Sarah Montzka

Violin & Viola Faculty (Suzuki); Associate Director Barston Suzuki Center

Ann Montzka Smelser

Barston Suzuki Center Violin Teacher Training Faculty

Audrey Morrison

Trombone Faculty (Jazz)

Lucia Muniagurria

Voice and Early Childhood Smart Start™ Faculty

Claire Aebersold Neiweem

Piano Faculty, Aebersold & Neiweem Piano Duo in Residence

Board of Trustees

Trustees

  • Timothy Patenode, Chair
  • Alexandra C. Nichols, Chair Emerita
  • Hans Germann, Treasurer
  • Barbara Sereda, Secretary
  • Carlos R. Cardenas, Vice Chair
  • Shiraz Kotte, Vice Chair
  • Lee Anne Stoddart, Vice Chair
  • Paul Brourman
  • Daniel Hahn
  • Courtney Holohan
  • Mason Kahn
  • Yana Nedvetsky
  • Renée Parquette
  • Jim Stone
  • Ross Updegraff
  • Zalman Usiskin
  • Audra Wilson
  • Florian Zettelmeyer

Life Trustees

  • John J. Berwanger
  • Mitzi Freidheim
  • Kay Mabie
  • Brooks Morgan
  • Rachel Barton Pine
  • Priscilla F. Richman
  • William N. Topaz
  • Scott Verschoor

Honorary Board

  • Robert Chen
  • Roberto Diaz
  • Peter Dushkin 
  • John and Fran Edwardson
  • James Ginsburg
  • Wu Han
  • Jennifer Koh
  • Nina Kraus
  • Cathy and Bill Osborn
  • Marcus Roberts
  • Deborah F. Rutter 
  • Scott and Nancy Santi 
  • Rick and Cate Waddell

ex-officio trustees

  • Shalisa Kline Ugaz
MIC Board of Trustees