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 and Chief Executive Officer

Barb Schneider

Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships

Community Music School

Dr. Marie Alatalo

Piano and Musicianship Faculty
Campus Director, Chicago

Patrick O'Malley

Recorder Faculty (Suzuki)
Campus Director, Evanston

Rae Harris

Enrollment Administrator

Hana Marek

Campus Director

The Academy

Sue Polutnik

Academy Executive Director
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

James Setapen

Academy Artistic Director and MIC Conductor-in-Residence

Ari Barack Fisher

Academy Coordinator and Orchestra Manager

Development

Jennifer Bienemann

Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Luis Romero

Development Coordinator

Em Couling

Manager of Development Services and Engagement

Linden Leman

Annual Fund and Donor Communications Manager

Marketing and Communications

Jennifer Hanson

Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

Erin Fusco

Director of Marketing and Communications

Vanesa Elias

Social Media and Content Coordinator

Nora Takagi

Programs and Publications Coordinator

Finance

Marcia Rubin

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Tyra Holloway

Payroll Specialist

Rose Vakili

Registration and Billing Manager

Operations

Sue Polutnik

Academy Executive Director
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Jerry Wojcik

Facilities Manager

Ntiva IT Support

IT Support Team

Community Engagement

Matt Boresi

Director of Special Initiatives

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

Faculty

Everardo Sanchez

Cello Faculty (Suzuki)

James Sanders

Violin Faculty

Dr. Brian Schoettler

Organ Department Chair

David Schrader

Academy Piano Improvisation

Maria Schwartz

Flute Faculty (Suzuki & Traditional)

Darren Scorza

Percussion Faculty

Emma Sepmeier

French Horn Faculty

Dr. Wenting Shi

Piano Faculty

Fred Simon

Jazz, Piano, and Musicianship Faculty

Eric Snoza

Bass Faculty (Double bass)

Matt Stalzer

Flute Faculty

Arlene Stokman

Piano Faculty (Suzuki)

Eric Sutz

Piano Faculty

Nobuaki Tanaka

Violin & Viola Faculty (Suzuki & Traditional)

Dr. Christina Tio

Suzuki Piano faculty

Dr. Lazar Trachtenberg

Composition Faculty and Musicianship Faculty

Almita Vamos

Violin Faculty

Bethany Vaughan

Trumpet Faculty
Production Assistant, Nichols Concert Hall

Rodolfo Vieira

Academy Chamber Music Faculty

Daniel Wallenberg

Music Institute Chorale Conductor

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
  • Saurab Bhargava
  • Paul Brourman
  • Daniel Hahn
  • Courtney Holohan
  • 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

  • Christopher Rintz
  • Shalisa Kline Ugaz
Board Members at the 2025 Annual Gala