Announcing the 2026 Teacher and Alumni of Note!
November 3rd, 2026
In anticipation of our annual Fall Festival on Sunday, November 15 we are honored to announce the recipients of our annual Teacher of Note Award and Alumni of Note Award!
2026 Teacher of Note
Congratulations to Brad Conroy, our 2026 Teacher of Note Award recipient! The Teacher of Note Award celebrates faculty excellence, inspires innovation, and strengthens the Music Institute of Chicago community.
Brad Conroy is a versatile guitarist, performer, and educator who specializes in the art and scholarship of the classical guitar. Brad performs from a diverse repertoire which begins at the Renaissance and goes through to the 21st century, often including his own compositions, improvisations, and new works which have been dedicated to him. Brad has given concerts across the United States and abroad, with appearances that include Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, the International Guitar Festival in Brno, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, Newport Beach, California, Dublin, Ireland, and Munich, Germany to name a few. His music has been heard on WFMT Chicago, and he has given concerts for the Chicago Historical Society, the Chicago Classical Guitar Society, the Czech Guitar Society, The Schweikher House, as well as a private concert for Caroline Kennedy and her entourage.
Since 2009, Brad has contributed to the field of music journalism, originally as a staff writer with Guitar International, he now publishes interviews with many of today’s leading artists under his own name. During the summer of 2013 Brad received a scholarship to study with Vladislav Blaha and Judicael Perroy in Brno, Czech Republic, where he was a Young Artist in Residence performing throughout the region.
Brad finished his B.M. at Northeastern Illinois University (cum laude) with a degree in Classical Guitar Performance where he studied with 19th century scholar Dr. Brian Torosian, and furthered his music studies with a M.M. in Classical Guitar Performance at The Chicago College of Performing Arts, the music conservatory at Roosevelt University where he studied with world renowned guitarists Denis Azabagic and Sergio Assad.
Brad Conroy is currently the Department Chair of Guitar at the Music Institute of Chicago.
A special acknowledgment also goes to the nominees, recognizing the significant impact they have on the MIC community:
- Brad Conroy
- Dr. Matthew Hagle
- Philip Lee
- Ashley Pensinger-Sok
- Danny Wallenberg
2026 Alumni of Note
In addition, this year MIC will present the Alumni of Note Award. This award recognizes an extraordinary alumni who has made important contributions through their work in music or another field. This year, we are granting the award to a current MIC faculty member who is an alumnus.
Congratulations to Philip Lee, 2026 Alumni of Note Award recipient!
Philip Lee began his studies at the age of 7 at the Music Institute of Chicago under the tutelage of Blake Brasch, where he was a scholarship recipient in the Academy Program. During this time he was selected to perform in the Young Steinway Concert Series and was awarded first prize in the Society of American Musicians Competition. Philip then went on to study with David Ying at the Eastman School of Music. He was also enrolled at the University of Rochester, where he pursued a Degree in Mathematics. Philip went on to complete graduate studies at DePaul University with Chicago Symphony Orchestra member Brant Taylor, and Indiana University with former Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Cellist, Peter Stumpf. Philip has held positions in the Columbus Philharmonic Orchestra, and Civic Orchestra of Chicago. As a teacher, Philip Lee is passionate about working with students of all ages and backgrounds. Presently, Philip is faculty at Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, Music For Youth, and the Music Institute of Chicago.
We look forward to celebrating and honoring our faculty and alumni at our Fall Festival! Enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, photo booth, sweet treats and more all in support of scholarships and financial aid.