Celebrating Music Institute Faculty: Faculty Appreciation Week 2025

At the Music institute of Chicago, our faculty work hard every day to guide, challenge, and encourage their students. Students across our campuses recently shared messages of gratitude for their teachers. We’re sharing a few highlights here to celebrate the people who make music education meaningful.

"Thank you Mr. Lee for teaching us how to be one with our cellos. Thank you for making group lessons fun. We are learning so much from you!"

- Sarai and Jacob Jones, students of Philip Lee

"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to you, Timothy, for your patience, inspiration and unwavering belief in what we can achieve as a band. Your guidance has brought me to musical heights I never imagined possible — and for that I am truly grateful.  

You teach with kindness, humor, clarity, passion, and your high expectations challenge us in the best possible way. You have also helped us grow as a community which has meant so much to me.Your ability to draw out the best in us, no matter our starting point, is a true gift.  

Thank you for sharing your talent with us. You’ve made a lasting impact, and we are so fortunate to have you as our director."

-Micki Ross, student of Timothy Cook

Dear Louise, I’ve been your student for approximately 10 years. I’ve learned so much from you and have enjoyed every lesson. Thanks for being such a great piano teacher!
-Andrea Ewing, student of Louise Chan

Thank you, Brad, for being the Jedi Master! It's been about 6 years, and I can't imagine studying guitar with anyone but you! We've hit bucket list pieces and so many other pieces that I never thought I would enjoy that are now favorites! You're the best!

-Joseph Kim, student of Brad Conroy 

"Thanks for so many years of amazing teaching Ms. Felder! You’re unbelievably committed to bringing the best out of all your students, and I speak for all of us when I say those efforts do not go unappreciated. Thank you!!"

-Lukas Leonardson, student of Elaine Felder

Thank you for bringing your vast knowledge of music literature into the theory class! Taking your class, we travel into the composer's brain and we travel over their lifetime. It is such a fun and rewarding journey!
-Xiaorui Yu, student of Matthew Hagle

A big thank you to my great teacher Katherine Petersen who is helping me realize one of my retirement ambitions in playing the piano. It has gone well beyond that to a new appreciation of nuances in music that I had never been aware of before."

-Joseph Tesher, student of Katherine Petersen