Celebrating our Faculty and Staff 2025-2026: Milestone Anniversaries!

September 17th, 2025
With the start of a new school year, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on our incredible faculty and staff whose years of dedication have made a lasting impact at the Music Institute of Chicago. Join us in celebrating these outstanding team members as they reach important milestone anniversaries:
Celebrating 40 Years

Mark Maxwell, Guitar Faculty
Celebrating 30 Years

Emily Abraham, Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs

Debbie Katz Knowles, Percussion Faculty (Jazz)

Barbara Ann Martin, Voice Department Chair; Voice Faculty
Celebrating 25 Years

Erica Anderson, Oboe Faculty; Department Head of Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion

Sang Mee Lee, String Department Chair; Violin Faculty; Chamber Music Faculty

Kate Nir, Piano Faculty (Suzuki)
Celebrating 20 Years

Noralyn Baroja, Musikgarten Faculty

Mitzie Friedland-Stell, Winnetka Receptionist

Rose Vakili, Registration and Billing Manager
Celebrating 15 Years

Injoo Choi, Violin Faculty

Julie Fischer, Violin & Viola Faculty (Suzuki)

Kevin Harrison, Director of Operations, Nichols Concert Hall

Audrey Morrison, Trombone Faculty (Jazz)

Dr. Christina Tio, Suzuki Piano faculty

Reiko Yamada, Piano Faculty
Celebrating 10 Years

Debbie Masloski Wellems, Academy Music Theory Faculty
Celebrating 5 Years

Dr. Brian Schoettler, Organ Department Chair

Juli Wood, Jazz Saxophone and Jazz Vocals Faculty

Paul Zafer, Viola Faculty and Chamber Music Faculty
Get the Best Student-Teacher Match
The Music Institute has the best-trained, most-experienced music teachers in the Chicago area. Our careful, personalized teacher placement process pairs you with an expert music educator and ensures the best student-teacher match.