Staff Profiles

Debra Miller
Piano, Organ, and French Horn

Debra Miller received her Bachelors and Master Degrees in music performance from Northern Illinois University. She has been the staff accompanist at both Hinsdale South High School and Lewis University and has accompanied hundreds of young musicians in competitions and recitals (and once was called upon to accompany world-reknowned French Horn artist Dale Clevenger). She has performed on French Horn with the Springfield Symphony, The Rockford Symphony, The Northshore Concert Band, and the Chicago Brass Ensemble among many others. Debra is currently an active member of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association, the Music Teachers National Association, the National Federation of Music Clubs, and the National Guild of Organists. She has been teaching music students since 1990 and, as her other occupation, homeschools her three adolescent children.

Ryan R. Miller
Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba

Ryan Miller received his Bachelors degree in music performance from Northern Illinois University and his Masters degree in music performance from Roosevelt University. He has appeared with the orchestras of Ramsey Lewis, Glenn Miller, Mel Torme, Regis Philbin, and Natalie Cole and local groups like The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The Skyliners Big Band, The Windy City Brass, The Heartland Festival Orchestra, The Illinois Philharmonic, The Chicago Trombone Authority, and cover-band supreme Tribuotosaurus. He recently played tenor trombone, bass trombone, and tuba in the Broadway production of "The Lion King" at the Cadillac Theater in Chicago. In addition to being the director of the Hinsdale Conservatory of Music and the Downers Grove Conservatory of Music, he is also the Adjunct Professor of Trombone and Euphonium at Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He has been teaching since 1992.

Mausumi Yoneyama
Flute

Japanese-American flutist Masumi Yoneyama has been described by the Chicago Tribune as having as a sound that is "colored by an impressive tonal palette and agile technique". Most recently, she was a soloist with the Protege Philharmonic at Navy Pier and co-soloed with internationally renowned flute soloist, Paula Robison. She has performed as a guest flutist throughout the Boston and Chicago metropolitan areas, in addition to New York, Tokyo, and even cities in England, Scotland, Germany, and the Netherlands (on a European tour with the Chicago Youth Symphony orchestra). Ms. Yoneyama recently completed her Masters Degree at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and currently, she is principal flutist of Chicago's Millenium Chamber Players.

Doug Scharf
Trumpet

Doug Scharf began working as a trumpet player and composer/arranger in the early 1970's in his home town of Chicago. He played and arranged for the Dave Remington and Roger Pemberton bands, Chicago's best big bands at that time. Scharf's abilities as a jazz improviser kept him busy playing modern and traditional jazz gigs. In 1986 Scharf moved to Los Angeles and wrote music and played trumpet in the house band for the Late Show With Joan Rivers. For that, he wrote original themes and also arrangements for guests such as Elton John and Thomas Dolby. Other writing/conducting work included large orchestral sessions for Roy Orbison, Cher, Bobby Caldwell, Jeff Lynne, Phil Ramone, George Benson, Juan Gabriel, TV show "Major Dad," and movies "Fern Gully," and "Salsa." While in L.A. Scharf played with the big bands of Bob Florence, Louie Bellson, and Ray Anthony.

As a trumpet player, Scharf has worked for Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Max Roach, Tony Bennett, Elton John, Burt Bacharach, Chuck Mangione, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, Clark Terry, Kenny Burrell, Tito Puente, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Glen Campbell, Curtis Mayfield, Steve Allen, Whitney Houston, Thomas Dolby, Phil Ramone, Jerusalem Jazz Festival, and several appearances at Chicago Jazz Festival. He currently performs with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, the bands of Brad Williams and Eddie Harrison, and the TV show "Svengoolie."

Alex Beltran
Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute

Alex Beltran received a Bachelors of Music in Saxophone Performance and Jazz Studies from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. While there he studied with famous jazz educator David Baker. In addition he has studied with Tom Walsh, Jim Snidero, Pat Harbison, Greg Fishman and Mark Colby. He was recently invited to the Steans Young Artists institute at Ravinia where he studied with jazz legends James Moody and Billy Childs. Alex has performed at such prestigious venues such as the Ravinia jazz festival and the Jazz Showcase. Alex teaches beginning through advanced saxophone and jazz improvisation. In addition he also teaches beginning clarinet and flute.

Sean Hurlburt
Saxophone

Sean Hurlburt received his bachelors and masters degrees in saxophone performance at Northwestern University under the tutelage of Dr. Frederick L. Hemke. As co-founder of the Amethyst Quartet, he continually works to promote and legitimize saxophone quartet in the chamber music world. To this end, the Amethyst Quartet has garnered first prizes at the Fischoff, Coleman, and MTNA chamber music competitions. As a soloist, Sean has played concerti with the Northwestern Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Northwestern Chamber Orchestra, Northwestern Movie Music Ensemble, and Simpson University Symphony Orchestra. His performances of Ingolf Dahl’s Concerto and Jacques Ibert’s Concertino da Camera have aired on Chicago’s WFMT and Public Radio International, respectively. Sean was invited as guest lecturer and clinician of saxophone to Stanford University, University of the Pacific Music Conservatory, Los Medanos Community College, Morehead State University, Vandercook College of Music, Marshall University, and Simpson University. In the fall of 2009, Sean began his doctorate in the musical arts at Northwestern University.

Terry Bartolotta
Electric and Acoustic Guitar

Terrry Bartolotta received his bachelor's degree in music performance from Northern Illinois University where he studied with world-renowned guitarist and educator Fareed Haque. While at NIU, he also studied with other well-known jazz musicians such as Ron Carter and Art Davis. He toured the midwest with the acclaimed NIU Jazz Ensemble and played at such venues as the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, the South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago, and the Sheldon Theater in St. Louis.He has also attended the exclusive Birch Creek Music Performance Camp in Door County, Wisconsin. He is currently attending graduate school for music at DePaul University in Chicago where he studies with acclaimed guitarist Bobby Broom. He has studied guitar for over thirteen years and taught guitar for four years. He has taught students of all levels and backgrounds and is happy to teach beginners as well as more advanced students.

James DiGirolamo
Upright/Electric Bass and Guitar

James has been performing for 30 years. He studied at the DePaul School of Music with jazz bassist Larry Gray. His performance experiences cover a wide range from recording sessions to pit orchestras to radio jingles and even several seasons with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra. He has played swing with The Riff Rockets, blues with Pinetop Perkins, rock with Burnt Toast, and jazz with Bob Mintzer. As a member of Nick Moss and the Flip Tops he can be heard in great Chicago venues like The House of Blues, and Buddy Guy's Legends. In addition to teaching privately he leads the Garage Band U. program, giving aspiring rock musicians the chance to play in a real band setting.

Liz Hedgcock
Soprano

Liz received her Bachelor of Music Education from South Dakota State University and holds a Master of Vocal Performance degree from Northwestern University. While at NU she performed in various operas, including Lucia di Lammermoor, Dialogues Des Carmelites, and Mark Bucci’s Sweet Betsy from Pike. Following graduate school, Elizabeth performed locally in the Grant Park Symphony Chorus and, more notably, as a staff soloist/section leader at The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. Her performance experiences there included Mozart’s Requiem as soprano soloist under the guest direction of Atlanta Symphony Chorus Director, Norman MacKenzie, a concert tour of France and several Chicago choral music debuts. Elizabeth’s favorite concert memories in the landmark church were with renowned jazz legend, Dave Brubeck and his quartet, where she debuted many of his choral and soloed with them in “The Desert and the Parched Land”.

Jennifer Woodrum
Clarinet

Jennifer Woodrum holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music Performance from Northwestern University. With 15 years of experience as a teacher, she enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels, from beginner to college level and everything in between. Jennifer prides herself on her ability to customize her curriculum and expectations for each student, while always striving to keep the student challenged, disciplined and most importantly, having fun. Jennifer's students have participated in Illinois All State Ensembles and several have gone on to study music at institutions such as the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and DePaul University. Jennifer is currently on faculty at Trinity College in Deerfield and Carthage College in Kenosha.

Dan Crandall
Drums

Daniel Crandall is a graduate of McNally Smith College of Music and has been teaching drums for the last seventeen years. He has twenty-five years of playing experience with various acts covering many different styles of music. He is the published author of the book "Drumdamentals" which focuses on three primary subjects: reading/theory, technique and groove.