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Philip Anderson (piano) earned his piano performance degree, with a focus on Jazz Studies, from the University of Akron and has been teaching lessons full time for about 8 years. In addition to learning the core fundamentals of piano technique and music theory, Philip's students learn how to compose, how to improvise, pick tunes out by ear and play a variety of styles of music, incluiding pop, rock, jazz/blues, and whatever else they like!
Lisa Borelli (Founder, piano, Step the Beat) has been playing the piano since she was five years old. Under the direction of Lucretia Peterson of Salt Lake City, Utah, Lisa played competitively on a state level throughout Junior and High School. She received numerous honors in piano performance, played publicly throughout the inter-mountain area, and also participated in the music and vocal program at Lewis and Clark College of Portland, Oregon. The mother of three musical children, she currently teaches twenty-two thriving students and is thrilled to augment her program with the diverse and high-quality instruction of the other Musical Chairs instruction team. Lisa believes music is the single most important childhood experience that has shaped her life and feels blessed for the opportunity to pass this on to other children. In addition to teaching, Lisa is the accompanist for the Queen of Angels Cherub Choir and an active Real Estate Agent with Rubloff Residential Properties. In 2008, she was recognized as "Top Producer" by the Chicago Association of Realtors.
Cassandra Fox (piano, voice, guitar) holds a Master's Degree in Music Therapy from the University of Kansas, and a Bachelor's Degree in Music & Communications from Wheaton College. She has been working as a Board-Certified Music Therapist in the Chicago area for over 10 years, and her work within the music therapy field has primarily been with youth populations in special education and social service settings. In addition to music therapy, Cassie teaches traditional piano and guitar to children, adolescents, teenagers, and adults. She is also an instructor with Encore Music Lessons, Inc. and teaches group piano at the Old Town School of Folk Music.
Lisa Borelli (Founder, piano, Step the Beat) has been playing the piano since she was five years old. Under the direction of Lucretia Peterson of Salt Lake City, Utah, Lisa played competitively on a state level throughout Junior and High School. She received numerous honors in piano performance, played publicly throughout the inter-mountain area, and also participated in the music and vocal program at Lewis and Clark College of Portland, Oregon. The mother of three musical children, she currently teaches twenty-two thriving students and is thrilled to augment her program with the diverse and high-quality instruction of the other Musical Chairs instruction team. Lisa believes music is the single most important childhood experience that has shaped her life and feels blessed for the opportunity to pass this on to other children. In addition to teaching, Lisa is the accompanist for the Queen of Angels Cherub Choir and an active Real Estate Agent with Rubloff Residential Properties. In 2008, she was recognized as "Top Producer" by the Chicago Association of Realtors.
Kent Jager (piano, organ, Step the Beat) has 25 years of experience in music instruction. In addition to his collaboration with Musical Chairs, Kent is the Director of Music at Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Parish in Chicago where he oversees a graded choir program, serves as organist and teaches music in the parish elementary school. At Queen of Angels Mr. Jager has establish three new vocal groups, the Cherub Choir for children in grades 1 – 3, the Choristers for children in grades 4 – 8, and a folk group for adults and high school students and continues to build the Queen of Angels Singers, the parish choir which focuses on more traditional choral music. As the school music teacher he has introduced a Kodaly program for grades K – 5 and established a hand bell program in the middle school. Prior to coming to Queen of Angels, Mr. Jager worked in numerous parishes in the Chicago area and Iowa including Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and First Presbyterian Church in Evanston. Mr. Jager received his Master's in Music at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where he was a student of Grigg Fountain. He attended Central College in Pella, Iowa for his Bachelor's of Arts in organ performance where he studied with Davis Folkerts.
Kent Jager (piano, organ, Step the Beat) has 25 years of experience in music instruction. In addition to his collaboration with Musical Chairs, Kent is the Director of Music at Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Parish in Chicago where he oversees a graded choir program, serves as organist and teaches music in the parish elementary school. At Queen of Angels Mr. Jager has establish three new vocal groups, the Cherub Choir for children in grades 1 – 3, the Choristers for children in grades 4 – 8, and a folk group for adults and high school students and continues to build the Queen of Angels Singers, the parish choir which focuses on more traditional choral music. As the school music teacher he has introduced a Kodaly program for grades K – 5 and established a hand bell program in the middle school. Prior to coming to Queen of Angels, Mr. Jager worked in numerous parishes in the Chicago area and Iowa including Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and First Presbyterian Church in Evanston. Mr. Jager received his Master's in Music at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where he was a student of Grigg Fountain. He attended Central College in Pella, Iowa for his Bachelor's of Arts in organ performance where he studied with Davis Folkerts.
Cameron Smith (piano) has over 20 years of experience teaching piano. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Michigan, his Master’s of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music and his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Rice University. All of his degrees are in piano performance. Dr. Smith is currently a faculty member at Loyola University Chicago. Since moving to Chicago, he has also been a faculty member at Wunder Studios Performing Arts Conservatory in Park Ridge. In 2007 and 2008 he served as one of the judges for the Chicago Steinway Young Artist’s Competition which is known for recognizing exceptional musical talent in Chicago area youth.
Dr. Smith accepts dedicated students who are geared toward student achievement and swift progress. Regular practice is expected and necessary for the student to improve. Effective methods of practice are taught in the lessons, and specific and detailed instructions are given on how to learn music quickly and efficiently. Serious attention is given to technique including how to sit and address the keyboard properly, how to build finger strength and dexterity, and how to play with power but without excessive tension. Many of Dr. Smith’s students have received 1st place awards in local competitions, been featured on radio and television programs as well as gone to high school and college music programs.
Extraordinary talent and hard work paid off as Mr. Smith made his debut appearance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra when he was nineteen years old. Cameron Smith has performed in France, Germany, England, Bulgaria, Brazil, and across the U.S. He has performed in Buntrock Hall at Chicago's Symphony Center, at Orchestra Hall in Detroit with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, MI, at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, at Ames Auditorium, Lighthouse International in New York City, and in recital at the Phillip's Collection in Washington D.C. He has been heard live on Detroit's WQRS 105.1 FM, Cleveland's WCLV 104.9 FM, and on "The Front Row" KUHF 88.7 FM, Houston. Cameron maintains an active concert schedule, and also provides performance opportunities in recitals for his students.
Julia Tarlo (piano a
nd voice) Originally from Philadelphia, Julia has appeared in numerous opera productions and recitals throughout the east coast and midwest. She is currently an associate member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and recently traveled to Carnegie Hall with them to sing Verdi's Otello and Berlioz's Lelio. During the week, Julia is a section leader with the United Methodist Temple Choir in downtown Chicago, and teaches private voice and piano lessons in the Chicago area. Julia has her Bachelor of Music from SUNY Purchase in New York and a Master of Music degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts.
