Lessons

Andre Rivera graduated from Augustana College as a Golden Apple Scholar with a degree in music education and minor in jazz studies. At Augustana he was principal trumpet in the Augustana Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra and Jazz Combos. Between coursework Andre developed programing, trained student recording engineers and operated WAUG.FM, Augustana radio, as its general manager.

After graduating Andre has been involved with multiple professional acts as a trumpet player, most notably directing Here for the Summer and Salsavera, rock and salsa bands whom have headlined themselves and opened for international and national touring acts. His recordings have been featured in commercials and NPR's LAist podcast "WILD".

He also plays in the Monday Night Jazz Band at the college of Lake County and directs the Round Lake Middle School band program.

Sam Rivera is a Saxophone instructor from Round Lake Heights, IL. He graduated from Elmhurst University with a double Major in Jazz Studies and Music Business. Sam was Lead Alto in the Elmhurst Lab Band, Jazz combo, as well as 1st tenor in the Mark Colby Sax combo.

Sam is also known for touring in different cities in China, and opened for different jazz artists like Ernie Watts, Carl Saunders, and Bob McChesney. He had the privilege to play with Tom “Bones” Malone of the Lieutenant Dan Band and has opened for Flock of Seagulls and played for special guest General John Kelly of the United States in Here for the Summer. Sam has been invited as a special guest to various churches around the United States.

Thomas Power is a North Shore based guitarist and bassist. Hailing from Libertyville, IL. Mr. Power has over 15 years of experience playing stringed instruments, encompassing instruments such as violin, ukulele, and the upright bass. Mr. Power is finishing his Music Education degree at Millikin University, specializing in jazz and commercial music styles. He also is one of the staple members of the band 'Here For The Summer'. Whether he's strumming his guitar or holding down the rhythm on bass, Thomas's versatility and dedication to his craft shine through in every note.

Kody Myhra is a clarinet instructor from Antioch, IL. Kody graduated from Millikin University with her degree in Music Performance and a composition certificate. She has participated in many ensembles, including the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, the Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Millikin’s Eidolan Woodwind Quintet, and various other chamber groups. She has been teaching since the Fall of 2021. 

In addition to her performance career, Kody has written and premiered compositions of her own, including her piece titled Eccentric Shades for Clarinet Choir that will be premiered this June 2022 at The International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest. She has also written pieces for various chamber group combinations as well as unaccompanied solo works.

Dana Zapeta

Dana began her violin studies at the age of 4 in the Suzuki violin studio of Jane Kohnke.  The violin was such a positive influence on her life, that she made it her goal to give the gift of music to others through teaching.  Dana studied music performance at Illinois Wesleyan University with Vadim Mazo and graduated in 2010.

Dana began teaching in 2010 and has experience with students of all ages, from beginner to advanced.  She has developed her own teaching method through the years that is highly adaptable to the needs of each student.  Dana combines elements of the Suzuki method with traditional teaching.  Dana aims to make lessons fun and informative.  She believes that proper technique is a tool to promote beautiful and expressive playing.   Dana is a certified Suzuki violin and viola teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Dana is also an active orchestral performer.  She is a member of Symphony847, and has played with Kenosha Symphony and Lake County Symphony Orchestra.  She enjoys playing in chamber ensembles as well.  

Juan Francisco Díaz is a Spanish musician from Andalusia who recently settled in Illinois. He studied classical guitar and choir at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Almería. From a young age he has been connected to music and taught himself electric and acoustic guitar.

He began his career at university as a singer-songwriter and has since recorded two albums. He has toured throughout Spain and now performs in the United States.

Juan has directed traditional Spanish music choirs and groups for many years. He is also versed in folkloric music of both Spain and Latin America, including the various instruments: charango, vihuela, lute, bandurria, guitarrón, sikus.

He continues to find new experiences and share music accross cultures to develop his songwriting and love for musical knowledge.

Josiah is a passionate musician and educator. With over a decade of experience playing piano, he's been actively involved in the music scene, performing gigs locally in Chicago and in Milwaukee. As a performing musician, he is involved in various projects, including Warped Wonder, LoBi, and Jotomil. I also play in worship bands and accompany choirs.

After graduating from Lakes Community High School in 2020, he served in the U.S. Military as an Army bandsman, where he honed his skills as a pianist, percussionist, and singer. Now Josiah is thrilled to share his passion and expertise with students at Andre Alfonso Music, offering lessons in piano, bass, percussion, and drum set.

Cellist Ben Fryxell is a seasoned veteran of the concert stage, at home as a soloist, orchestral player, and chamber musician. Since 2022, he has served as Associate Principal Cello of the Jacksonville Symphony, where he was granted tenure less than a year after joining. Before that, he was a Fellow with the New World Symphony, where he played as a principal cellist under conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, HK Gruber, and Susanna Mälkki. He performed with New World and conductor Matthias Pintscher as a soloist in 2022, playing Bernd Alois Zimmermann's "Canto di Speranza".

Ben holds a special interest and strong skillset in contemporary music, and loves how many new sound worlds we can be exposed to by composers of our time. He was invited to be a New Fromm Player at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2022, where he was re-engaged the following summer. During his time in that role, he worked closely with composers such as Reena Esmail, George Lewis, Nico Muhly, Joan Tower, and many others.

Ben is also a passionate educator. In addition to teaching private cello lessons, he has also been sought out as a sectional coach, as well as a music theory pedagogue. He received his Bachelor of Music from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Natasha Brofsky, and worked for the Music Theory and Analysis Department as a Teaching Assistant and Tutor. He then studied at the New England Conservatory of Music for his Master of Music degree, where he was a pupil of Yeesun Kim. He held another teaching assistantship there, this time working as a keyboard harmony teacher.

In addition to being a cellist, Ben is a skilled pianist, conductor, composer, and arranger. He splits his time between Jacksonville, FL and the Chicago metropolitan area.

Carmela has dedicated her life to the arts, with a passion for supporting growth in the human experience at every life stage. She graduated with her degree in Music (Voice Primary) from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in May 2024, with training in music therapy. Over the years, she has been dedicated to many choral ensembles as a soprano and bands as a percussionist. She began teaching private lessons in voice and guitar in 2022, and now continues to pursue professional performance and songwriting. It is invigorating to guide students in their musical journey, as this art is a thread of connection for all. 

Jonah Schumow received his degree in Jazz Studies at the Elmhurst University and has since appeared with many notable jazz artists such as Bob Rummage, Jeremy Kahn, Tom Garling, The Jeff Hamilton Trio, Wayne Bergeron, and The Count Basie Orchestra. As a multi-instrumetalist he is sought after for musicals and pit orchestras in the Chicagoland area.

Off the stage, Jonah also writes and arranges for the Sidemen Big Band in Wauconda. He currently teaches lessons across Chicagoland and is ecstatic that he gets to share his love of music with students eager to learn.