meet-our-teachers

Andrew Sánchez (he/him)

Andrew Sánchez found his passion for composing and conducting at an early age and began to write music ranging from small chamber ensembles to concert band and orchestra. Receiving his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Sánchez has participated in masterclasses with world renowned jazz artists such as Elis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Kenny Garret, Ali Jackson, and Rufus Reid. Sánchez has written, performed, and recorded music with top jazz artists such as JD Allen, Bria Skonberg, Matt Wilson, and Melva Houston, while also writing for notable orchestras and choirs such as The Piedmont Triad Jazz Orchestra, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, and Choral Arts Initiative. In June 2023, Sánchez was selected to be a Conducting Fellow for the Choral Conducting Institute at University of Missouri - Kansas City where he rehearsed and conducted the renowned Spire Chamber Ensemble directed by Ben A. Spalding. He received one-on-one coaching from Maestro Spalding and Dr. Jennaya Robison, Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir. In July of 2024, Sánchez was selected to travel to Cambridge, UK to learn from several College and Sacred Music Directors at Cambridge University and perform in St. John’s Chapel and Ely Cathedral. While in Cambridge, Sánchez participated in vocal masterclasses with Wolfson College Music Director and previous voice teacher of the treble boys of King’s College Chapel Choir, Lynette Alcántara and Barnaby Smith, Artistic Director of Grammy nominated vocal ensemble, VOCES8. Sánchez enjoys singing in large works and most recently performed Faure’s Requiem as the Baritone soloist with the Peoria Area Civic Chorale and Central Illinois Camerata in May 2024. As an Outer Banks native of North Carolina, Sánchez currently resides in Peoria, IL where he serves as the Director of Traditional Music & Worship at First United Methodist Church and Associate Music Director of the Peoria Area Civic Chorale. As an in demand multi-instrumentalist, Sánchez maintains a thriving studio where he teaches private lessons in piano, trumpet, flute, saxophone, voice, and composition. When not pursuing his musical goals, he enjoys traveling and being with his wife, Constance, their two children, Luna Belle and Atlas, and two dogs, Dexter and Butler.

Piano Trumpet Voice Flute Saxophone

Cori Holquinn (she/her)

Cori began her musical journey at the age of 9 on violin. After a year and a half of wanting to throw her violin across the room, she switched to cello and has never looked back. With music as the focus of study throughout her educational career, she has obtained an Associates of Arts and Sciences degree with a focus in music from Whatcom Community College (Washington State, 2013), and a Bachelor's of Music in Cello Performance from Western Washington University (Washington State, 2018). She has been performing professionally, and with community groups, since 2007 and has had the opportunity to meet and learn from several esteemed musicians including cellists Joshua Roman and Lynn Harrell. When Cori isn't performing or teaching, she can often be found knitting several projects at once and most likely buried in yarn. Her cats are concerned about this hobby, but mostly just want to be fed.

Cello String Bass

Ellen Vosberg (she/her)

Ellen has a music minor and completed 4 semesters of Piano Pedagogy at Illinois Central College. She has been teaching piano for 20 plus years and employed by Kidder Music for 11 years. In her free time she participates in local piano performance events and is proud to be a piano instructor!

Piano

Jadin Dyer (he/him)

Hello! I am a current Bradley University music student with 12+ years of music experience on several instruments including piano, percussion, and trumpet. I’ve spent several years teaching middle school students over the summer, as well as teaching out of my home year-round. Music has been my passion for my whole life, and I love sharing it with other aspiring musicians. I am always an adaptive teacher that will help you improve at whatever pace you need!

Piano Trumpet Drum Set

Ash Bauerly (she/her)

Ash studied music performance and woodwind repair. Ash Bauerly is a woodwind player and teacher! With a degree in music performance from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, she has experience teaching and performing classical, jazz, and Top 40 music genres. Her performance experience includes a wide range of venues, from cruise ships to concert halls, as well as a variety of instruments, from the smallest flutes to the biggest saxophones. In her teaching, Ash brings a flexible, supportive style that helps students reach their musical goals while enjoying the learning process.

Clarinet Saxophone Bass Clarinet Flute

Jared Johnson (he/him)

Jared Johnson graduated in December 2024 with a degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University and is a graduate of Limestone Community High School. He studied with Chuck Cunningham of the Peoria region from junior high through high school. He also studied trumpet with Dr. Bruce Briney and Dr. John Cooper while at Western. He aims to be a well-rounded educator with experience teaching and playing classical, jazz, and commercial styles. Johnson is currently a music teacher at Brimfield High School where he directs middle school band along with high school band and choir.

French Horn Trumpet Baritone and Euphonium Trombone Tuba

Adam Kunath (he/him)

Adam studied music education at Bradley University, studying both piano and saxophone. He has been a piano lesson teacher at Kidder Music since 2024 and has worked with students of all ages. Adam has performed on Saxophone with the Pekin Park Concert Band. He is an Eagle Scout and has a lot of experience working with children and young adults.

Piano

Daniel Watkins (he/him)

Daniel Watkins began taking private music lessons at age 9. After high school he went on to study classical guitar at Illinois Central College. In 2013 he began learning bluegrass guitar with National Flatpicking Champion, Andy Hatfield. Daniel has performed in several bluegrass ensembles across the Midwest. His band, River Valley Rangers, has toured the country playing at large bluegrass festivals including Blue Ox Music Festival and John Hartford Memorial Festival. In addition to performing, Daniel began teaching in 2018. In 2023 he traveled to the IBMA Conference in Raleigh, NC and placed fourth in the guitar competition. Daniel enjoys learning as much as he enjoys teaching and he is currently studying Jazz at Illinois State University.

Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin

Collin Krause (he/him)

I am a Suzuki trained violinist and former lead singer of a nationally touring band, performing more than one thousand shows across forty-eight states, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Along the way my work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Associated Press, and No Depression, and I have had the opportunity to collaborate with Grammy winning musicians and producers while also recording and arranging string parts for several studio albums. I have been teaching violin since 2019 and enjoy working with beginner and intermediate students across a range of styles including classical, bluegrass, and contemporary music, always tailoring lessons to what keeps each student engaged. Outside of music, I am a father of two and a NICU dad to a former twenty-four-week premature baby, which has shaped how I approach patience and perspective both in life and in teaching. I also spend a good amount of time training for triathlons and marathons, and in quieter moments I enjoy good coffee and playing mandolin, guitar, and singing.

Violin Fiddle Mandolin

Claire Baranyk (she/her)

Claire Baranyk is a performer, educator, and composer who holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has taught students of all ages and experience levels both in school settings and privately. She is trained in both classical and jazz saxophone and performs with various local groups. In her teaching, Claire strives to make learning accessible and engaging by tailoring instruction to each student’s individual strengths, needs, and interests. She also places an emphasis on building strong fundamentals and effective practice strategies that provide her students with the tools, skills, and confidence to achieve their musical goals.

Clarinet Saxophone

Justin Mooney (he/him)

With over 30 years of teaching experience and working with some of the top performers and teachers in the world, I bring a level of expertise that is unrivaled in the area. Beginners on snare drum and drum set or well-seasoned players, I can work with any level of player and their needs specifically to up your game!

Snare Drum Drum Set Marching Percussion

Deb Peterson (she/her)

Deb has been teaching violin for over 25 years and is a homeschooling mom of eight. She is Suzuki trained but incorporates a variety of methods to meet the needs of individual students. Her teaching is fundamentals based, and she adapts lessons to each student’s age, learning style, and long term goals. She welcomes students of all ages and works to support steady, long term progress.

Violin Viola

Brandon Mooberry (he/him)

Brandon Mooberry is a teacher, performer, producer, and music engineer. He has taught upright and electric bass, piano, guitar, and ukulele for 22 years and has a 100% acceptance rate prepping students for their college of choice and receiving scholarship awards from the top conservatories and schools of music around the country, including Bradley University. Brandon has enjoyed a career of playing in the studio, church, and venues across the country. As the first call bassist for the Peoria music union he has been thrilled to play in the orchestra pits for Wicked for all three tour stops, Spamalot, Billy Elliott, and White Christmas at the Peoria Civic Center. He has also performed with Victor Wooten, The Heartland Festival Orchestra, David “Fathead” Newman (Ray Charles), Eric Krasno (Soulive, 50 Cent), Bootsy Collins (James Brown, Parliament), David Hoffman (Ray Charles), Oteil Burbridge (The Allman Brothers Band), Ike Willis (Frank Zappa), Willie Waldman (Tupac, Snoop Dogg) and many more. He values his gift of teaching and his time with his students as they grow with music.

Bass Guitar Guitar Ukulele String Bass Piano

Josiah Lohrer (he/they)

A graduate of Bradley University, Josiah holds a Bachelor of Music in K-12 Music Education. With a specialty in vocal pedagogy, they have been teaching voice lessons for three years since graduation, as well as early piano lessons and brass. They teach K-4 General Music for Dr. Maude A. Sanders Primary School, where they founded the Maude Sanders Children’s Choir in 2024. They have also worked as a music director with various theatres around the Peoria area.

Voice Piano Trumpet Baritone and Euphonium Ukulele

Maggie Sloter (she/her)

Maggie Sloter has 8 years of experience teaching music and holds a Bachelor's in Musical Performance from Bradley University. Specializing in students as young as 9 years old, Maggie values the connections she builds with her students, believing that music not only unites us but also fosters lasting friendships. Music is deeply important to Maggie, providing both a calming outlet and a joyful means of expression that words often can't convey. She views learning music as a long-term journey, likening it to learning a new language, where fluency opens up endless possibilities, and playing in ensembles teaches valuable teamwork skills.

Trombone Baritone and Euphonium Voice Tuba

Elisabeth Pluth (she/her)

Elisabeth Pluth has over 20 years of experience teaching music and holds a minor in Music Education. She has additional studies in voice pedagogy and a Master's in Cross-Cultural Communications. She is a certified Royal Conservatory Teacher and an active member of several professional organizations, including the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), the National Flute Association (NFA), and the International Clarinet Association (ICA). Elisabeth has worked with students of all ages and skill levels, helping them achieve remarkable success in competitions and performances. Her teaching philosophy focuses on individualized, student-centered learning, guiding students to discover their unique musical abilities and reach goals they never thought possible. Through her extensive experience and commitment to personalized instruction, Elisabeth has built a reputation for fostering both musical excellence and personal growth in her students.

Voice Piano Flute Oboe Bassoon Clarinet Saxophone Trumpet French Horn Trombone Baritone and Euphonium

Wendy Strauss

Mrs. Strauss has taught music and directed the children's choirs at St. Mark Catholic School in Peoria, and St. Joseph Catholic School in Pekin. Mrs. Strauss taught music at Peoria Notre Dame for 35 years, 17 of which were taught concurrently with Hines Primary School, and 2 at St. Joseph School in Pekin. Mrs. Strauss has directed the PND Choir and Jazz Choir and taught music history, music technology, music appreciation, technology applications, music business, Understanding Modern Music and music theory. Her licensure and experience includes music in grades K-12. She has also taught music and technology at ICC's College for Kids. She is the pianos/organist at St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church, and directs the choir for High Holy Days at Congregation Anshai Emeth. Mrs. Strauss' education includes a Bachelor of Music Education for Lindenwood College(now Lindenwood University) in St. Charles, Mo, and graduate work at Bradley University.

Piano Voice

Max Kamm

Max Kamm started playing music at an early age at Roosevelt Magnet School under the direction of Peoria Symphony’s own Peggy Bonner and co-founder of the global Jazz Education Network, Mary Jo Papich. The environment made it easy to start forming bands and projects which took Max through high school, playing drums, bass, and guitar, eventually leading to learning home recording and production. Eventually Max found his way to Illinois Central College to study music theory and Jazz Bass under Tony Jones and Larry Harms. After years of playing in different bands with different styles Max found himself back behind the drums with his band, The Golden Fleece. On the momentum of winning a Battle Of The Bands at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington, Illinois they recorded multiple studio albums, pressed them into vinyl records and they toured the country for a few years. Cut to 2022, Max found his way out to Boulder, Colorado and began teaching at the School of Rock Boulder, teaching all ages all types of music before moving back home to be with family.

Drum Set Guitar Bass Guitar

Meet Our Teachers