Chair - Music

Rachel Brown is a Chicago-based chamber musician, soloist, orchestral performer, educator, and arts administrator. Formerly with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, she is now Associate Principal Second Violin of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and performs with the Illinois, Rockford, and Fort Wayne Symphony Orchestras, as well as the American Music Festivals Orchestra. Rachel also instructs classical violin, viola, and musicianship.

New Music Ensemble Director, Pop/Rock Ensemble Director, Classical Guitar Instructor

Jesse Langen is a guitarist who specializes in new music.  He works with living composers regularly and premieres dozens of pieces every season. Equally comfortable on classical and electric guitar, he seeks to push both the technical boundaries and the conceptual functions of the instrument. He has taught at The Academy since 2002.

Director of Jazz Combos, Jazz Saxophone Instructor

Saxophonist and composer Gregory Dudzienski, now a key member of Chicago's music community, has seen his original music featured in venues such as The Elastic Arts Foundation, Cafe Mustache, and The Green Mill. His work has also been showcased at the AS200 in Providence, the International Saxophone Symposium in Virginia, and the Salerno Jazz Festival in Italy.

Director of Recording Arts and Commercial Music

For the past six years, Jack has led an impressive career in the audio industry. Before joining the faculty at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, Jack was involved in numerous recording, live sound, and televised productions during which he worked alongside local stars, national touring acts, and seasoned music legends.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble Co-Director, Jazz Voice Instructor

Callandra (Cal) Youngleson is a South African jazz vocalist, composer and educator. She has performed internationally collaborating with some of South Africa and America's greatest jazz musicians.

Classical Harp Instructor

Nichole’s love for the harp and her stellar performances have made her one of the most highly sought-after harpists in Chicago and northern Illinois. She specializes in performing for special celebrations, helping to create a soundscape that enhances the moment, creating a moment in time that will be remembered forever.

Drum Set Instructor

Jonah Lazarus, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator from Oak Park, IL, grew up improvising music with his brothers in a family of Jewish artists and educators. At Macalester College, he studied Ghanaian and African music under Sowah Mensah. In Salvador, Brazil, he collaborated with Iuri Passos, Bira Santos, Letieres Leite, and Beto Martins. Now in Chicago, Jonah teaches and creates music with his family band, Family Junket.

Classical Vocal Workshop Director, Classical Voice Instructor

Alyssa Bennett is the Classical Vocal Workshop Director and a Classical Voice Instructor at The Academy.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble Co-Director, Jazz Piano Instructor

Chicago-based pianist & educator Nicholas Olynciw is a rising voice in jazz music. Winner of the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and the American Jazz Piano Competition Bösendorfer Prize, Nicholas earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas where he was a member of the Grammy-nominated One O'clock Lab Band.

Jazz Bass Instructor

A Decatur, IL native, Christopher Nolte received degrees in music from Millikin University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied with Jeff Grubbs, Larry Gray, Chip Stephens, Chip McNeil, and Jim Pugh.

Classical Saxophone Instructor

An acclaimed saxophonist, he has played with numerous ensembles, including the Milwaukee Symphony, Madison Symphony, Fulcrum Point New Music Ensemble, Camerata Chicago, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and others.