Timothy Omerod

Timothy Omerod (Woodwinds) started his musical career playing sax at the age of nine. He earned a Master of Music in bassoon performance from Northwestern University, in Evanston Illinois, where he studied under Wilbur Simpson from the Chicago Symphony. He started teaching in high school, continued through college, has taught at the College of DuPage since 1996 and in the westerns suburbs of Chicago since 1983. He studied sax, flute, clarinet, and oboe from professional performers in the Chicago area. He is a member of the National Flute Association, as well as the American Federation of Musicians, Chicago Local.

His playing experience has covered a broad spectrum: principal bassoon with the Fox Valley Symphony; sax, flute, keyboards, and vocals in top forty bands across the Midwest; Naperville Chamber Winds; Willowcreek church in Barrington Illinois; and shows, jazz, studio work, and jobbing dates around Chicago as a woodwind doubler, since 1983.

Also a composer, Mr. Omerod has written original middle school level solos for sax, flute, clarinet and oboe, where they are performed in competition each year. He also writes original music and lyrics for pop and contemporary religious genres.

As a doubler, Mr. Omerod understands the concerns of playing various woodwinds. He has experience across the entire spectrum of styles. He has successfully taught every age level for many years. He believes that playing is a passion that can always remain enjoyable, while instilling discipline and organizational ethics to insure progress.

Steve Ramsdell

Steve Ramsdell (Guitar) earned a Bachelor of Music in guitar performance and a Master of Music in jazz pedagogy, both from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He performs commercial music, original music as a leader, jazz classics, and solo classical music. Some highlights include New Year’s Eve celebrations at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Steve’s Looking ForCD release party at SPACE in Evanston, performances with Spider Saloff at the Iridium in New York, and shows with Matt Geraghty at Ondojazz in Lisbon and the Chicago Jazz Fest. Steve’s musical arrangements can be heard on Spider Saloff’s CD Like Glass, while his original compositions appear on his release Looking For and his first CD Steve Ramsdell Group. Steve has taught private guitar lessons and leads guitar ensembles at College of Dupage since 1994, and has also taught at Wheaton College since 1998. Mr. Ramsdell enjoys working with all levels and strives to help students develop the skills needed to pursue their musical goals.

Dr. Karol Sue Reddington

Dr. Karol Sue Reddington (Piano)

has performed and held faculty and administrative positions locally, nationally and internationally, as in Hong Kong, China, Japan, Thailand and European and Russian centres. Dr. Reddington’s 2002 Carnegie Hall debut, at Weill Concert Hall (NYC), was shared with Swiss violinist/colleague, and Beijing’s Conservatory faculty member, Mathias Boegner. As a member of the COD piano faculty, Karol Sue was awarded a College of DuPage Liberal Arts Faculty Grant for the lecture-performance of O. Messiaen, a composer also highlighted in her Paris American Cathedral artist series performance. Always In support of current new composers are her performances of local composers.

Receiving the Doctor of Musical Arts performance degree in piano and literature from the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Dr. Reddington’s work includes study, inspiration and coaching with Eugene & Elisabeth Pridonoff, Marion Hall MacFayden, Soulima Stravinsky, Alfonso Montecino, Hans Graf, Rafael de Silva, and Gaby Casadesus. She has also coached with Menahem Pressler of the Beaux Arts Trio, James Tocco, the Tokyo String Quartet, the Quatuor Via Nova de France, and the IRCAM Ensemble Contemporain de France. As director/artistic director/faculty in a decade of service in Bermuda’s music institutions, she initiated the establishment of the international chamber music series Some Enchanted Evening.

In addition to having served as a Piano Examiner of Canada’s Royal Conservatory of Music, she has participated as judge/adjudicator/master-class presenter for competitions and festivals of the Chicago area. Dr. Reddington was awarded the west suburban Illinois Music Teachers Association’s 2014 Outstanding Member of the Year.  Dr. Reddington recently served as adjudicator for the Macau 2019 Near-East Asia Pacific Young Pianist Competition, and also as adjudicator for the 2020 DuPage Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition.

Maintaining an active private studio, her students have been awarded inclusion in numerous festivals and competitions, including the Cairn-Maling Piano Competition of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the DuPage Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, local concerto competitions, the National Music Camp of Interlochen and scholarship acceptance into professional college and university studies. Dr. Reddington is current Director of the Berkley-Pendell Piano Scholarship Competition, a recognised youth competition of the western Chicago suburban area.

With immense respect, consideration, encouragement and mentoring of all those with diverse levels of music interest and experience, the mutual goal is profoundly individual for each student, and dedicated towards a life-time of enjoyment, personal development, and progress, developed through the sharing within this amazing discovery.

Dave Rice

Dave Rice (Jazz Piano) began studying piano at age 6, and has played professionally since age 16. After playing in bands and singing in choir and music productions through school, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from SIU Carbondale. Dave traveled on the road extensively through the 70’s and 80’s. In 1992 Dave began touring with Otis Rush. He has toured Europe, Asia, and North and South America with Otis Rush. On those tours he played shows with Ko Ko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and Luther Allison. He has warmed up for artists such as George Benson, Buddy Guy, Pearl Jam, Jimmy Page, Herbie Hancock, and Robert Plant. Dave received a Master of Music degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. He released an album in the 1990’s called Locution. The title track is in video form on his website (www.davericeproductions.com). He also has played with Donna Lori, the Cryan Shames, Gloria Newlun, Bobbi Wilsyn, Carlos Johnson , Pistol Pete, Dan Hayes Orchestra, Buddy Rich Band and many others. Dave has written a book Improvisation on the ii-V-I and Blues progressions. Dave teaches in the Valley View School District in Bolingbrook/ Romeoville and at College of Dupage, and plays music full time. Most recently he has organized and runs an open jazz jam session at Shanahan in Woodridge on Thursday nights. He continues to play nightly throughout the Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin areas. The schedule of where Dave is appearing is also on his website.

Dr. Andrew Rozsa

Dr. Andrew Rozsa (Trombone) is Lecturer in Trombone at College of DuPage and Illinois Wesleyan University. Previously, he was a member of Orchestra Iowa and the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra.

He has performed as a substitute with the Des Moines Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, Montreal Symphony, Thunder Bay (Ontario) Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic, Illinois Symphony, New Philharmonic Orchestra, Rockford Symphony, Elmhurst Symphony, Kenosha Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, and the Lira Ensemble. He has also been a member of the Ohio Light Opera orchestra and the American Wind Symphony Orchestra.

An active educator, Andrew has served on the faculty of McGill University, McGill Conservatory, and numerous high schools in the suburban Chicago area before joining the College of DuPage faculty.He continues to teach at the high school level as well, at Palatine High School in Palatine, IL.

As a composer, his works have been premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony and the Albuquerque City Schools string program, among others.

Dr. Rozsa also holds performance degrees from McGill University, DePaul University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music; he also holds a composition/theory degree from Baldwin-Wallace College-Conservatory of Music. His major trombone teachers were Doug Bennett, Allen Kofsky, Thomas Klaber, Charles Vernon, Mark Fisher, Floyd Cooley, James Box, and Pierre Beaudry. He studied composition with Dan Adams, James Feldman, and Loris Chobanian. He was also a participant at the 2011 Alessi Seminar.

Dr. Thomas Sergey

Dr. Thomas Sergey (Guitar and other fretted stringed instruments) teaches students of all ages and skill levels and in all guitar styles. He is as passionate teaching beginners as he is working with advanced musicians. Using traditional, Suzuki, and other teaching methods, Dr. Sergey adapts his teaching style to the individual goals, learning style, skill level, and temperament of each student. His passion for teaching is inspired by seeing his students succeed, whether in a weekly lesson or on the concert stage.

Dr. Sergey has years of professional music experience. As a performer, he has concertized nationally and worldwide, both as a classical and jazz guitarist, and his experience as a music educator includes teaching at McHenry College, Roosevelt University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as well as the College of DuPage. Dr. Sergey has also served as a clinician and music competition adjudicator, and as a composer his music is regularly performed at guitar and contemporary music conferences and festivals.

Dr. Sergey holds music degrees from Northern Illinois University, the University of Miami, and Boston University, where he earned his doctorate. He is also trained in the Suzuki method of music teaching and curriculum. Dr. Sergey is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) by the Music Teachers National Association and a nationally recognized guitar teacher by the Guitar Foundation of America.

Julie Spring

Julie Spring (Harp) Even before she entered this world, Julie Spring was destined for the harp. Her mother was quoted as saying that her children would learn to play the harp when Julie was still in the womb! So it was that Julie and her siblings all took lessons while growing up outside Chicago. Eventually, Julie’s path took her to Eastman School of Music and further to Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Orchestral Studies.

Since that time, Julie has lived in numerous places and had the joy of playing with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including holding the title of Principal Harp with the Toronto and Hartford Symphony Orchestras as well as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. While Julie cherished the opportunities to play with these orchestras and playing as a guest with the Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera Orchestra of Chicago and Grant Park Symphony, she finds a persistent calling to teach.

Outside of the standard private lesson studio in her home, Julie has taught as a sabbatical replacement at her alma mater, Eastman School of Music, as well as Harp faculty at Gordon College, Boston, and Concordia University, Chicago. While her own, grueling practice hours at the harp are treasured, she takes immense pride in the growth and accomplishments of her students.

In 2016, through common musical connections, she met and joined the Chicago Harp Quartet, “the quartet that put harp quartets on the map!” (Harp Column, 2018). With CHQ, Julie has toured domestically and internationally, and released “Dance Sketches,” the quartet’s sophomore album with 5 world premier works for harp quartet.

Julie’s harp-roadie-in-training is her son, Dax, who turned 7 this year. You can find them playing a duet on piano or harp just as easily as they discuss Transformers or Legos. Julie will warn you that her son’s blonde curls are deceptively angelic, though he is always willing to help move a bench or stand for musicians in need!

Andrew Szymanek

Andrew Szymanek, (Trumpet) a versatile trumpeter hailing from the Chicago area, enjoys a multifaceted musical career spanning genres that range from big band jazz to chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras to brass quintets. Andrew’s remarkable adaptability to the nuances of each musical style makes him a sought-after guest soloist in diverse musical programs. He presently holds the position of Adjunct Instructor of Trumpet at the College of DuPage while also managing a private studio. He gained acclaim as a professional trumpet player and soloist with the Air Force Regional Bands, performing extensively across the Midwest. Notable highlights include a Taps solo with the Kansas City Symphony, captivating an audience of over 50,000 and millions more on PBS. Beyond his military service, Andrew has performed as a substitute and extra at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and served as an Associate Member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. His trumpet playing has also been heard on the jazz scene alongside ensembles such as the renowned Pete Ellman and Rob Parton Big Bands. Moreover, his dedication to music education has seen his students excel in prestigious ensembles including ILMEA All-State festivals as well as the Chicago and Naperville Youth Symphonies. He holds degrees in Trumpet Performance from Northern Illinois University and DePaul University. Andrew currently resides in the Chicago suburbs with his wife, daughter, and dog, where music remains an integral part of their lives.

Cynthia Trowbridge

Cynthia Trowbridge (Piano) performs as a collaborative pianist in recitals and competitions throughout the Chicago area.  A member of the piano faculty at the College of DuPage, she teaches private and class piano and serves as staff accompanist.  Cindy also does extensive work as an accompanist for vocal and instrumental studios and recitals at Wheaton College.  She is the principal pianist for Credo Flute summer festival, and has been the pianist for DuPage Opera Theater and music director for Wheaton College’s Opera Music Theater program.  Cindy has been featured as a collaborative pianist in several  WFMT live broadcasts, and recently performed with British composer and flutist Ian Clarke in concerts of his works.

Ms. Trowbridge holds a Master of Music from Indiana University, where she was a student of  Menahem Pressler, and a Bachelor of Music from DePauw University.  She studied at the Austro-American Institute in Vienna, Austria, and has performed in Austria and England.

Paulette Velazquez

Paulette Velazquez (French Horn) holds a Bachelor of Music in horn performance from the University of Illinois and a Master of Music in horn performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Before settling in Chicago, Paulette was principal horn of La Filarmonica de Jalisco for two years, located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Paulette’s principal teachers include A. David Krehbiel, former principal horn San Francisco Symphony, and Dan Gingrich, principal Chicago Symphony. Paulette is an active freelance musician playing regularly with Elgin Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, Joffery Ballet, the New Philharmonic and at various theaters in Chicago. Paulette is a member of the applied faculty at Lewis University and the Saint Xavier University as well as The College of DuPage. She also maintains a very active private teaching schedule teaching students from the Joliet, Lockport, Frankort and Plainfield area schools. Since students all have different learning styles, Ms. Velazquez constantly looks for new ways to explain musical ideas and tries to reach every student by whatever means possible. Although some students may only achieve the basic level of enjoying music while others may attain a high level of understanding, Ms. Velazquez believes that all levels of musicianship are important to our society.