Wesley School of Music

Soprano Emily Thompson recently completed a MM in Voice Performance at Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Most recently, Emily sang the title role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica while at Roosevelt. She also discovered a love of new music since arriving in Chicago, having performed Seoul Healthcare Worker in the first-ever live performance of David Shenton’s opera On Call: COVID-19 in CCPA’s OperaFest XV and covered Lady Jade Song in the world premiere of Kyong Mee Choi’s opera Pale Courage with CCPA. Before making the move to Chicago, Emily received her BM in Vocal Performance at Florida State University, where she participated in multiple opera choruses and performed the role of Gertrud in an outreach production of Hansel and Gretel. Emily is currently studying with soprano Judith Haddon.

Emily’s musical skills are not solely reserved for the operatic stage: she received a concentration in Arts Administration during her Master’s in voice, and was the Graduate Assistant in Musicianship and Music Theory at CCPA. Emily values being a multi-faceted individual and artist, and knows that her aptness in many areas is reflected in her abilities on-stage. Emily’s multifaceted approach to her own artistry is mirrored in her attitude towards teaching. 

Emily aims to honor students’ technical, musical, and personal goals as individual artists while honing the necessary skills required to become an effective and well-rounded singer. 
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This quote has always been a favorite and has inspired me for some very specific questions I’ll put below.
I always change my music taste based on season. The things I’ll listen to in the fall vs the summer are night and day. And somehow December is always jazz.
Do you put music on to fit the mood you’re in or to change into the mood you want? Do you ever listen to something you’ve never heard of just to see what it’s like?
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♯einstein

Tenor David Kronenberg holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of California, Santa Cruz. and a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts.

As a performer he has taken on various challenging roles in both classical and contemporary repertoire. His performances have allowed him to explore new works and diverse characters, enriching his understanding of vocal expression and interpretation. Additionally, he actively participates in concert recitals, chamber series, and choral performances, deepening his knowledge of the art of singing and fostering a strong connection with audiences.
 
As a teacher, David has a holistic approach and many ideas on how to foster the next generation of artists. One of his greatest strengths lies in his commitment to continuous learning. He firmly believes in the value of being a lifelong student and staying current with developments in the field of voice and pedagogy. As someone who struggled to understand his own voice, he had to constantly explore different ways of approaching his voice until he could find easier singing methods. He always thinks of vocalists and teachers as detectives, trying to discern what micro muscles are inhibiting our true sound, and he is constantly learning to continue unlocking these mysteries.
 
He believes in cross-training artists, believing vocalists need to be able to sing all different types of styles and repertoire, anything from opera and musical theater, to pop and rock. He has honed his skills because of this to be able to teach all different styles.
 
Moreover, he advocates for empowering young artists and equipping them with essential business and marketing skills to better understand their careers. Encouraging them to build side hustles can lead to financial freedom and alleviate the pressure on their artistic expression, as the stigma of "you can only be a true singer if that is the only thing you do" must be dismantled.

The only wrong note you can hit is one you don’t know what to do with. Even notes that land harshly or outside of your intention are options to explore a new path in your melodies or solos.

“Monk would hit the keys with fingers held flat rather than in a natural curve, and held his free fingers high above the keys. Sometimes he hit a single key with more than one finger, and divided single-line melodies between the two hands."

A genius composer and the second most recorded jazz composer of all time, all while playing with his own unique style.
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All of our instructors are professional musicians who take pride in passing their knowledge and skills to anyone who wants to learn. With an extensive vetting process, background checks, and excellent communication we bring only the best combination of musician and teacher to the table.
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It’s aways good to remember why you’re practicing; to make yourself proficient and confident at your instrument. Although it’s important to do drills, practice your scales or arpeggios, analyze techniques or solos, don’t let that become a box that confines your creativity and personality!
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Wilson relocated to Chicago in 2018, after graduating from the University of Utah with a B.F.A in Musical Theatre. During his time there he was awarded the Jerry Herman Legacy Prize (2017), as well as performed in featured works in the music, ballet, and theatre department's various productions.
 
He is a professional in many artistic ventures throughout the Chicago area, such as accompanying professional dance companies as a pianist, and performing as a professional dancer, actor, and singer. Wilson loves to work on material that excites and engages his students. He is excited to have the opportunity to grow and learn with the students of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as assist them in their artistic endeavors!
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Scientists at Harvard have just published the most comprehensive scientific study to date on music as a cultural product, which supports the American poet’s pronouncement and examines what features of song tend to be shared across societies

“I’ve been in rooms where we don’t speak the same language, but we could all play music together” - Kyle

There are many methods and ways to teach or describe music. But once the notes start going we all land in the moment together.
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Trying new things is always great! And learning new things helps us grow into the best version possible version we can be. Sign up now to begin your musical journey!

All of our instructors are professional musicians who take pride in passing their knowledge and skills to anyone who wants to learn. With an extensive vetting process, background checks, and excellent communication we bring only the best combination of musician and teacher to the table.
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Probably one of the most important quotes I’ve put together for WSoM. I call it “active practicing”. Put maximum effort into everything you play. Engage your brain. 10 minutes of focused practice outweighs 60 minutes or “passive practicing” or mindlessly noodling around. To put it plainly, staring at the wall or playing on your phone while sitting at the piano does not count as practice. Follow us for more practice tips in the future!
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Mayuri Yoshii is a freelancer oboist and pianist residing in the Chicagoland area. Mayuri’s mother was a classical pianist and taught her the instrument from a young age. She continued to play piano growing up and also started playing oboe at age 13.
 
She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in oboe performance at Bowling Green State University under Dr. Nermis Mieses and her Post-master’s certificate in oboe performance at DePaul University under Alex Klein.
 
Recent competition wins include; first prize in the Young Artist Competition at Trentino Music Festival in Italy July 2022, finalist at the Loree Oboe Day competition at Miami University in 2019, and second prize in the Double Reed Day Solo Competitions of 2012 and 2015.
 
She frequently performs in Chicagoland, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana and maintains an active private teaching studio. She currently has a reed-making business on Etsy called “mayuoboeclub” to sell oboe reeds throughout the United States. She frequently returns to her first home, Japan, to perform at an oboe teacher’s studio recital, coffee shops, and hair salon as a guest artist. When not playing oboe or piano she enjoys spending time with her wonderful big orange cat, Bhumi.
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Our fall session starts today! 🍂
We have a couple slots still open, secure yours now!

Our current offerings include: guitar | ukulele | piano | voice | musical theatre | oboe | songwriting | engineering | audition prep |
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