Private Lessons

Chris Allen, Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, and Ukulele Instructor
Chris Allen has been teaching students age five and up since 1998. Chris received both a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in classical guitar performance from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale (SUIC). Chris was active in the SUIC Jazz Ensemble, and has been performing in other ensembles with established musicians in Southern Illinois. Chris is currently pursuing a Doctorate in classical guitar performance with a minor in jazz studies at the UW-Madison.

Stacey Binder, Violin Instructor
Stacey Binder received the Master of Music degree in violin performance from the UW-Madison, where she was a student of Vartan Manoogian. In addition to teaching private lessons for 14 years, Stacey was an Upper Strings Sectional Coach and a chamber music coach for the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO). She also has served as a judge for WYSO and for WSMA's Solo and Ensemble Festivals. Stacey has been a substitute violinist for the Madison Symphony Orchestra and has performed in productions by the Four Seasons Theatre. Stacey has an interest in teaching the violin to the visually impaired. Her article "Rewards and Challenges of Teaching Blind String Students" was published in the February 2002 issue of the American String Teacher.

David Cecil, Cello Instructor
David Cecil received his Bachelor of Arts in Cello Performance from UW-Madison, where he studied with Professor Uri Vardi. He has attended major music festivals such as Heifetz International Institute, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Roundtop Festival, and played in master classes with teachers such as Janos Starker, Steven Doane, Tim Eddy, Ronald Leonard, Lawrence Lesser, Amit Peled, Bonnie Hampton and Natasha Brofsky. He has taught through the University Student Teaching Division, as well as done quartet coaching through Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra. Currently, David plays with the Madison Symphony Orchestra and the Lucido Felice Quartet.

Christopher Cramer, Guitar Instructor
Classical guitarist Christopher Cramer began his music studies at the UW-Manitowoc, where he won a number of awards including the UW-Manitowoc County Fine Arts Award in the Area of Music. He went on to complete his undergraduate training at the UW-Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, where he won first place in the annual WCM scholarship competition in classical guitar. Continuing his studies at the UW-Madison, Dr. Cramer earned both his masters and doctorate degrees in music performance under the direction of renowned guitarist Javier Calderon.

While at the UW-Madison, Dr. Cramer undertook an intensive study of instrumental conducting with respected conductor and pedagogue David E. Becker, ultimately leading to a doctoral minor in the discipline and the opportunity to work with the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra.

From college campuses to performing arts centers, Dr. Cramer has performed in the United States, Canada, and Taiwan. In addition to performing as a solo recitalist and as a soloist with orchestra, Dr. Cramer is also an active chamber musician collaborating with various instrumentalists and singers. In the fall of 2008, Dr. Cramer joined the faculty at Beloit College where he teaches studio guitar lessons and directs the guitar ensemble program. He also teaches guitar related courses at the UW-Madison and the UW-Rock County. Former faculty engagements have included Edgewood College and the UW-Manitowoc.

Melissa Gregory-Simon, Viola and Violin Instructor
Melissa Gregory-Simon, the enthusiastic WYSO viola sectional coach and chamber music coach, comes to us from Chicago with over 20 years of teaching experience. She has a Bachelors from DePaul University and a Masters degree from Roosevelt University, both in Viola Performance. She studied extensively with Li-Kuo Chang, assistant principal violist of the Chicago Symphony. During her 10 years in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, she worked with many notable conductors and artists including Daniel Barenboim, Sir Georg Solti, Luciano Pavarotti, and Gidon Kramer. She occasionally plays for the Madison Symphony and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Melissa's teaching methods combine Suzuki with traditional methods. She also has extensive experience working with children with special needs.

Timm Gould, Piano, Saxophone, and Clarinet Instructor
Timm Gould has over 36 years of teaching and performing experience. Timm holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Masters in Performance from the UW-Madison. Timm has played second clarinet in the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra since 1986 and also plays in the Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble. His experience with other musical forms includes playing clarinet and saxophone with Yid Vicious (Klezmer), the Reptile Palace Orchestra (world music), and clarinet with The Music Fix (contemporary trio).

Kriss Hamilton, Piano, Flute, Saxophone, and Clarinet Instructor
Kriss Hamilton was born and raised in Wisconsin. She received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the UW-Eau Claire and a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the Wichita State University. She has taught private music lessons in a wide variety of settings, including homes, music stores, and schools.

Edith Hines, Violin Instructor
Edith Hines is currently enrolled in the doctorate program in violin performance at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. She received a Master of Music in Violin Performance from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has performed with many symphonies and chamber music groups, including the Madison Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. She has received many performance awards and honors, including a Paul Collins Distinguished Graduate Fellowship from the University of Wisconsin, and the CIM Alumni Association Artistic Achievement Award in 2000 and 2001.

Christina Jenkins, Voice Instructor
Christina Jenkins, a soprano, recently moved back to the Madison area after finishing her Master’s of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in December 2007. While in Las Vegas for three years, she was employed by UNLV as a private instructor and classroom instructor, where she taught beginner and intermediate singers and performers. In 2008, she was a finalist in the Graduate/Adult Division at the NATS competition in the Nevada/Utah Division. In addition to regularly singing in competitions around the U.S., she has also sung many opera roles, such as Lady Billow’s in Albert Herring and First Lady in Die Zaubeflöte. Christina received her B.A. in Vocal Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005 and is currently a private student of soprano, Julia Faulkner.

Hikari Maekawa, Piano Instructor
Hikari Maekawa holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with Pedagogy Emphasis and Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from University of Nebraska at Kearney. She also enjoys chamber music and has attended Green Lake Chamber Music Workshops, where she studied with Amelia Piano Trio. Hikari plans to attend the graduate program in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at UW-Madison next year.

Return to Instructor List...

Tracy Wundrock, Guitar Instructor
Tracy Wundrock studied piano, guitar, voice, and music theory under the direction of private music instructors for 15 years collectively, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in guitar performance at UW-Madison. Tracy has taught individual and group guitar and piano lessons for several years, specializing in classical, folk, and popular styles.

Private Lessons

Meet Our Instructors

Instructor List