AMI Welcomes - NEW Music Faculty

American Music Institute - located in Chicago and western suburbs, is proud to introduce our NEW Music Faculty Members: Aaron Burns, Bing Jing Yu, Jennifer Gosack-Darwell, Michel Domingue, Mark Lindeblad, Christine Boddicker, Kasey Pennington. Our faculty members are available for lessons on campus, virtual and in-home. AMI Campuses are located in Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Geneva, and St. Charles, IL. Schedule a trial lesson today with an AMI Faculty Member… AMI@amimusic.org - 630-850-850 - www.amimusic.org.

Aaron Burns - Brass / Sax / Piano I Available Tues - St. Charles / Geneva I Available Wed - Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove
Aaron Burns received his master’s degree in jazz trumpet performance from DePaul University. He has performed as a soloist, with jazz big bands, jazz small groups, and with the Chicago Samba group. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, he grew up in a very musical family. He received his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of North Texas. Aaron’s personal experience has taught him that the impact quality instruction from a dedicated teacher can make all the difference. No matter their skill level, he strives to meet every student where they’re at to help them improve.

Bing Jing Yu - Violin / Viola I Available Sat - Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / In-Home / Virtual
Bing Jing Yu received her Artist Diploma from New England Conservatory. She performs with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, where she has served as acting Concert Master and acting Assistant Concert Master on various productions. Ms. Yu made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1992, playing the Bach Double Concerto with the New York String Orchestra under the late Alexander Schneider. Ms Yu has been trained through Suzuki Unit 4. She believes in setting her students up for success and in meeting them where they are, to both engage and challenge her students. Ms. Yu has coached violinists of all levels preparing their excerpts for orchestra auditions. She works with all levels of students from the youngest pre-twinkler to the most advanced.

Jennifer Gosack-Darwell - Flute / Piccolo I Available Mon - Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / Virtual
Chicago flutist, Jennifer Gosack Darwell D.M.A. received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Flute Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She also received her Master’s (2010) and Artist Diploma (2011) degrees from CCM. In 2008, Jennifer graduated from the DePaul University School of Music in Chicago. From 2012-2014, Jennifer was a member of the flute faculty at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL. Jennifer is currently principal flutist of the Southwest Symphony Orchestra. She is Winds and Brass Chair at American Music Institute, dedicated to a life of sharing her talent and passion for classical music with others.

Michel Domingue - Violin / Viola I Available Wed - Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove
Michel Domingue received his Bachelors from McGill University. Mr Dominque has performed with several orchestras in Montreal and Toronto. In the US, he began a career as organist/pianist and music director for several churches in Chicagoland. Alongside performing as a classical violinist/violist, he has also performed as a singer and guitarist doing jazz, Broadway and Country music. He has been teaching violin, viola, piano and guitar to all ages of students for over 20 years in conservatories, elementary schools and high schools. His approach to lessons is to help the student learn to play with a beautiful sound and solid technique that will encourage them to practice daily.

Mark Lindeblad - Bassoon, Piano / Available Mon - Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / Virtual / In-Home
Mark Lindeblad received his Master of Music in Piano and Bassoon Performance from Roosevelt University. Mr Lindeblad has taught private lessons in piano and bassoon for many years, including for several years at Merit School of Music, Trinity International University, and Concordia University. Mark has performed bassoon in the Grant Park Symphony, Lake Forest Symphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony, and Northbrook Symphony, and the Southwest Symphony Orchestra, amongst others.

Christine Boddicker – Voice / Piano I Available Tues - Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / In-home
Christine Boddicker has praised for her “powerful, multi-colored mezzo” (South Florida Classical Review), her 2023-2024 season included a house and role debuts at Lyric Opera of Kansas City (Lola – Cavalleria Rusticana; Sister Berthe – The Sound of Music; Stéphano – Roméo et Juliette; Wellgunde – Journey to Valhalla). Ms. Boddicker also participated in the world premiere of The Haberdasher Prince, a family opera commissioned by LOKC. Other recent engagements include a house debut with Ars Lyrica Houston and concert appearances with Grant Park Chorus. She holds degrees from University of Houston (MM – Performance) and Michigan State University (BM – Performance).
Kasey Pennington – Piano / Voice I Available Wed & Thur - St. Charles / Geneva / In-home
Kasey Pennington is a classically trained vocalist and pianist with performing experience in opera, musical theater, and contemporary repertoire. Kasey studied voice and piano at Northern Illinois University, where they received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with vocal emphasis. Kasey’s approach to teaching is student-centered, and students will learn the tools to practice and perform music in a way that can be sustainable for them as an individual.

About American Music Institute (AMI)
American Music Institute is a leading music education institution dedicated to fostering a love for music and providing high-quality instruction to students of all instruments, ages, genres and levels. AMI Campuses are located in Chicago, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Geneva, and St. Charles, IL. For more information about enrolling in lessons or any of AMI’s programs, please visit amimusic.org or contact AMI at (630) 850-8505 / AMI@amimusic.org