AMI Welcomes - New Music Faculty

American Music Institute - located in Chicago and western suburbs, is proud to introduce our NEW Music Faculty Members: Christine Boddicker, Kasey Pennington, Wonseok Lee, Emma Hinkle, and College Faculty Members: Yang Liu and Olivia I-Hsuan Tsai. Our faculty members are available for lessons on campus and in-home. AMI Campuses are located in Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Geneva, and St. Charles, IL. Scheduling a trial lesson today with an Award Winning AMI Faculty Member… [email protected] - 630-850-850 - www.amimusic.org.

Christine Boddicker – Voice, Piano / 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 / 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. For years, Kasey has been singing in theatrical productions throughout northern Illinois and is a member of Stagecoach Players in DeKalb, where they recently performed in Beauty and the Beast at the historic Egyptian Theatre. As a pianist, Kasey has been playing for over 15 years and has participated in various recitals at NIU, most notably performing sets of Scott Joplin and Mozart.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.

Wonseok Lee – Piano, Voice / Available Sat - Clarendon Hills / Downers Grove / In-home
Wonseok Lee is a performing pianist and teacher. He received his Masters of Music from Northern Illinois University (NIU) in piano performance and vocal coaching. Mr. Lee was interested in teaching music and thinking about other ways to approach music education. While doing music activities as an undergraduate, Wonseok attended Sohyun Middle School, Eondong Middle School, and Jwahang Elementary School in South Korea as a class assistant so that he learned how to learn music by interacting with students. As Graduate Assistant at NIU, he works with students as a choir accompanist. He teaches children not only the joy of music but also the responsibility and spirit of challenging themselves.

Emma Hinkle – Brass, Piano / Available Tues & Sat - St. Charles / Geneva / Downers Grove / Clarendon Hills / In-home
Emma Hinkle received her BM from Kent State University in Horn Performance and MM in Horn Performance at Northern Illinois University. She has regularly been involved with various groups and ensembles around the greater Chicago area and the Midwest such as Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, among others. Students will continue to learn about their instrument and how to improve their playing through different styles, basic music theory, and overall becoming a well-rounded musician.

Yang Liu – Violin College Faculty / Available Mon - Clarendon Hills / Virtual
Violinist Yang Liu is enjoying his life in music-making on stages across the continents. He tours in North America, South America and Asia with world-leading orchestras, Mr. Liu also travels with his wife Olivia as duo Yang and Olivia in concert tours across the United States and Asia, sharing their love, joy and faith through music. An avid advocate of cultural diversity, equality and inclusion via classical music, he is a founder of Yang and Olivia Foundation and Momento Virtuosi, a chamber ensemble of diverse ethnicity and instrumentation. Yang Liu is the prize winner of the Twelfth International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, first prize winner of the American Prize in String Performance in 2023, the 2022 Medici International Competition, the 2021 International Artists Award Competition, and China’s 5th National Competition.

Olivia I-Hsuan Tsai – Piano College Faculty / Available Mon - Clarendon Hills / Virtual
Dr. Olivia I-Hsuan Tsai is an associate professor at VanderCook College of Music and a Fulbright Scholar of 2024-2025. She is a frequent presenter at major conferences such as the College Music Society, Music Teachers National Association, National Conference of Keyboard Pedagogy, and Illinois Music Teachers Association, featuring music of diverse cultural influences. Her book “Schubert’s Piano Trios” was published by Scholar’s Press in Germany in 2014. Dr. Tsai was appointed in 2017 as a guest professor at Lanzhou Northwestern University. She also performs at many colleges and universities, including Roosevelt University and Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Coastal Carolina College in NC and Nebraska University in Kearney. In addition, Dr. Tsai has appeared as a soloist with QingDao Concert Hall Orchestra, Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and Highland Park Strings.

American Music Institute is a leading music education institution dedicated to providing exceptional learning experiences for musicians of all ages and skill levels. With a diverse range of programs and a team of highly qualified instructors, AMI is committed to fostering a love for music and nurturing the talents of aspiring musicians. For more info about AMI and Programs, call 630-850-8505 or visit www.amimusic.org.