Private Lessons
Rebecca VanDeCasteele
Flute Instructor
rvandy05@gmail.com
630-740-6449
Rebecca VandeCasteele lives in the Center Cass Community of Woodridge and District 61 schools and performs locally with the Center Cass Community Band. She studied flute performance and music education at Iowa State University of Iowa. She brings a love for music and impeccable flute technique to our school, looking forward to developing independent, thoughtful musicians.
Alex Piela
Trumpet Instructor
Al.Piela@gmail.com
(608)334-1535
Alex Piela (M.M., Eastman School of Music) is a passionate and accomplished music performer and educator currently based in the Chicago area. He has toured across the globe, including touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra as a featured soloist, sharing the stage with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, John Pattitucci, Jeff Hirschfield, among many others. Originally from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Piela continues to be an active clinician, performer, educator, and throughout the midwest, including directing the Concordia University Jazz Ensemble and being an active member of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic educational outreach program. In his spare time, Piela enjoys jogging, photography, and hiking. (alpiela.com)
Nancy Botti
Clarinet Instructor
nrrbotti@gmail.com
(630)263-8322
Mrs. Botti has a comprehensive background teaching instrumental music which includes clarinet private lessons and ensemble coaching as well as band and orchestra instruction in grades 3-12. She also has experience as a music coordinator, overseeing the instrumental music program in eleven schools. A former member of the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra in Naperville, she holds degrees from Western Illinois University (B.A.) and DePaul University (M.M.Ed.) with additional coursework from Vandercook College of Music. Mrs. Botti’s favorite leisurely activity is spending time on the beach in Hawaii with her husband, Mark. Aloha!
Henry Carpender
Trombone Instructor
henrycarp.trombone@gmail.com
(224)567-1333
Henry Carpender was born and raised in Mundelein, and grew up working and playing in the city of Chicago. In May of 2020, Henry is a graduate from the Eastman School of Music with a degree in Classical Trombone Performance, and has a Masters Degree in from DePaul University’s School of Music.
As a trombonist, Henry has had the opportunity to work with leaders in the fields of jazz music, classical music, chamber music, and brass pedagogy such as Steve Menard, Jay Friedman, and the Canadian Brass. As a freelance artist in the Chicagoland area, Henry has shared the stage with many stellar musicians and producers.
When not playing trombone, writing, or teaching, Henry enjoys spending time with the family cat, engaging in political activism, and writing about music.
Alex Beltran
Saxophone Instructor
alexdbeltran@gmail.com
(630)240-0856
Alex received his Bachelor degree from Indiana University and his Master Degree from DePaul University where he studied with David Baker, Jim Snidero,and many others. In 2008, Alex made Chicago his home and quickly became an active member of the local and regional music scenes. Alex’s quintet, Merge, has released two albums of original modern jazz that have received praise from musicians and critics alike.
Alex has performed in both large and small venues across the country, under his own name and with musicians such as Jeff Hamilton, Phil Woods, Tim Ries, Ira Sullivan, Luis Bonilla, John Fedchok, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, the Chicago Yestet, and many others. In addition to his busy performing schedule, Alex is proud to be a Vandoren Performing Artist and maintains an active studio, helping a younger generation discover the beauty of music.
Sarah Younker
French Horn Instructor
sarah.anne.younker@gmail.com
(630) 272-1801
Sarah Younker is a French hornist based in Chicago. In addition to the orchestral, operatic, and chamber music experience of a traditional French hornist. She haas extensive theatrical experience, having performed for a wide variety of award-winning theater companies including Disney's Frozen (North American Tour), Porchlight Music Theater, The Mercury Theater, and The House Theater of Chicago. Sarah performs regularly with big bands, both as a section player and a soloist, and smaller jazz ensembles.
Sarah earned her Bachelor’s of Music in Horn Performance from the University of Illinois, studying under Kazimierz Machala. She has held the position of second horn with the Beloit-Janesville Symphony Orchestra since 2021 and has performed with many other regional orchestras, including the Omaha Symphony and Des Moines Metro Opera,
A creative and engaging teacher, Sarah particularly enjoys working with 4th-12th grade horn players and adult hobbyists. For the past 16 years, Sarah’s students have regularly placed and participated in ILMEA, area youth symphonies, summer music camps, concerto competitions, and other extracurricular music festivals and activities.
Jenna DiSandro
Double Reed (Oboe and Bassoon) Instructor
jenna.disandro@gmail.com
Ryan Danikowski
Euphonium and Tuba Instructor
ryan.danikowski98@gmail.com
630-465-1689
Percussion
Patrick Rheingruber
708-341-0448
prheingruber@csd99.org
Flute Instructor
rvandy05@gmail.com
630-740-6449
Rebecca VandeCasteele lives in the Center Cass Community of Woodridge and District 61 schools and performs locally with the Center Cass Community Band. She studied flute performance and music education at Iowa State University of Iowa. She brings a love for music and impeccable flute technique to our school, looking forward to developing independent, thoughtful musicians.
Alex Piela
Trumpet Instructor
Al.Piela@gmail.com
(608)334-1535
Alex Piela (M.M., Eastman School of Music) is a passionate and accomplished music performer and educator currently based in the Chicago area. He has toured across the globe, including touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra as a featured soloist, sharing the stage with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, John Pattitucci, Jeff Hirschfield, among many others. Originally from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Piela continues to be an active clinician, performer, educator, and throughout the midwest, including directing the Concordia University Jazz Ensemble and being an active member of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic educational outreach program. In his spare time, Piela enjoys jogging, photography, and hiking. (alpiela.com)
Nancy Botti
Clarinet Instructor
nrrbotti@gmail.com
(630)263-8322
Mrs. Botti has a comprehensive background teaching instrumental music which includes clarinet private lessons and ensemble coaching as well as band and orchestra instruction in grades 3-12. She also has experience as a music coordinator, overseeing the instrumental music program in eleven schools. A former member of the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra in Naperville, she holds degrees from Western Illinois University (B.A.) and DePaul University (M.M.Ed.) with additional coursework from Vandercook College of Music. Mrs. Botti’s favorite leisurely activity is spending time on the beach in Hawaii with her husband, Mark. Aloha!
Henry Carpender
Trombone Instructor
henrycarp.trombone@gmail.com
(224)567-1333
Henry Carpender was born and raised in Mundelein, and grew up working and playing in the city of Chicago. In May of 2020, Henry is a graduate from the Eastman School of Music with a degree in Classical Trombone Performance, and has a Masters Degree in from DePaul University’s School of Music.
As a trombonist, Henry has had the opportunity to work with leaders in the fields of jazz music, classical music, chamber music, and brass pedagogy such as Steve Menard, Jay Friedman, and the Canadian Brass. As a freelance artist in the Chicagoland area, Henry has shared the stage with many stellar musicians and producers.
When not playing trombone, writing, or teaching, Henry enjoys spending time with the family cat, engaging in political activism, and writing about music.
Alex Beltran
Saxophone Instructor
alexdbeltran@gmail.com
(630)240-0856
Alex received his Bachelor degree from Indiana University and his Master Degree from DePaul University where he studied with David Baker, Jim Snidero,and many others. In 2008, Alex made Chicago his home and quickly became an active member of the local and regional music scenes. Alex’s quintet, Merge, has released two albums of original modern jazz that have received praise from musicians and critics alike.
Alex has performed in both large and small venues across the country, under his own name and with musicians such as Jeff Hamilton, Phil Woods, Tim Ries, Ira Sullivan, Luis Bonilla, John Fedchok, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, the Chicago Yestet, and many others. In addition to his busy performing schedule, Alex is proud to be a Vandoren Performing Artist and maintains an active studio, helping a younger generation discover the beauty of music.
Sarah Younker
French Horn Instructor
sarah.anne.younker@gmail.com
(630) 272-1801
Sarah Younker is a French hornist based in Chicago. In addition to the orchestral, operatic, and chamber music experience of a traditional French hornist. She haas extensive theatrical experience, having performed for a wide variety of award-winning theater companies including Disney's Frozen (North American Tour), Porchlight Music Theater, The Mercury Theater, and The House Theater of Chicago. Sarah performs regularly with big bands, both as a section player and a soloist, and smaller jazz ensembles.
Sarah earned her Bachelor’s of Music in Horn Performance from the University of Illinois, studying under Kazimierz Machala. She has held the position of second horn with the Beloit-Janesville Symphony Orchestra since 2021 and has performed with many other regional orchestras, including the Omaha Symphony and Des Moines Metro Opera,
A creative and engaging teacher, Sarah particularly enjoys working with 4th-12th grade horn players and adult hobbyists. For the past 16 years, Sarah’s students have regularly placed and participated in ILMEA, area youth symphonies, summer music camps, concerto competitions, and other extracurricular music festivals and activities.
Jenna DiSandro
Double Reed (Oboe and Bassoon) Instructor
jenna.disandro@gmail.com
Ryan Danikowski
Euphonium and Tuba Instructor
ryan.danikowski98@gmail.com
630-465-1689
Percussion
Patrick Rheingruber
708-341-0448
prheingruber@csd99.org