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Ellman's Piano Lessons

Call 630-355-5880 to Book a Lesson!

Our talented, and experienced instructors look forward to meeting and working with you!

Caitlin Meaker - Lesson Coordinator

Piano

Caitlin is a classically trained pianist and contralto with experience performing in the US and across Europe in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France. In addition to piano and voice, she also has proficient experience playing and teaching clarinet, saxophone, and ukulele.
While in college, Caitlin successfully ran her own private lesson studio, teaching over 40 students weekly! Caitlin graduated in 2020 with her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. After which, she began teaching general elementary music, and Junior High band and chorus in the Peoria area. While she loved teaching in schools, Caitlin feels a stronger connection to music and to teaching through the personalized setting that private lessons offer.

In 2024 Caitlin moved to the Naperville area where she joined the staff at Ellman's Music Center as Lesson Coordinator. She helped create and launch the lesson program that we have now! With her long history in teaching music and working in the music industry, we are thrilled to have Caitlin as our first Lesson Coordinator in over 25 years!

Carrie Tedrahn

Piano

With a specialty teaching piano, Carrie Tedrahn is the director and owner of Early Notes Music Studio. She began teaching Kindermusik at Benedictine University in January 1997 when she opened the studio. She is an active percussionist performing with the St. John Brass Ensemble and various local orchestras on an as needed basis. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Elmhurst College and earned her MBA at Lewis University.

In addition to her private studio classes and lessons, Carrie has taught Pre- K -2nd grade classroom music at St. John Lutheran School in Wheaton, IL. She has volunteered her time to work with School District 200's early childhood intervention program teaching the Kindermusik program in the late 1990's. Carrie is a member of the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association (ECMMA) and Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Recently, Carrie has added playing organ for worship service in local Lutheran churches to her repertoire of skills.

Her favorite music selections include Classical, Sacred, Jazz, and Pop. She loves variety and balance. 

Jovanni LaPorte

Piano

Jovanni LaPorte is a dedicated music educator with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University. With 14 years of piano experience, 9 years of music composition and arrangement, and 8 years of playing low brass, Jovanni brings a wealth of musical expertise to his teaching.

While at NIU, Jovanni had the privilege of studying under their esteemed music education faculty and gained a solid foundation in pedagogy. Additionally, he deepened his knowledge of early jazz through mentorship with renowned jazz historian and musician Andy Schumm. Schumm, known for his leadership of The Chicago Cellar Boys, a 1920s-1930s jazz ensemble performing weekly at the Green Mill in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, significantly influenced Jovanni's appreciation and understanding of traditional jazz styles.

Jovanni is excited to bring his diverse musical background and passion for teaching to his students at Ellman's Music Center in Naperville, IL, fostering a love for music and helping them achieve their musical goals.

Matthew Alfrey

Piano

Matt Alfrey is a Lyric Bass trained in the Bel Canto method of singing. He graduated with a Masters of Music: Vocal Performance from Northern Illinois University in 2020 and got his Bachelors of Arts in Music from North Central College in 2018, with multiple music scholarships.

Matt is offering voice lessons for a range of styles and techniques: classical, Broadway, Rock, Country, and Pop to name a few.

He sings with Cor Cantiamo in DeKalb, IL led by NIU choral director Dr. Eric Johnson and traveled with them to England in 2023 to sing at Exeter Cathedral’s Evensong services. Matt also has a background in Piano, playing the likes of Beethoven, Liszt and Chopin.

In addition to his piano and vocal experience, Matt also plays percussion including drum set, mallets, timpani as well as solo snare drum. He performed with the Naperville Winds in 2022.

Matt's teaching philosophy focuses on learning the technical aspects of the instrument while also making learning fun for his students.

Sunica Markovic

Piano

Ms. Sunica Markovic is an accomplished classically trained pianist, a composer and a recording artist. She is also the owner of Amadeus Music School located in Naperville, Illinois. Since 1987 her studio has been an inspiration to others for the teaching and enhancement of musical arts. All ages and levels are welcome for piano and music theory instruction. Ms. Markovic has since the age of 5 taken formal instruction in piano from highly acclaimed institutions in Europe, where she grew up. Sunica Markovic has self produced 7 audio Cd's (65 sound tracks) of her own original instrumental music.

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