I M P A C T R E P O R T
Dear Friends,
We’re thrilled to share this year’s Impact Report with you, a celebration of the incredible difference your support makes across the Music Institute of Chicago community.
As the calendar year comes to a close, it’s a natural time for reflection. We are reminded of how deeply music connects us, lifts our spirits, and brings people together in celebration and shared experience. From the youngest student presenting their first recital, to seasoned performers gracing our stages, the joy of music is alive and thriving at MIC, thanks to your generosity.
Looking ahead, we’re taking a fresh approach to how we view and communicate about MIC’s finances. Our goal is greater transparency, clearer visibility into our bottom line, and a fuller picture of the impact your support makes possible.
By providing you with insight into our work, we hope you feel even more connected to the students, faculty, and programs your contributions sustain.
Together, we can ensure that every dollar invested in MIC continues to advance our mission, empower our students, and strengthen the transformative role of music in our community.
With gratitude and excitement,
Shalisa Kline Ugaz President and CEO
Timothy J. Patenode Chair, Board of Trustees
First experiences trying an instrument at a pre-concert instrument petting zoo.
MIC WELCOMES NEW LEADERSHIP
SHALISA KLINE UGAZ
President and CEO
This July, the Music Institute of Chicago was thrilled to welcome Shalisa Kline Ugaz as the new President and CEO.
A former MIC faculty member and MIC parent, Shalisa brings a lifelong passion for music and an impressive record of leadership in music education.
”I am deeply honored to lead a community where innovation, excellence, and accessibility converge.“
~ Shalisa Kline Ugaz
She founded Alegre Strings at the Merit School of Music, served as executive vice president of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and most recently was executive vice president at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where she oversaw a $21 million portfolio and teams across North America.
Shalisa is excited to strengthen MIC’s financial foundation, raise its profile across the Chicago region, and extend its community impact.
TIMOTHY J. PATENODE Chair, Board of Trustees
The Music Institute is delighted to announce Timothy Patenode as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees.
Tim brings a remarkable blend of professional expertise and a deep passion for music to MIC. A respected attorney and partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman, he led their Chicago Real Estate Litigation Practice until recently retiring after 40 years with the firm.
His leadership extends beyond the legal field—since joining MIC’s Board of Trustees in 2020, he has taken on the critical role of Treasurer, ensuring the institution’s financial strength and sustainability.
“What
I found at MIC was a stellar faculty with the expertise to enhance my skills—and what’s more, a community of musicians who believe that ‘music self-played is happiness self-made.’”
~ Timothy Patenode
Tim is a devoted MIC piano student and adult piano camp participant. MIC looks forward to his inspiring leadership.
2025 FINANCIAL YEAR REPORT
IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
- Gratz Center Downers Grove
Winnetka Lake Forest
- St. James
During the 2024–2025 academic year, MIC provided students with over $2,000,000 in scholarships, financial aid, and programmatic support.
Courses offered e 30 Instruments offered
5,650 Lesson & class enrollments 55,000 Hours of instruction SUN JAN 18 3 PM Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert FRI MAR 6 7:30 PM One Composer, One Community Music of Manuel María Ponce MON MAY 18 5:30 PM Music
MIC Faculty
CHAMBER MUSIC
The MIC Chamber Music program provides a nurturing and challenging environment for youth and adults to collaborate with other musicians in a small-group setting. The program includes weekly coachings, master class opportunities, and regular performances in informal settings as well as at Nichols Concert Hall and other performance venues.
MINELA PIANO TRIO
With the guidance of coaches Marta Aznavoorian and Sanghui Wimbiscus, Neil Eisfeldt, violin; Ella Wimbiscus, cello; and Micah Chan, piano, advanced to the semi-final round of the prestigious 2025 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
Better Together
Every soloist benefits deeply from playing in a small ensemble. Chamber music enhances the very skills soloists rely on: listening, phrasing, technique, and interpretation.
“Chamber music teaches us to listen in a deeper way,” explains Dr. Daniel Baer, MIC piano faculty and director of the chamber music program since 2022. “The more we can hear in our own playing, the deeper and more meaningful a performance becomes. Playing chamber music makes us more imaginative musicians when we play our solo music because we begin to hear in greater detail. The inspiration that we find in one another encourages us to practice more.”
CHAMBER MUSIC FOR ADULTS AT MIC
Violinists Aili Simpson and Diane Zervas and pianist Jason Klein perform at Nichols Concert Hall.
Inspiring Musical Growth
No matter one’s age or proficiency, chamber music sharpens core skills:
Listening and collaboration
Blending with others and responding to visual and musical cues
Rhythm and timing
Strengthening internal pulse and precision
Musicianship
Reacting to group dynamics to deepen musical interpretation
Accountability and motivation
Group rehearsals encourage consistent practice and goal-setting TEAMWORK
“
We spend so much of our time alone in the practice room so that we can share our art with others. Playing chamber music allows us to play music with our friends and family; we build a community of people creating art together.”
~ Dr. Daniel Baer, Chamber Music Program Director
ACCOUNTABILITY
FOCUS AND RESPONSIBILITY
CONFIDENCE
CHICAGO THIRD COAST
SUZUKI
STRINGS
MIC's Third Coast Suzuki Strings program for violinists takes place in collaboration with the McCormick Tribune YMCA in Chicago’s Hermosa/Humboldt Park neighborhood.
This past year, the program brought 40 weeks of Suzuki group and private lessons to 15 violinists from underresourced Chicago neighborhoods
100% tuition-free .
Third Coast Suzuki Strings with program leaders Karin Addis and John Glew.
In addition to the Chicago Third Coast Suzuki Strings program, MIC served an additional 39 cellists in the Evanston branch of the Third Coast program.
THANK YOU TO THIRD COAST SUZUKI STRINGS SUPPORTERS
The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation • City of Evanston William Harris Lee & Company • Dr. Scholl Foundation
Farny R. Wurlitzer Fund from the DeKalb County Community Foundation
MIC SUZUKI TEACHERS PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION
Barston Suzuki Center
Named for Dean Emeritus Gilda Barston, who taught at the Music Institute and first brought the Suzuki Method to the Music Institute five decades ago, MIC's Barston Suzuki Center is one of the largest and most highly regarded Suzuki education centers in the country. In addition to Suzuki lessons and classes, winter workshops, performance opportunities, and Summer Chicago Suzuki Institute, the center provides robust training for professional musicians interested in sharing their love of music and teaching through the Suzuki Method.
The Suzuki Method is a philosophy that aims to teach children how to play music through the mother tongue approach. Dr. Suzuki's goal was to go beyond the development of professional musicians and create character development through a nurturing approach to learning. Some of the features of the Suzuki Method are parent involvement, early beginning, listening, repetition, environment, social component, repertoire, and reading. With in-person and online options, the 2024–2025 teacher training courses reached more than 50 teachers across 21 states, three Canadian provinces, Panama, and Brazil.
Meet the Barston Suzuki Center Teacher Trainers
ANN MONTZKA SMELSER
Violin Teacher
Training Faculty
SARAH MONTZKA
Suzuki Violin and Viola Faculty Associate Director, Barston Suzuki Center
TANYA CAREY
Suzuki Cello Faculty
AVI FRIEDLANDER
Suzuki Cello Faculty Director, Barston Suzuki Center
AUBREY FAITH-SLAKER
Suzuki Piano Faculty
MERET BITTICKS
Suzuki Flute Faculty
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
The Academy moved to the Music Institute's Evanston Campus for the 2024–2025 season.
The orchestra was able to rehearse on stage at Nichols Concert Hall, and, for the first time since the inception of the program, students in the group piano classes benefited from an expanded curriculum that included keyboard literature, history, and piano improvisation, plus the addition of classroom instruction in organ, harpsichord, Lieder accompaniment, and sight-reading.
From the Top!
Academy students are often featured on From the Top, the largest national platform celebrating classically trained young musicians. Through NPR broadcasts and digital content, young musicians are empowered to use their music and stories to engage and inspire audiences of all ages.
Violinist Lily Sullivan and cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky with host Peter Dugan. Search for show #459 at fromthetop.org to listen to their program.
ACADEMY MASTER CLASSES
2024–2025
Academy students have the rewarding experience of working with the most esteemed artists and renowned pedagogues in the country. Each Saturday, students gather for insightful master classes and enrichment offerings that create new awareness and understanding of the arts at large. Master classes provide tailored direction on technique, style, and interpretation, while offering new insights that deepen students understanding.
(L–R) Sasha Varchenko, Lauren Kim, and Emily Chen with Midori after the October 12, 2024 Academy Master Class.
Guests artists from Curtis Institute of Music, University of Michigan, Colburn School, and Indiana University, as well as musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra, were among those working with Academy students last year.
LONGSTANDING COLLABORATION PROVIDES MASTER CLASS MAGIC
Thanks to a longstanding and rewarding collaboration with the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, artists from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center provide master classes for Academy students.
This year, esteemed pianist Wu Han, cellist Sterling Elliott, violist Matthew Lipman, and violinist Julian Rhee worked with Academy musicians. Lipman and Rhee are both Academy alumni. To have former students, now amazing artists in their own right, return to provide the same master classes they enjoyed while enrolled in the Academy, is both an inspiration and a testament to the strength of the program.
Neena Agrawal and Vivian
Van de Sype Cucu with Matthew Lipman
MATTHEW LIPMAN
JULIAN RHEE VIOLIN
KEEPING A COMPETITIVE EDGE
Music competitions provide Academy students valuable performance experience and motivate musicians to prepare advanced repertoire at the highest level. In addition, competitions present opportunities for students to network with peers and faculty from across the country and around the world and help students to foster key musical relationships, as well as build their reputations on regional, national, and international stages.
This past season, Academy students prepared to compete in some of the most demanding and respected solo and ensemble competitions.
A WINNING COMBINATION
Musicians Club of Women Junior Scholarship
2025 Nerenberg Award
Emily Chen, violin student of Almita Vamos and Injoo Cho
13th Annual A.N. And Pearl G. Barnett
Chamber Music Competition
First Place, Piano and Strings Division: The Hemingway Quartet
Romeo Vashishth, Elle Cho, and
Sebatian Manning, violin and viola
Lucy Wu, cello • Coached by Paul Zafer
Caspian String Quartet
Lily Sullivan and Tristan Zhu, violin
Vivian Van de Sype Cucu, viola • Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, cello
Coached by Rodolfo Vieira
2025 St. Paul String Quartet Competition
Silver Medal Winner and BIPOC Prize ~ Caspian String Quartet
Bronze Medal: Porphyrion Quartet
Sasha Verchenko and Mingshi Xia, violin
Neena Agrawal, viola • Simon Updegraff, cello
Coached by Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff
2025 MYA Chicago National Chamber Music Competition
Open Division Overall Winner:
Caspian String Quartet
30th Annual Rembrandt Chamber Musicians High School
Chamber Music Competition
First Place, Strings and Piano Category Winne:r
Caspian String Quartet
NICHOLS CONCERT HALL
In addition to welcoming the Academy program for the 2024–2025 season, Nichols Concert Hall forged a new partnership with five resident ensembles.
These groups showcase the breadth and depth of great music-making in Chicago and complement the Music Institute’s own “Nichols Concert Hall Presents” series, as well as the robust calendar of Music Institute faculty and student performances and other special events throughout the year. In addition, resident ensembles expand enrichment opportunities available to MIC students through master classes, open rehearsals, and other educational offerings.
Summer Refresh and Repair
The summer months brought important repairs and enhancements to Nichols Concert Hall, MIC's 113year-old historic landmark building. The front stairs underwent critical repair, the Grove Street door timing system was repaired to ensure safety as people enter and exit the building, the 2003 carpet was replaced, the lobby and stage had plaster repairs, and a new coat of paint refreshed the stage walls, doors, and 10 stained glass window frames. Benches received a new coast of varnish, and lighting repairs enhanced aesthetics and provided better lighting.
Evanston Dance Center performers at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert, January 18, 2025. Each year MIC collaborates with community leaders and arts organizations to learn, share, celebrate, and connect in honor of Dr. King's legacy.
FALL FUNDRAISER CONCERT
On November 3, 2024 students and faculty filled Nichols Concert Hall with music as part of the annual Fall Fundraiser Concert. Each year, MIC showcases students, from near beginners to polished, pre-conservatory performers, in a celebration of the MIC community, its mission, and the transformative power of music.
In addition to an amazing array of performances, concertgoers enjoyed sweet treats, conversation, and festivities including a fabulous and fun photo booth following the concert.
$113,600 Raised!
Thanks to a generous donor, contributions were matched up to $50,000, more than doubling the previous year’s total. Funds raised support faculty development, community programming, diversity initiatives, scholarships, and financial aid.
Host Committee
Kathy Nordmeyer • Renée Parquette Zalman Usiskin
Teacher of Note Awards
MIC presented its second annual "Teacher of Note" awards, created to honor and express appreciation for MIC's internationally acclaimed faculty. Award recipients represent the excellence of the entire MIC faculty and demonstrate dedication, enthusiasm, and inspiration in their teaching.
2025 Teachers of Note Award Recipients
Avi Friedlander, cello Davis King, violin
The most satisfying part of teaching is when a student can do something they could not do before. ”
~Davis King
Students from the more advanced Book 5-7 Suzuki Cello Repertoire class performed for the Fall Fundraiser audience and younger Third Coast Suzuki students. Suzuki cello faculty decided to add cello choir to the class's curriculum to give young musicians the opportunity to learn cello ensemble music.
Many of the 69 faculty and students involved in the Fall Fundraiser.
Davis King received the "Teacher of Note Award" from Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs, Emily Abraham, and his student, Xiruo Wang.
(L–R) Emily Abraham; Renée Parquette, trustee and Fall Fundraiser co-chair; voice faculty Barbara Ann Martin; and Zalman Usiskin, trustee and Fall Fundraiser co-chair.
ONE COMPOSER, ONE COMMUNITY
Florence Price
2024-2025 Featured Composer
First launched in 2021, One Composer, One Community focuses on the life and work of a single, historically underrepresented composer. Throughout the academic year their work is incorporated into teaching studios and performances at Nichols Concert Hall. In addition, workshops, panels, and other enrichment opportunities offer insight into the life and work of the featured composer.
During the 2024–2025 season, One Composer, One Community highlighted the life and work of Florence Price (1887–1953), who wrote more than 300 works as a Chicago artist and teacher. Price was the first Black female composer to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra, yet she struggled for recognition within her lifetime.
Professional Development Panel
In February, Matt Boresi, director of special initiatives, organized a professional development panel for Music Institute faculty and members of the Chicago Consortium of Community Music Schools featuring world-class scholars and interpreters of Price’s work, including:
Dr. Samantha Ege, award-winning researcher and musicologist, internationally recognized concert pianist, author of South Side Impresarios: How Race Women Transformed Chicago's Classical Music Scene and editor of the Cambridge Companion to Florence B. Price.
Dr. Louise Toppin, critically acclaimed operatic, orchestral, and oratorio performer and scholar on the music of African American composers; winner of Touchstone Award for Broadcast Journalism for the Florence Price episode of her radio series "Conversation in African American Music."
Rachel Barton Pine, American violinist, Music Institute alumna, and Life Trustee, who recorded Violin Concertos by Black Composers Through the Centuries: 25th Anniversary Edition, which features Pine’s new recording of Price’s Violin Concerto No. 2 (2022).
One Composer, One Community on the Road and in Concert
people inspired
40 panel viewers
600 children reached
Dr. Traci Lombré
On Friday, May 2, the Music Institute visited 600 Haven Middle School students in Evanston to present a short concert featuring Price's work, facilitate an interactive discussion, and offer the world premiere of performance artist K-Love's "The Little Rock" (pictured below) in honor of Price’s enduring legacy.
Later that evening, MIC families and the wider community convened at Nichols Concert Hall to celebrate Price with a free public concert featuring her compositions and special remarks from Dr. Traci Lombré, a cultural historian and ethnomusicologist.
Concertgoers learned more about the life and work of Florence Price before the concert.
(L–R) Rich and Lee Anne Stoddart, Renée Parquette, Matt Boresi, and Barb and Peter Sereda
MIC students and faculty members performed 14 Price compositions and K-Love offered the public premiere of "A Little Rock " to an enthusiastic audience.
2025 One Composer, One Community activities were made possible in part through the special advocacy and matching gift support provided by MIC Trustee Barbara Sereda and her husband, Peter.
GALA BENEFIT MAY 13, 2025
HONORARY CO-CHAIRS
John and Fran Edwardson
GALA CO-CHAIRS
Alexandra C. Nichols
Timothy Patenode
Scott Verschoor
The Music Institute of Chicago welcomed more than 250 guests to its Annual Gala on Monday, May 13 at The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.
The event raised nearly $700,000 from a combination of ticket sales and corporate, foundation, and individual sponsorships and contributions.
The evening included a private cocktail reception, a lively processional into the ballroom featuring traditional Cuban music, an elegant dinner and performances by Music Institute solo musicians and ensembles, and the annual award ceremony recogizing key arts advocates and musicians.
Highlights of the evening included the presentation of the David and Dorothy Dushkin Award to clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, the Cultural Visionary Award for Chicago to J. Thomas Hurvis, and the Richard D. Colburn Award for Teaching Excellence to Sang Mee Lee.
The festivities concluded with a spectacular performance from D’Rivera and guitarist Fareed Haque, which prompted a standing ovation!
GRAND BENEFACTOR
John and Paulinen Fife
John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols Family Foundation
BENEFACTOR
Edwardson Family Foundation
J. Thomas Hurvis and Ann Andersen
ITW
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
Scott and Areta Verschoor and KPMG
Tom Hurvis received the Cultural Visionary Award from MIC Board Chair Emeritus, Alexandra Nichols.
MIC Academy alumnus Sameer Agrawal (now a student of Midori at the Curtis Institute of Music) and his sister Neena, an Academy violist, performed for, and presented the Richard D. Colburn Award for Teaching Excellence to, their teacher and mentor, MIC String Department Chair and alumna, Sang Mee Lee.
“I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for my six years studying with Ms. Lee. She will always be one of the most inspiring, dedicated, patient, and thoughtful people in my life.” ~ Sameer Agrawal
“ Through every challenge, Ms. Lee has provided me with unwavering support. I am eternally grateful to her for guiding me through pivotal decisions ... and shaping me into the violist I am today.” ~ Neena Agrawal
MIC Board of Trustees
DONORS LIKE YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE!
The following list recognizes friends of the Music Institute of Chicago who contributed $250 or more cumulatively between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025. MIC is grateful to all the individuals, foundations, and companies that made gifts of all sizes to support MIC's mission.
$100,000 and more
The Grainger Foundation
The Negaunee Foundation
John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols* Family Foundation
$50,000 to $99,999
John and Pauline Fife
Illinois Arts Council Agency
ITA
The Julian Family Foundation
$25,000 to $49,999
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
Edwardson Family Foundation
J. Thomas Hurvis and Ann Andersen
Susie Kiphart
KPMG and Scott* and Areta Verschoor
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
$10,000 to $24,999
BMO Bank
Dr. Tanya L. Carey
Henry Crown & Company
Linda and Wilbur Gantz
GCM Grosvenor
Mrs. Mona Golub
The Gross Family Fund
Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel, Jr.
Dan* and Yoo Mi Hahn
Caryn and King Harris
Irving Harris Foundation
Courtney Holohan* and Wesley Mueller
Jackson National Life Insurance and Hans* and Denitta
Germann
Nancy D. Judge
Ethelle Katz
Shiraz* and Vijay Kotte
Jim and Kay* Mabie Family
Yana Nedvetsky* and Axel Vargas
Sylvia M. Neil and Dan Fischel
Brenna and John D. Nichols III
Northern Trust Corporation
Cathy and Bill Osborn
Renée Parquette*
Timothy Patenode* and Judy Royal
Vikram K. Raghavan* and Shruthi Atmaram
Scott and Nancy Santi
Sargent Family Foundation
Barbara* and Peter Sereda
Mrs. Barbara Ann Speer
Liz Stiffel
Lee Anne* and Rich Stoddart
Jim Stone*
The John Taylor Family
Karen and Zalman* Usiskin
The Wallace Foundation
Kendra and Thys Wallace
Mr. Miles D. White
Wintrust Commercial Banking and Carlos R. Cardenas*
Zhu Family Fund*
$5,000 to $9,999
Rita and John Canning, The Canning Foundation
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Thomas and Patricia Gahlon
Paul Galvin Memorial Foundation
John R. Halligan Charitable Fund
Highland Park Community Foundation
Erin and Wellington Hsu
Jane Irwin
Karen and Mark Koulogeorge
Swati and Siddharth (Bobby) Mehta
Jeffrey and Christine Morse
Thomas R. Penrose and Michael E. Whitmore
Nancy and Marc Poggioli
Segal Family Foundation
Melanie and Christopher Thomas
Audrey Weaver
The Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation
Florian Zettelmeyer* and Meghan Busse
$1,000 to $4,999
Anonymous Gifts
5 Purple Oranges
Mrs. Gail E. Belytschko
Saurab Bhargava*
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bobins,
The Robert Thomas Bobins
Foundation
Beth and Chuck Boehrer
Mrs. Susan Bowey
Myles G. Boylan
City of Evanston
The Nick Curry and Cara Tasher Family Fund
The Howard S. Dubin
Family Foundation
Boris Duchovny
Adam Engle
Tiffany Farriss and George DeMet
The Florian Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation
Alex and Lesia Forowycz and Family
Tracy Gau
James Ginsburg and Patrice Michaels
Mark and Julia Gerstein
John and Lauren Gleason
David Goroff and Jay M. Behel
David and Marion Hanold
Ying Hirsh
Brian and Janet Hoffman
Hu Family
Jeannie and Ed James
Mr. Stephen A. Kaplan
Mrs. Paul Klimstra
Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett
Markian Kuzycz
Jessica and Alan Littmann
MacLean-Fogg Company
Ernest Mahaffey
Jean Ann and
Barry McCarthy
Susan and Stanley McCracken
The Judy and Scott McCue Fund
Judy Monroe
Diana and David Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Morrison
Kathy and Bill Newlands
Katherine L. Olson
Mr. Robert Perlmutter
Clare Pierce
Rachel Barton Pine and Gregory Pine
PJH & Associates, Inc.
Barbara Scavone
Gary Silverman
Suzanne T. Smart
Arlene Stokman
Pam and Russ Strobel
Ross* and Emily Parker
Updegraff
Miriam Van De Sype and Flavius Cucu
Charles Van Fossan
Catherine M. and Frederick H. Waddell
Eyal Wallenberg and Joe Fisher
Liam and Mara Walsh
Matthew Weisz and Kelly Tanaka
Keith and Kaori Williams
David and Eileen Zampa
$500 to $999
Anonymous Gifts
Jan Baer
Dr. Neema Bayran and Ms. Edith Diaz
Jennifer McCarthy Bienemann and Robin Bienemann
Cindy and Terry Brady
Paul* and Katie Brourman
David and Linda Campbell
Virginia and Stephen Carr
John M. Christian
Lawrence Corry
Janet and Scott Cummings
Daniel and Sharona Feller
Samuel Fifer
Sanford and Fern Finkel
Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus F. Freidheim, Jr.
Elisabeth and Robert Geraghty
Bill and Libby Graham
Jen Hanson
David Hourihane
The Karahalios Family
J. Andrew Langan
Maurice Lemon and Catherine Kallal
Annette Marek and William Dorsey
Julia Miller
Clare Muñana
Music for Life Alliance
Kathy Nordmeyer
Marta Norehad
Joan Norman
Shaun and Patricia O'Leary
Madeleine and Harvey Plonsker
Mr. Christopher and Dr. Susan Rim
Marcia and Jeff Rubin
Jason Rubinstein and Amy Francetic
Mary Kathleen Rundel Fund
Deborah and Laurence Segil
Tom and Pam Sheffield
Sam and Honey Skinner
Alexandra Stokman
Audra Wilson*
Dr. Barbara Wright-Pryor
Alexandra, Ashley and Harry Zhu
$250 to $499
Anonymous Gifts
Rishi and Susan Agrawal
Jeff and Keiko Alexander
Mikowai Ashwill
Carey and Brett August
Ravi Batista
Gershon R. Berkson
John and Patricia Berwanger
Marisa Bisbikis
Walt and Julie Busse
Wheeler Coleman
Lisa Bishoff Cornell
Laurie and Bruce Davidson
Maren W. Deaver
Mark Forbis
Louis and Ellen Fusco
Florecita Gatilao
Vic Goldberg and Pat Waldeck
Jill Goldsmith
Christine and William Guthrie
Robin and Edrene Heiss
Robert Hohf
Stefan Kartman and Jeanie Yu
David and Darlene Landsittel
Hwei and Samuel Lee
Carolyn Leman
Mrs. Little
Ying Liu and Yong Wu
Antonia Mandry
Ken and Melinda Masur
William McKinley
Ms. Jeanne Mueller
Amy and Mark Mycyk
Diane and David Onofrey
Stephen Page
Pamela Patinkin
Judy Perlman
Aaron Roberts
Kathleen Rundell
Susan Schmitt
Jennifer Seo
Jane Shapiro
Catherine Sinegal
Steven H. Sklar
Kim and Micky Sullivan
Mark and Terri Sullivan
Krikor Tchamitchian
Dennis and Ailee Wen and Family
Mrs. George Williams
In-Kind Gifts
Adam Engle
Elisabeth and Robert Geraghty
Nancy D. Judge
Antonia Mandry
Thomas R. Penrose and
Michael E. Whitmore
Gifts Received in Memory of
Edward J. George
Ilan Hurtado
Yasuko Joichii
Frank Little
Henry Mitchell
John D. Nichols
Edward Scott
Abraham Stokman
Gifts Received in Honor of
Emily Abraham
Phyllis Adams
Dr. Marie Alatalo
Erica Anderson
Marta Aznavoorian
Jennifer McCarthy Bienemann
Paul Brourman*
Louise Chan
Brad Conroy
Timothy Cook
Lisa Cornell
Barbara Drapcho
Paquito D’Rivera
Elaine Felder
Avi Friedlander
Dr. Mark George
Aria Humbracht
J. Thomas Hurivs
Ethelle Katz
Davis King
Hope Lang
Mr. Phillip Lee
Sang Mee Lee
Linden Leman
Dorothy Lloyd
Zaid and Alexandra Mateos
Stanley R. Mehaffey
MIC Development Team
MIC Senior Staff
Drs. Merle and Sam Mindel
Audrey Morrison
Claire and Ralph Neiweem
Alexandra C. Nichols
Kate (Kaoru) Nir
Patrick O’Malley
Renée Parquette
Timothy Patenode
Katherine Petersen
Bianca d’Avila do Prado
Marcia Rubin
Everardo Sanchez
Freya Seigfried
Barbara Sereda*
Lee Ann* and Rich Stoddart
Mrs. Arlene Stokman
Shalisa Kline Ugaz
Zalman Usiskin*
Almita Vamos
Scott Verschoor*
Danny Wallenberg
George M. Williams
Audra Wilson*
Weihua Ye and Tao Zhu
Lisa Zilberman
MIC Adult Piano Camp Faculty * Trustee Patron Society
Patron Society members generously contribute $1,500 or more to support general operating needs.
SCHOLARSHIPS
artists of tomorrow gifted scholars
gilda barston suzuki cello scholarship
emma c . buccheri memorial endowment
dr . tanya l . carey cello scholarship
richard d . colburn scholarship
avi friedlander scholarship / the curry award of excellence
elliot and mona golub family violin scholarship
diane schroeder harris memorial scholarship
ilan hurtado suzuki cello scholarship
mindy and walter kelly scholarship
klimstra family piano scholarship
frank e . little music scholarship fund
negaunee foundation
jean beaverson pettibone scholarship fund
john piepgras adult piano camp scholarship
rachel barton pine violin chair
mi ldred robbins piano
scholarship
st . james chorister
special award
suzuki workshop
scholarship fund
almita vamos violin and viola scholarship
the wallace foundation
suzuki piano program scholarship
THE MUSIC INSTITUTE THANKS THE FOLLOWING I NSTITUTIONAL SUPPORTERSTERS
paul m . angell family foundation
edwardson family foundation
john and pauline fife
john r . halligan charitable fund
william harris lee & co . the negaunee foundation
alexandra c . and john d . nichols family foundation
northern trust
the julian family foundation
the kiphart family foundation
sargent family foundation
shure
the wallace foundation
THE MUSIC INSTITUTE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THE FOLLOWING GENEROUS SUPPORTERS
farny r . wurlitzer fund from the dekalb county community foundation
evanston arts council , a city agency
supported by the city of evanston
highland park community foundation
illinois arts council , a state agency
national endowment for the arts , a federal agency
2025-2026 BOARD
OF TRUSTEES
Tim Patenode, Chair
Alexandra C. Nichols, Chair Emerita
Hans Germann, Treasurer
Barbara Sereda, Secretary
Carlos R. Cardenas, Vice Chair
Shiraz Kotte, Vice Chair
Lee Anne Stoddart, Vice Chair
Saurab Bhargava
Paul Brourman
Daniel Hahn
Courtney Holohan
Kay Mabie
Yana Nedvetsky
Renée Parquette
Vikram Raghavan
Jim Stone
Ross Updegraff
Zalman Usiskin
Scott Verschoor
Audra Wilson
Florian Zettelmeyer
Tao Zhu
LIFE TRUSTEES
John J. Berwanger
Mitzi Freidheim
Brooks Morgan
Rachel Barton Pine
Priscilla F. Richman
William N. Topaz
HONORARY BOARD
Robert Chen
Roberto Diaz
Peter Dushkin
John and Fran Edwardson
James Ginsburg
Wu Han
Jennifer Koh
Nina Kraus
Cathy and Bill Osborn
Marcus Roberts
Deborah F. Rutter
Scott and Nancy Santi
Rick Waddell
EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEES
Christopher Rintz
Shalisa Kline Ugaz
STUDENT
APPRECIATION WEEK
Special thanks to our incredible photographers Mike Grittani, Layne Dixon, and Mary Rafferty.
