Bel Canto Music Academy Faculty

Burr Ridge

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Sladjana Saric

Piano , Voice and Flute Teacher
Sladjana Saric is the founder and director of Bel Canto Music Academy with both master's and bachelor's degrees in Flute Performance from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, Serbia. She is an accomplished opera singer and concert performer in both Europe and the United States, and is currently a member of the Grammy-winning Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Lakeside Singers. Sladjana earned her Master’s in Vocal Performance from the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, Serbia, and she earned a specialization degree in Vocal Performance from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary in the class of opera star Eva Marton.
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Denise Marguerite Trautmann

Piano, Voice and Flute Teacher
Denise Trautmann is a classically trained pianist, flutist, soprano and composer. She has performed as a soloist throughout Chicago, New York, and Japan. She has played flute with the Salt Creek Sinfonietta, Manhattan Symphonie, and the New York Opera Forum at Lincoln Center. Denise has also performed with the New York Opera Forum, singing roles such as "Papagena" from Die Zauberflöte. Denise's composition, "Mélodique" was performed by 100 flutes at the 100th anniversary of the New York Flute Club, directed by flutist Nicholas Duchamp. She loves to compose for students and encourages students to use their creative imagination to the fullest. Denise also speaks French and Japanese.
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Tess Slack

Piano and Voice Teacher
Tess Slack is a classically trained soprano originally from Glen Arbor, MI. A graduate of Interlichen Atrs Academy, Tess completed her Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance at Millikin University, and her Master’s degree in Voice Performance from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. For the past few years, Tess has enjoyed teaching voice and piano in the Chicago area. Her past credits include Philadel in Purcell’s King Arthur, Cunegonde in Bernstein’s Candide, and Susanna in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro.
Milica Nikcevic

Milica Nikcević

Piano Teacher
Milica Nikcević, born on October 12, 2002, in Niksic, Montenegro, began her musical journey in her hometown. She is currently a student at the prestigious "Roosevelt University - Chicago College of Performing Arts," completing her degree in "Classical Performance," with a major in Piano, under the guidance of Grammy Award Nominee Professor Adam Neiman. Milica commenced her piano studies at the age of seven at a music school in Niksic, mentored by Professor Marijetka Nikcevic. Recognized as one of the most talented students in the school, Milica, at the request of the school director and the Ministry of Education, skipped ninth grade and enrolled in music high school. After completing her first year of high school in Niksic, she continued her education at the "Music School Tivat," under the mentorship of the eminent Professor Lidija Molchanov. Following high school, Milica's musical journey persisted at the University in Novi Sad, Serbia, where she had the opportunity to study under the mentorship of Mr. Dr. Biljana Gorunovic. Throughout her education, she performed in numerous concerts and represented her school successfully at 25 national and international piano competitions, including events in Rome, Milan, Barletta, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis, Split, Becej, Herceg Novi, Podgorica, Tivat, and more. Milica consistently achieved one of the top three prizes at all competitions, securing a significant number of first-place awards. Notable among her achievements are a special award (100 points) at the Music Competition of Montenegro, first place at the II International Piano Competition in Tivat, absolute second place in the "Young Academy Award" International Piano Competition in Rome, absolute second place in the "Citta di Barletta" International Piano Competition in Barletta, Italy, third place in the International Piano Competition in Milan, Italy, two first-place awards at the International Piano Competition in Novi Sad, five first-place awards at the Music Competition in Montenegro, and first place in the "Fantast" International Piano Competition. In addition to her solo performances and competitions, Milica actively participated as a member of various chamber ensembles and as an orchestra member. She further enriched her musical knowledge and techniques by participating in numerous seminars with renowned pedagogues and pianists from around the world, including Wolfgang Manz (Germany), Bernhard Endres (Germany), Horst Leichtfried (Austria), Maciej Zagorski (Poland), Jurij Kot (Ukraine), Boris Kraljevic (Singapore), Aleksandar Serdar (Serbia), Bojan Martinovic (Montenegro), Vladimir Bockarjov (Russia), Tatjana Prelevic (Serbia), and Vladana Kovac (Montenegro).
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Andrea Lara

Piano and Saxophone Teacher
I have a bachelors degree in music from Elmhurst College. I plan on continuing my education with a Masters in Musicology. My main instruments are saxophone and piano. I have experience teaching pre-kindergarten and young elementary students. I love the fundamentals of music and helping others express themselves with music.
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David Gillette

Guitar/Drum Teacher
David Gillette is a musician with a lifelong passion for music. He began his musical journey playing the Cornet in High School and later experimented with various instruments including drums, saxophone, guitar, and piano. Although he enjoys playing all instruments, David's true joy is found in playing guitar and performing live. As a teacher, David's philosophy is to combine deliberate practice with playing for pure enjoyment to keep his students engaged and motivated in their musical pursuits. His friendly and approachable demeanor, coupled with his extensive knowledge and expertise, make him an excellent mentor for anyone looking to improve their musical skills.
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Nicolas Muñoz

Guitar/Drum Teacher
Nicolas Muñoz is a multi-instrumentalist from Chile who is based in Chicago, IL. He has performed professionally since the age of 16, and since then he has toured across the United States. Nico is a long-time fixture of Alma Andina, a band that fuses traditional and native Latin American instruments with world rhythms and electronic sounds. Nico has made his career on his ability to play a wide range of instruments, including world percussion, drum kit, charango, pan flutes, guitar, and more. Not only does he play them solo -- he can play them all at the same time, a talent he features in his solo project “Nico’s One Man Band.” Nico began his journey with Chile Sin Fronteras, and now in his 30s, he has graced the stage freelancing with several groups back in MN (his home state). In addition to his core projects, Nico has been hired to compose and play for multiple live radio dramas, and he regularly tours, performs, and leads workshops with choral ensemble Border CrosSing among others.
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Eddie Binosi

Violin Teacher
Eddie Binosi is a musician and educator originally from Quincy, IL. He is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, where he honed his skills as a violinist. Eddie went on to study violin performance and music education at the University of Iowa during his freshman year before beginning his teaching career. Eddie is an accomplished performer and has achieved many accolades throughout his musical career. He performed the first movement of Kabalevsky's violin concerto with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra during his junior year of high school after winning the local young arts competition. He has also performed in numerous concerts and recitals, including solo performances with various orchestras. Currently, Eddie teaches violin and piano at Bel Canto Music Academy in Burr Ridge, IL. He is passionate about helping his students develop their musical abilities and find their own unique voice in music. In addition to his teaching and performing career, Eddie enjoys exploring the city of Chicago, trying new restaurants, hiking, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Overall, Eddie is a talented musician and educator who is dedicated to sharing his love of music with others. His achievements and passion for his craft are a testament to his hard work and talent.

Naperville

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Sladjana Saric

Piano , Voice and Flute Teacher
Sladjana Saric is the founder and director of Bel Canto Music Academy with both master's and bachelor's degrees in Flute Performance from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, Serbia. She is an accomplished opera singer and concert performer in both Europe and the United States, and is currently a member of the Grammy-winning Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Lakeside Singers. Sladjana earned her Master’s in Vocal Performance from the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, Serbia, and she earned a specialization degree in Vocal Performance from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary in the class of opera star Eva Marton.
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David Gillette

Guitar/Drum Teacher
David Gillette is a musician with a lifelong passion for music. He began his musical journey playing the Cornet in High School and later experimented with various instruments including drums, saxophone, guitar, and piano. Although he enjoys playing all instruments, David's true joy is found in playing guitar and performing live. As a teacher, David's philosophy is to combine deliberate practice with playing for pure enjoyment to keep his students engaged and motivated in their musical pursuits. His friendly and approachable demeanor, coupled with his extensive knowledge and expertise, make him an excellent mentor for anyone looking to improve their musical skills.
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Johnny Walylko

Voice/Piano/Guitar/Ukulele Teacher
Johnny Walylko, a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, discovered his musical passion when he stumbled upon a guitar at his best friend's house in high school. At the University of Pittsburgh, he majored in Music Performance and was awarded the Mildred Miller Posvar Scholarship for Excellent Vocal Performance. During his senior year, Johnny won the university's Battle of the Bands and released 26 singles. After college, Johnny immersed himself as a singer-guitarist, captivating audiences at weddings and corporate events for companies like Disney, Walmart, and Google. In 2020, he moved to Nice, France, to join the Gypsy Queens and perform across Europe. Johnny later returned to the U.S. to continue his work as a private performer and music teacher. Now residing in Naperville, IL, Johnny is a dedicated teacher, performer, recording artist, and serves as a combat medic in the U.S. Army Reserves.
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Frankie Palermo

Drums Teacher
Frankie Palermo has been a Professional DrumSet Performer for 51 years (since age 15) and a Professional DrumSet Instructor for 46 years. He started playing drums at the very young age of 5 and studied at The Chicago Drum School in downtown Chicago under Ernie Gadzos and Marshall Thompson for many years. Afterward, he continued his studies with the world-famous percussionist Bobby Christian. At age 15, he was accepted into the Chicago Federation of Musicians Union and began to work locally as a Professional Drummer in all types of musical situations through the Musicians Union. After completing his studies, he continued to perform both locally and on the road in all styles of music. Some of the venues that he has performed at were The Newport in Miami Beach, The Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Caesar’s Hotel in New Jersey, The Bop Shop in Chicago, Joe’s Be-Bop Cafe on Navy Pier in Chicago, The Green Mill in Chicago, Frankie’s Blue Room in Naperville, Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, and numerous Festivals, Concerts, and Nightclubs in Chicago and the surrounding Midwest. As a DrumSet Instructor, Frankie has taught on location at various instruction studios in the Chicago area. After 51 years of performing and after 46 years of teaching, he is happy to say that he is still enjoying every minute of it!
Lidiia

Lidiia Mordiuk

Violin/Viola/Piano/Voice Teacher
Lidiia Mordiuk is a versatile soloist, music performer, and instructor of violin, viola, voice, and piano. She has graced numerous international stages across Germany, Romania, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Poland, Spain, and Azerbaijan. Lidiia holds both a master's and bachelor's degree from the esteemed Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine. Additionally, she pursued further studies at the Conservatorio de Vigo in Spain through the "Erasmus+" program. As an educator, Lidiia's primary goal is to help students uncover and cultivate their musical talents while assisting them in achieving their professional aspirations. Her extensive experience includes collaborations with distinguished orchestras and ensembles such as Neue Philharmonie München, Kyiv Virtuosos, National Radio Orchestra of Ukraine, Kyiv Opera Theater, Vigo Orchestra 430, Kyiv Symphony Orchestra, and the National ensemble of soloists ``Kyiv Camerata''. Lidiia's professional development has been enriched by attending master classes led by renowned musicians such as Andrej Belov, Ivry Gitlis, Valery Sokolov, Dima Tkachenko, Diana Tishchenko, Arben Llozi, Pjeter Guralumi, Mario Peris Salom, Miroslav Pavlovic, Bogdana Pivnenko, and Eva Rabchevska. Her dedication to both music and education has allowed her to accumulate valuable experiences, which she generously shares with her students, guiding them toward both musical and personal growth.
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Jihyeon Kim (Abigail)

Violin/Cello Teacher
Jihyeon Kim (Abigail) is an accomplished cellist and recording artist who holds a Master of Music in Recording Arts and a Performer's Certificate, along with a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Northern Illinois University. She has given solo performances in Korea and the United States and has also played with various ensembles, including piano trios, string quartets, and cello octets. She is passionate about performing and teaching music and has worked with students of all ages. Her teaching philosophy is to provide students with a strong foundation in music theory and instrumental playing to help them find joy in their learning and playing experience.
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Alexandra Wilkin

Voice/Piano Teacher
With a background in Music Performance from North Central College (Class of 2021), complemented by a Dance minor, she is currently working as the Music Director at Schaumburg on Stage and Assistant Conductor for the North Central College Orchestra. She has also held roles as a Student Conductor for various ensembles including the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. She has provided private instruction specializing in piano, voice, oboe/English horn, and music theory.Alexandra is deeply passionate about teaching and sharing her knowledge with students.
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