Your Music Destination Since 1945!

Eliana Firmani Alcocer is an avid music educator and active freelance musician.  She enjoys collaborating in a variety of different settings and is passionate about helping others succeed.  Eliana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from The University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Additionally, Eliana is on the faculty at The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee, WI,  as well as a teaching artist through Ravinia’s Reach, Teach, Play program—an El Sistema program that creates social change through music in underprivileged communities.   

Benjamin Holt graduated with a music degree from UW-Parkside in 2018 after first picking up the bass in middle school. He has experience in several ensemble settings including small jazz combos and big bands, orchestras and chamber ensembles, pit bands and musicals, rock and pop bands, and accompanied and unaccompanied solo settings. While primarily focused on playing the double bass in a jazz context, he has years of experience playing the bass guitar as a secondary instrument. Benjamin regularly performs his own compositions with select groups and is currently active in the Milwaukee-Chicago jazz scene.

Benjamin’s teaching style focuses on applied music theory, ear training, reading skills, memorization, and developing versatility for different performance settings.

Caryn has been working as a professional guitarist since 1984. In this time she has performed in Rock and Blues bands and also as a solo artist.  Some of her musical experience has been commercially in the studio and also in the theater.  She has over 30 years of teaching experience including 16 years as an administrator of the Guitar department at the College of Lake County.  Her education includes a college degree in music and 12 years of classical guitar private study.  Currently she is writing and recording tracks for an album. Her teaching disciplines include: reading, theory/diatonic harmony, slide, finger style/classical, rock and blues improvisation, to name just a few.  Acoustic/ Electric Lessons Offered.

Gene has been playing guitar and performing since 1983. After studying music in college where he majored in theory and performance, he began to teach professionally in 1987. He has over 30 years of experience in most styles of music, which he brings to his lessons. Teaching disciplines that include: Reading, Theory, Composition, Ear training, Improvisation, Slide and Lead Guitar.  Besides many live band and solo performances, he has performed on an internationally released album and is currently recording his own debut album.  Acoustic/ Bass & Electric Lessons Offered.

Matt Mifflin is a multi-instrumentalist with a primary focus in guitar. In 2017 he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, WI with a bachelor’s degree in classical guitar performance and in 2020 completed his master’s degree in classical guitar performance at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. While in graduate school, he performed on the baroque guitar in the Northwestern University Baroque Music Ensemble, for he also specializes in early instruments such as the lute and baroque guitar. Additionally, he was the guitarist for the Northwestern University Contemporary Music Ensemble, where he performed in the Chicago premiere of David T. Little’s Dog Days contemporary opera. Furthermore, Mifflin has an extensive background in both piano and viola and has performed in the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Symphony Orchestra as a violist during his undergraduate studies. Although he is interested in many styles of music, Mifflin’s specialties are Renaissance, traditional folk music, folk metal, black metal, and death metal. Mifflin currently performs both as a solo artist and as a member of Chicago’s premiere black metal band, Dismalimerence.

Andrew has been studying and performing music since 1999.  He uses his passion of the acoustic guitar to sing cover songs from the 50's - today and also his originals with undenied finesse & smooth/energetic vibes.  He has played birthdays, corporate events, family reunions, festivals, gatherings, graduations, work/holiday events, weddings and fundraisers for charity events.  With over 20 years performing as a live musical artist Andrew Singer has achieved a knack for bringing an excitingly unique experience filled with cheerful moments, uninhibited memories and a musical joyride of fun with your absolute favorite classic chart-topping hits for everyone to sing and dance to.

Jill has performed professional drums within the Jazz, Rock,  & Pop genres.  My career began at the age of 10 where I played lead snare drum in an all-girl corp. I continued within the school system throughout High School.  I studied Music Theory at the College of Lake County and was privileged to study privately with instructors in Chicago and N.Y.  Jill has performed for almost 20 years of Professional Musicals, Worship Teams, Pop and Rock and Blues and Jazz bands.  My passion is not only in performance but also in investing in others and bringing out their talents.  Jill has been teaching private lessons for over 15 years.  My goal is to instill in students that music should always be fun and that being the best musician you can produces management skills students will take with them for many life experiences.

I have been playing the piano since 2005 and it has developed into one of my life long passions. In 2015 I earned my Bachelors in Piano Performance from UW Parkside, and after that I attended University of Michigan for harpsichord and fortepiano performance. Besides degrees in music, I also have performed both piano and classical organ for many churches since 2008. In Fall of 2016 I will be the regular musician and Music Director at Wesley United Methodist in Kenosha. On several occasions I have played the piano for assistant and nursing homes over the Kenosha area and shared the joy of music with many people. Also over the years I have entered to musical competitions and festivals including Oberlin Baroque Music Festival, in summer of 2015.

Since I started playing the piano I have developed an interesting in playing many musical styles: classical, ragtime, blues, early jazz, old popular music from the 1920s to the 1960s, and even some classic country music. And YES I even teach these musical styles too! I believe the piano and music overall is a fun and fascinating experience and I encourage all my students to be creative and find their musical taste and cultivate it. If the student does not mind I will teach music history and music theory to both give perspective about a musical piece and to give you the tools to improvise and become a composer. I teach pretty much everyone from children to adults, whether you want to learn a few small pieces, or if you want to become a virtuoso pianist, I have the training and skill to have you accomplish whatever your musical goals may be. If anything can be said about the piano, it’s a beautiful, fun and wonderful art form that enhances the enjoyment of life.

As a vocal mentor/teacher Mark has worked with Beginners to Intermediate voice students. His lesson plans are designed to build on the proper techniques of voice. Including, but not limited to, vocal warm-ups, breathing exercises, phrasing, rhythm, melody, harmony, practice templates emphasizing on various vocal styles with song repertoires based on each student’s needs, desires, and genre choices. Most of all his goal is to build a love for singing, having fun, and taking these lessons you will learn to where your passions and talents will lead you.

Mark has been following his passion for singing for over 40 years. Through the years Mark has worked with some of the best musicians, recording artists, and vocalists from Milwaukee south to Chicago. He is currently leading worship for Great Lakes Church here in Kenosha and also in Racine performing songs by the most popular contemporary Christian artists. He is also part of the acoustic quartet band, Crooked Fences, playing all your favorite classic rock, classic country, and current hits in surrounding area establishments, outdoor festivals, as well as private parties for hire. Lastly, Mark is proud to be a part of a team of songwriters called Carousel 3 writing original songs for various artists and publishers across the country featuring all different genres of music. This has allowed Mark to continue to perfect his craft for creating and writing vocal melodies and intricate harmonies. He has current submissions of songs to the hit show Song Land on NBC for consideration.