Candace Boone

cboone@lcscmail.com

Hi! I'm Ms. Boone. I am the assistant band director here at LC. My primary instruments for lessons are bassoons, oboes, and piano. I studied bassoon throughout high school and college playing in many diverse ensembles including concert bands, orchestra, and a chamber group. During my college years, I also picked up playing oboe and have been giving lessons since 2015. 

My piano studies started at an early age and have studied the instrument for over 10 years. Though this is not considered my primary instrument, I have accompanied many students for Solo and Ensemble in all group levels, choirs for concerts and ISSMA contest, played in high school percussion ensembles and marching band, and continue to practice and learn to this day. 

I am comfortable starting new lessons for any student that is interested in learning or continuing lessons for those that may have already been playing a few years!

April Severs

aprilsevers@gmail.com

April teaches private lessons for oboe, bassoon, and clarinet for Lake Central School Corporation. She graduated with a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education and in Music Performance (Oboe) from Olivet Nazarene University, and has been teaching private lessons for over 15 years. She's participated in marching bands, concert bands, orchestras, and chamber groups over her educational career.

In addition to teaching elementary general music in the public schools, she has taught musicians of all ages and skill levels, both in-person and via virtual private lessons. She enjoys seeing the excitement of her students as they accomplish their goals, whether that's starting a new instrument, advancing their skills, or preparing for competitions or college auditions.

Andy Sutton

andy@andysuttonmusic.com

Andy Sutton is an in demand drummer and teacher from Crown Point who currently plays, tours and records with award winning acts such as Dick Diamond and the Dusters, Liz Mandeville, Joe Marcinek Band, Keith Jackson and stop.drop.rewind. He has also backed up Scott Ellison, Chris Shutters, Jamey Aebersold, Voo Davis, Buddy Guy, Marty Sammon, Slim Gambill (Lady A), and several others nationally as well as in the Chicagoland area.

Andy holds a roster of about 35 students, and takes opportunities to give clinics whenever possible. This allows him to pass on knowledge he acquired from studying with drumming legends such as Tommy Igoe, Johnny Vidacovich, Todd Sucherman, Chris Coleman, Tom Hipskind, Frank Donaldson and Ruben Alvarez.

Andy endorses Vic Firth Sticks, Beat Boogie Drums and Mono Cases, and is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team, the Jazz Education Network, and the Percussive Arts Society. 

Elliot Smith

esmith@lcscmail.com

Hello! I am Elliot Smith. I am the Director of Bands at Lake Central High School. My primary instruments for lessons are trumpet and french horn. I have studied trumpet since I picked up the instrument in the 6th grade. Throughout college I have played in many ensembles including concert groups, jazz ensembles and combos, orchestras, and numerous chamber ensembles. I enjoy both starting new students and working with more advanced students.

Leta Sena-Lopez

lsenalop@lcscmail.com

Leta Sena-Lopez has been the Director of Bands at Kahler Middle School in Dyer, Indiana since 1995.  She attended Indiana State University on the George M. Graesch Wind Scholarship, and received her B.S. in Music Education.  She went on to study conducting with Dr. John Boyd, and completed her M.M. in Wind Conducting at ISU.  Over her years of study at the university, Leta played the bass clarinet and studied saxophone with Janet Lulloff, Harry Gee, and Paul Bro.   She is a former member and featured soloist with Windiana Concert Band of Northwest Indiana and toured with the group to China in 2006. In 2007, Leta was selected as Outstanding Minority Educator of the year by the Indiana State Teachers Association.   She has been recognized by her school administration for numerous musical achievements, and was selected as the first recipient of Influential Women of the Year in the Arts, by the Northwest Indiana Influential Women's Association.  Her educational work during the pandemic was featured in In Tune Magazine, and she has been a podcast guest and clinician with MusicFirst Online Classroom.  

Leta will be offering lessons for clarinet and saxophone with a focus on the fun of mastering the instrument.  Lessons will be based on developing fundamental skills and learning music that is unique to the interests of each student.  She is also available on a limited basis for hire as a piano accompanist for the ISSMA Solo & Ensemble contest with first priority given to her private lesson students.   

Kevin Lewis

klewis@lcscmail.com

My name is Kevin Lewis and I am currently in my 15th year of teaching band, and 8th year of teaching band at Grimmer Middle School. I will be teaching euphonium, trombone, tuba, and trumpet.  

I am a low brass specialist, with my primary performing instrument being euphonium.  Trombone and tuba are secondary instruments that I enjoy playing and teaching privately as well.  I have  also instructed many trumpet students over the years.  I perform on a regular basis with the Tinley Park Community Band. Past performing groups include The South Shore Brass Band and The Michigan City Municipal Band.    

I have  a Bachelor’s of Music Education degree from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana and a Master of Music Education Degree from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.  

I look forward to working with you to take your playing to the next level! 

Ana Boulas

ana.boulas97@gmail.com

My name is Ana Boulas and I am the Flute Instructor for Lake Central School Corporation. I received my Undergraduate degrees in Flute Performance and Music Education from DePaul University in Chicago. During my time at DePaul, I was an active participant in the school’s orchestral, wind, chamber, and opera orchestra ensembles as well as other orchestral opportunities throughout the city. As a finalist with honorable mention in the DePaul Concerto Competition, I have performed in cities such as Aspen, Chicago, and St. Louis as well as overseas in Tuscany and Thessaloniki. My primary teachers include Stefan Hoskuldsson, Alyce Johnson, and Kerry Bellamy Jasek, with additional influences from Mark Sparks and Emma Gerstein. I offer years of experience having taught individual and group lessons, coached sectionals, and lead masterclasses. Additionally, I’ve taught a variety of students from beginner to adult. During this time I am able to offer both in-person lessons throughout the Northwest Indiana area as well as virtual lessons via Zoom!

Chad Miller

millerchad78@gmail.com

Chad graduated from Indiana University South Bend with a B.M. in music composition with focus on Tuba performance. As a tuba player he has been a performing member with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from 1997-1999 and served on brass educational staffs at The Glassmen and Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as the 2001 Division 3 World Champion Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corp, where he served as the Brass Caption Head and Arranger. Chad is currently the brass caption head for the Colts Drum & Bugle corps and has been since 2017.

While composing and arranged for many genres of music Chad continues performing on a regular basis with multiple groups in the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan areas. His experience performing in diverse settings from symphonic bands to New Orleans Funk and Blues bands continues to inform his approach to brass playing and music in general. He has been performing professionally since 1997.

Chad is passionate about teaching and mentoring musicians of all levels, from beginners to professionals. He takes a hands-on approach to fostering success in each individual while also emphasizing technical proficiency and performance quality. He has maintained a private studio since 2001 and sent multiple middle and high school students to State solo and ensemble as well as All State band. He has also had many of his students go on to careers both in playing and teaching music.

Chad offers lessons on all brass instruments.

Joe Sanchez

Sanchez.Clarinet@gmail.com

Clarinetist Joseph Sanchez is an active Chicago-area freelance musician and educator. Sanchez specializes in classical orchestral and wind band performance and has performed as clarinet and bass clarinet with several Midwestern orchestras including: Quad Cities Symphony, Madison Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, and Battle Creek Symphony. During his tenure with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago in 2012-2014 he collaborated closely with Yo-Yo Ma and performed under some of the most esteemed conductors of our time including: Riccardo Muti, Jaap van Sweden, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Rei Hotoda and Harry Bicket.

Sanchez is also co-founder of the Lake Effect Clarinet Quartet (LECQ) and Ursa Ensemble, a mixed chamber ensemble (Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, and Voice). Sanchez can be heard playing bass clarinet on LECQ's 2019 album release Nielsen, Grainger, and Strauss (available on Spotify and Apple Music).

In addition to his private teaching studios in NWIN and Chicago, Sanchez currently holds woodwind instructor positions at Lane Technical High School and with the Northwest Indiana Youth Symphony where he conducts sectionals and private lessons. He is currently attending DePaul University for a graduate degree in music performance to be completed Fall 2022 and currently holds degrees in both clarinet performance (BM 2012) and mathematics (BA 2012) from the same institution.