Xiaoke “Claire” Cheng: Piano. Ms. Cheng holds two Master of Music degrees from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, one in Piano Performance and one in Piano Pedagogy, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from University of Missouri-Columbia. Throughout her studies Ms. Cheng received numerous awards and scholarships, and studied with Dr. Reid Alexander, a nationally recognized leader in the field of Piano Pedagogy, among others. Ms. Cheng recently performed in master classes given by renowned pianists and maintains an active career as a recitalist, chamber musician, and studio teacher. She is currently on faculty at both Loras College and Clarke University in Dubuque.

Pam Crawford: Piano, Voice. Mrs. Crawford has a Bachelors Degree from Iowa State University with majors in piano and voice performance and a minor in education. Her piano emphasis was on accompanying. She has a Master of Music Education degree from Drake in vocal performance and taught for 34 years at Maquoketa High School.

Thomas Taylor Dickey: Piano. Dr. Thomas Taylor Dickey holds degrees from Eastern Illinois University, Louisiana State University, and the University of Georgia. Currently, he is the Conductor of the Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra, Director of Instrumental Music at the University of Dubuque, and Organist at First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Bill Enke: Guitar. Mr. Enke has over thirty years experience in various jazz, blues, and rock groups. He has appeared with jazz legend Woody Herman, Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler, and L.A. studio great Michael Boddicker. He currently teaches guitar at the University of Dubuque and performs regularly at various area venues.

Sue Flogel:  Piano, Voice, Preschool Classes, Music Therapy. A graduate of Clarke College, Mrs. Flogel has her Masters in Music Education from UNI. A board-certified music therapist, she teaches music and provides music therapy services at Eisenhower Elementary School. Sue studied piano with Cecille Cummings and voice with Anne Siegrist and Sandra Andersen. She performs regularly at the Bell Tower Theater, as well as the Julien Chamber Choir. In addition, Sue has directed over 35 youth musicals for various organizations in the tri-state area.

Karen Geyer:  Cello. Mrs. Geyer is a Suzuki cello instructor certified through Book 4. She also teaches traditional cello students and beginning piano students of any age. She has performed professionally with the Lake Forest Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, University of Wisconsin Orchestra, the Key City String Quartet, pit orchestras at the Grand Opera House, Platteville Heartland Festival, and University of Wisconsin Platteville, and is manager and cellist for the River City Trio. She has also served as worship leader at several area churches. Her degree is from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Wendy Crouse Hinman: Horn. Mrs. Hinman has an Associate Arts Degree from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and studied music at UNI. She has performed in the Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra, and the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, and currently performs in musical pit orchestras and ensembles of various sizes, including the Tri-State Wind Symphony.

Mike Jozefowicz: String Bass, Guitar, Voice, Beginning Percussion, Beginning Brass. "Mr. J." attended college at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, where he graduated in 1965 with a double major in instrumental and vocal music. In 1971 he earned his Master of Science in Teaching, also from UW-P.  Many Dubuque residents know "Mr. J.” from his over thirty years of teaching general music and coaching theater at Washington Junior High. 

Cindy Kubesheski: Violin, Business Manager of NISOM. Cindy Kubesheski is a Suzuki certified violin instructor. She has played violin for 30 years and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Clarke College. She is currently the concertmaster of the Dubuque Community String Orchestra. Mrs. Kubesheski is also a member of the Dubuque String Quartet and has performed with the Mississippi Valley Philharmonic.   

Hannah Leffler: Flute. Ms. Leffler is an Adjunct Professor of Flute at Luther College. She holds a Master’s degree in flute performance from the University of Northern Iowa, where served as a graduate assistant for the flute studio, and a Bachelor’s degree in flute performance from Oklahoma City University. Ms. Leffler has participated in master classes with prominent musicians and won numerous awards and competitions. She has also been a featured soloist with the Oklahoma City University Wind Philharmonic, the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, and others. Ms. Leffler has performed frequently with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and is currently a substitute flutist for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra and the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra.

Rod Matthews:  Brass. Mr. Matthews has a Bachelors degree from Northwestern College and a Masters in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music. He teaches instrumental music (grades 5-12) for the Bellevue Community Schools. A former member of the Navy Band, he has performed with Dubuque Syphony and Tri-State Wind Syphony, also having soloed with the Tri-State Wind Symphony. 

Tracey Rush: Viola, Violin, Composition, Executive Director of NISOM. Mrs. Rush teaches orchestra at Roosevelt Middle School and Carver Elementary, and is the founder and conductor of the Dubuque Community String Orchestra. She has a BS in Music Education from Bob Jones University and a Masters of Music from UNI. Mrs. Rush has been principal violist with the Mississippi Valley Philharmonic and a member of the Dubuque String Quartet. She is also a composer and owns Fountain Park Music Publishing.

Judith Simundson: Voice. Ms. Simundson studied voice at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she sang the lead in Menotti’s Old Maid and the Thief. She has since soloed with the New Orleans Symphony and in Boston and performed at Stanford University, the University of Santa Clara, and others. She also sang alto lead with the Dubuque Symphony. Ms. Simundson has studied the Norwegian folk music style of kveding and singing stev for over 25 years and includes it as part of her repertoire of “telling tales of enchantment!”

Paula Welter: Woodwinds. Mrs. Welter has studied with Tom Ayres, Robert Estock and Bob Sladky, and graduated for the University of Iowa. She teaches concert and jazz bands at Drexler Middle School, as well as bands at Peosta Elementary and Seton Catholic School, and is retired with 34 years from Western Dubuque Schools teaching grades 5-12 instrumental music. She performs with the Dubuque Chamber Winds, Tri-State Wind Symphony and other area groups, and is the music director at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Richardsville.

Dennis Williams:  Woodwinds, Voice. Mr. Williams was the Founder and Director of the Dubuque Chorale for 35 years and principal bassoonist with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra for 20 years. He taught music at the University of Dubuque for 29 years and has served as an adjunct faculty member at Clarke College, UW-Platteville and NICC. He is currently a member of the American and Iowa Choral Directors Association and is a board member of the Dubuque Arts Council.