Music House School of Music

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	Brett Blakemore-guitar Brett Blakemore is an accomplished guitar player who is well versed in many different genres. Brett first showed an interest in music when he discovered his mom’s old guitar in a closet under the stairs at age 12. After learning his first song from a neighborhood friend he was hooked. Having graduated from Missouri Western State University with a B.S. in Music technology Brett is also well versed in production and recording. He has recorded many demos for local Kansas City groups helping further their musical careers. Brett has also scored music for many student films in Kansas City. While at MWSU, Brett studied classical guitar under the direction of world-renowned classical guitarist Anthony Glise as well as jazz improvisation from Jason P. Riley. Performing in many different musical ensembles while in school has helped Brett gain the experience he needed to become the versatile guitar player that he is today. Having further interest in jazz and improvisation Brett studied jazz guitar with Kansas City’s own Danny Embrey. He also studied music theory and improvisation under Phil Roger’s of Air Digital Recording in Independence, Missouri. Brett has been teaching guitar at all levels for the past five years and has been performing with well-known groups around Kansas City for the past ten years including the Matt Shoaf Trio also known as Gov’t Cheez. Along with teaching guitar Brett also teaches music theory and improvisation. Brett has a true passion music and for passing on the gift of music to future generations.


	Amy Cheng Hu Amy Cheng Hu began playing the violin at age of 6. At 17, she began her study with renowned violin pedagogue Mrs. Shirley Givens at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. Later, she was awarded with the “Music Talent” award to study at the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University where she received both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Throughout her career she has performed with many professional orchestras, including Dearborn Symphony, Lima Symphony, Adrian Symphony, Southern Great Lakes Orchestra, and Sandusky Orchestra. In addition to performing, Amy is a passionate educator. Over the years she has taught students of all ages and levels, from five-year-old beginners (using the Suzuki Method), through advanced adults. Amy's teaching method focuses on engaging both sides of the brain; helping students develop their ability to learn, practice effectively and perform. Amy believes "that every student is talented and unique." Her approach combines elements of the Suzuki Method with the teaching innovations of Jascha Heifetz as well as some innovations of her own.


	Karen Rehm-Early Childhood Karen is a Kansas City native. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Therapy from the UMKC Conservatory of Music, with voice as her primary instrument. As a Board-Certified Music Therapist, she believes strongly in the therapeutic qualities of music to help people of all ages reach their fullest potential. Her experience includes early childhood settings, children with developmental disabilities, adolescents with mental health issues, geriatrics settings (including Alzheimers/dementia), forensic adults, and wellness settings. She especially enjoys working with children and has studied and observed the beneficial effects of music and movement to help stimulate brain activity, improve muscle tone and coordination, and nurture musical development. In her early childhood music classes, she emphasizes how early integration of music into daily routines improves one’s ability to think, reason, create and express. She feels strongly that early childhood is the window of opportunity to increase the lifelong music aptitude of a child. She currently practices music therapy with children in early childhood settings, Alzheimer’s, hospice and palliative care patients, and intergenerational programming with seniors and children. She has presented programs regarding the positive effects of music on human brain functioning. She has also been involved with Arts in Prison, Kindermusik, and Orff-Schulwerk workshops. She attended the 2008 Berklee College of Music Summer Institute in Boston, MA to complete 50 CMTE’s in the Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapy Institute certification program. In addition she is a member of the American Music Therapy Association.


	Matt Otto-saxophone/clarinet Matt Otto studied music performance and composition at the Indiana University, Berklee School of Music, The New School for Social Research (BFA) and California Institute of the Art (MFA). Having lived in Japan, New York City and Los Angeles he has performed with a variety of artists Anthony Wilson, Larry Koonse, Rashid Bakr, Ben Monder, Wada Leo Smith, Willie Jones III, Alan Ferber, Tom Harrell, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Gregory Hutchinson, Charlie Haden , Joe La Barbera, Junior Mance, Leroy Vinegar, Jimmy Smith and others. He currently plays and has recorded with the Anthony Wilson Nonet (“The Power of Nine” Groove Note 1035, 2006), Joeless Shoe ( Joeless Shoe, jcr, 2007), and 3-ish (Baobab, jcr 2009). Matt also composes for and leads his own groups (53 West 19th - Noir Records 1996, Red – Origin Records 2000, La Commune – jcr 2009), and has appeared on 15 CDs as a side man.


	Hana Wishy - voice As a graduate from Belmont University School of Music in Nashville, Hana Wishy trained with the most prestigious musicians in the country. She graduated with a degree in Commercial Music (Vocal) and an emphasis in Music Business. Hana headlined in three major Belmont Showcases to highlight her Belmont experience. She has provided background vocals for major artists signed to labels such as Sony/BMG, performed writers showcases, done studio work, and currently tours cities like Nashville, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. Her vocal genres range from jazz/blues, thru pop/rock, to soul, and even a hint of country. Before joining the Music House faculty, Hana taught private voice and piano lessons in Kansas City and in Nashville.


	Chad Flynn—piano/voice Chad Flynn, is a professional singer and a music educator. He holds a Masters degree in voice performance from The New England Conservatory of Music and a B.A. in Music Education from The College of New Jersey. He studied as a baritone under the famous Metropolitan Opera winner soprano Patricia Craig. Chad has a wide range of experience as both a teacher and performer. He has taught private voice and piano for the past 5 years, and choir and general music in the public schools for the past 3 years. He has sung numerous oratorio church solos with orchestras in the New England and New York area, performed a double-bill with Longwood Opera in Boston, and sang Marcello (La Boheme) and Sharpless (Madame Butterfly) last summer in Fidenza, Italy. Chad's vocal and piano repertoire, however, is not limited to Classical/Opera. He has performed lead roles in over 20+ musicals, sung vocals in rock bands, has directed and sung in a cappella groups, performed rock piano/vocal songs at shows and events, and is an active rock piano/vocal composer.

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