Not every great musician is also a great teacher. At Music of Oz Studios we pride ourselves on the staff we have and how committed they are to teaching. One of the pluses of the school system is the ability to offer several instructors.
Take a moment to meet our staff.
DeMotte
String Instructors
Kristin Bristol
Kristin is a seasoned performer who has worked as a soloist, small ensemble member, and orchestra member. From her years with the praise band, “The Avenue” to performing with the Manchester Symphony, Kristin has experience with many styles of music. She has been the assistant orchestra director at Kankakee Valley High School. She is well versed in both traditional and Suzuki string methods having trained under Mr. S. Mung.
Paul Ornelas
Paul (Pony Tail)has taught independently at several studios in northwest Indiana and has recently developed an original group curriculum for the Crossroads Alternative High School. He teaches privately at both Music of Oz Studios, and has occasional gigs, loves his boxer, and works on his Mustang. However, being a true working musician...Paul also works as a painter.
John White
guitar/violin/banjo/mandolin/harmonica
John plays guitar, banjo, bass and fiddle and enjoys playing Classical, Old Time, Kelzmer, Celtic, and Jazz. Besides teaching he works at the YMCA in Valparaiso. When not passing out towels at the Y or walking his dog, Pretty Girl, he plays in a contra dance band called the Hoosier Recruits. He has a degree in Music Theory and Composition with a minor in Classical Guitar from Ball State University.
Voice and Piano Instructors
Patricia B. Flory
voice/piano
Pattie holds an education degree from Bridgewater College in Virginia, and has done graduate work at St. Joseph's College. She has taught music privately for several years since leaving her position as an alternative school director. She has been a church musician having performed and accompanied at numerous churches in Virginia and Indiana. She is the creator and director of the Music of Oz children's program, Wondermusic. She teaches elementary music at St. Edward’s School in Lowell, In.
Debbie Hartzler
Debbie is a seasoned educator and musician. She has taught everything from elementary school physical education to preschool. This proud grandma is a life-long piano player who is also active in church music.
Rebecca Osborn
Becky holds a B.M. from Butler University, Jordan College of Music and a graduate degree from Valparaiso University. She taught high school choral music for seventeen years and is currently is a professor of music appreciation and methods at Purdue University North Central Campus. She is the founder and director of the Kankakee Valley Community Chorus and the Music of Oz Studios. She realizes she has an addiction issue, since she has seen “Wicked” seven times.
Laura Simmons
piano
Laura teaches beginning piano at the Music of Oz after spending years in lessons herself. She is active in church music and community theatre as well as the community chorus. Laura’s "real job" is as a teller at DeMotte State Bank.
Sandra Tiemens
voice
Sandi has studied at St. Joseph College and Valparaiso University. For the past fourteen years she has worked as vocal coach and staff accompanist at Kankakee Valley High School. This busy grandmother is also active in praise and worship at her church.
Winds Instructor
Douglas Henkelman
With a music degree from the University of Michigan and continued studies at the University of North Texas, Doug brings years of teaching experience to the Music of Oz. Doug has worked as a professional singer, high school band director, choir director, and most recently as an associate pastor of worship and music. Doug also keeps busy being a husband and father.
Crown Point
Yes, it’s our fearless leader, office manager, Marylou Cramer!
Catrina Martin
violin/viola
Catrina has enjoyed playing her violin for many years and is now transferring that love for music to eager students. Teaching various string classes and private violin lessons at Hyles-Anderson College keeps Catrina busy when she’s not at the Music of Oz. She is a member of the college orchestra and the First Baptist Church of Hammond orchestra.
Brian Price
guitar/electric bass guitar
Brian is an active area musician who has worked in both cover and original bands. Brian’s teaching experiences include private instruction at Broadway Music and guitar group classes for the Crown Point Parks Department.
Paul Ornelas
guitar/bass guitar
see above
Graham Smith
guitar
Graham is an active area musician working and performing in both rock bands and church praise and worship music. He is an elementary education major at Purdue University North Central.
John White
guitar/violin/banjo/mandolin/harmonica/piano
see above
Ibrahim Yoldash
guitar
Ibrahim has taught music for over ten years. Having studied originally at Ball State University he finished his degree at Columbia College in Chicago with a degree in Sound Engineering. He holds a Masters Degree in Communication and teaches Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communication at Ivy Tech. Ibrahim has produced and engineered various soundtrack projects and does sound engineering for the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster and various playhouses in Chicago. He has performed with Chicago area bands such as Lucid Ground, The Fistagons, Lovelifter, and Soulguru. Presently, he is the bassist for the blues band, The Groove Pacers.
Percussion
Nick Holmes
Nick is an accomplished percussionist. In his professional career Nick has performed on: drumset, timpani, marimba, vibraphone, other mallet percussion, orchestral percussion and accessories, steel drum, congas, table (Indian percussion), and Djembe (African percussion). After receiving his Bachelor of Music from Wichita State University, Nick began a collaboration with the world renown tabla virtuoso, Sandip Burman and developed an innovative and unique fusion of Indian and Western percussion concepts. This project allowed Nick to tour the United States and play with several internationally recognized musicians such as Paul Bollenback, Dave Pietro, and Paul Livingstone. In addition to teaching privately, Nick also maintains an active performing schedule.
Voice and Piano Instructors
Jodie Borkowski
piano
Jodie brings years of musical experience to her teaching having served as a church and musical accompanist as well as aide for the Hammond Baptist High School music department.
Patricia B. Flory
piano/voice
see above
Robert Lopez, voice, piano
Robert has taught piano and voice lessons at all levels from elementary beginner to collegiate. He has performed and coached groups at Hammond Baptist Church and at Hyles Anderson College. The groups he has worked with most recently include male quartets, ladies’ sextets, mixed ensembles, and choirs.
Shelley Mahoney, piano
Shelley joins the Music of Oz having lived, studied, and taught in Maryland. She has an associates degree from the College of Southern Maryland and a Bachelors degree in music education from Hyles Anderson College. She is active in chapel and church ministry at Hammond Baptist Church with her husband Phil who preaches in the chapel ministries.
Rebecca Osborn
voice/piano
see above
Jennifer Redlarczyk
Jenn is a graduate of Northwestern University where she holds both BM and MM in Vocal Performance. A long-time resident of the Chicago area where she has been teaching and performing for over twenty years. In addition to teaching at the Music of Oz, she is currently on staff as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Northwest.
In Memoriam
Jim Micun
acoustic/electric guitar
Jim was a lifelong musician and guitar aficionado. He taught and performed in the Northwest Indiana area for his entire adult life. Jim was loved and appreciated by his colleagues, his students, and their families. He is sorely missed.
Music of Oz Studio
Instructors
