OUR TEACHERS
Emily Senkowsky
Founder • Voice • Troupe Director
Emily (she/her) is the founder and creator of Sing with Emily. She studied vocal performance at NYU Steinhardt, where she learned the value of a strong foundation in vocal technique, as well as the importance of a supportive studio to learn and grow. As a performer, she has worked for various professional theatres around the country. She also runs The Chicago Carolers, a premier caroling group in the Chicagoland area. She can’t wait to see you!
Lidija kutlesa
Voice
Lidija Kutlesa has her Bachelor’s degree in Music Vocal Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University. A few of her performance roles include Dorabella, in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte and Hanna Wilson in Richard Wargo’s Ballymore: Act II Losers. She has performed under the baton of Maestro Kirk Trevor, Maestro Ken Lam, and Dr. Scott Ferguson.
Her goal in teaching is to bring the joy of music into as many lives as she can while building confidence in her students. She is absolutely crazy about musical theater and loves to work with acting. Anything that screams Broadway, screams Lidija’s name! Lidija also works with classical pieces such as Italian, German, and French, art songs and arias.
Having a safe space where creativity and imagination thrive empowers one to grow in all walks of life; whether that be in the classroom, on stage, personal, and/or business life. Lidija’s philosophy is, confidence as a musician seeps into every aspect of one’s life and allows you to believe you can do anything!
Katie Rose Ford
Voice • piano • Troupe Music Director
Katie Rose (she/they) is a professional performer from the Chicagoland area. They earned their Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre from North Central College while also earning their two minors in Psychology and Spanish. Katie Rose started playing piano when they were 5 years old and has continued to accompany choirs, performers, and themself ever since. Trained in both classical and musical theatre vocal techniques, Katie Rose has been singing in ensembles and on their own since they were 7 years of age. On top of voice and piano, they are quite proficient with the flute, piccolo, ukulele, percussion, music directing, and music production. Katie Rose firmly believes that music and theatre are great ways to share our universal human story, connect with others, and incite social change. They believe that lessons are not only beneficial to grow as a musician and performer, but as a person as well. And through everything, Katie Rose strives to find laughter in learning.
Lauren Boult
VOICE • Beginner piano
Lauren Boult (she/her) hails from the western suburbs of Chicago. She began taking classical voice lessons when she was 10 years old. In 2013, Lauren graduated cum laude from Columbia College Chicago with a Music degree with a concentration in Vocal Performance. She is well-versed in various musical styles including musical theater, rock, pop, blues, and jazz and also plays guitar, piano, and bass guitar. While being a part of everything from vocal jazz groups to rock bands, she has been fortunate enough to perform onstage at prestigious venues and events such as The Auditorium Theatre, Buddy Guy's Legends, METRO, House of Blues Chicago, The New Orleans Jazz Festival, and more.
Lauren has experience in the classroom as both a private instructor and as a group instructor of students ages 3-60+. Whether it be music directing for musical theater camps, preparing vocal students for auditions, or directing rock bands to hit the stage, she enjoys sharing her talents and knowledge with other inspired musicians.
ashton gregory
GUITAR • ukulele • Songwriting
Ashton is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, and producer based in Chicago. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory from Columbia College Chicago. Her favored genres include alternative, rock, singer/songwriter, experimental and pop. Ashton started playing the guitar when she was 9 years old and began singing and writing songs shortly after that. She enjoys nothing more than bringing her musical ideas to life producing her own recordings, as well as the autonomy of being an independent musician. As a teacher, Ashton wants to help students get their musical skills to where they want to be and make sure they are feeling encouraged and confident along the way. She is looking forward to being a part of the start of someone's musical journey.
COURTNEY TEDESCO
EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC
Courtney is so grateful to be a part of your musical journey! She graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor's degree in K-12 Music Education and holds a dual Masters degree in Special Education and English as a Second Language. Before choosing to stay home with her two kids, she taught elementary and middle school general music in the Chicagoland suburbs for 8 years. Courtney has experience teaching piano and voice lessons, 0-5 year old music classes, and is a former member of the Apollo Chicago Chorus. She is a strong advocate of learning through play and believes everyone is musical. Courtney is excited to continue her love of teaching and is so grateful to be making music within the community where she lives!
Natalie sweeney
Voice • Piano • Troupe assistant director
Natalie is a classically trained mezzo-soprano with diverse performing experience including operas, musicals, and concert works. She earned her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance with a minor in piano from Michigan State University. Her recent performances include Chava in Fiddler on the Roof with Seagle Festival, Countess Charlotte in A Little Night Music with Seagle Festival, Aaron Copland’s Eight Poems of Emily Dickenson with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Nancy in Albert Herring with Michigan State University, and The Child in L’enfant et les Sortileges with Michigan State University.
Natalie began singing and playing piano at a young age and grew passionate about music and performing. She is excited to share her love of music with her students and explore what makes them excited about music! She hopes to instill self-confidence in her students to help them succeed in their musical endeavors and beyond.