Equal parts educator and musician, Emma is passionate about delivering high-quality music education to deserving students. Emma’s background growing up in a small, rural community in central Illinois has given her firsthand experience with the limitated access to resources that many students experience. Her philosophy of education revolves around providing students access, equity, and joy through music.

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra

Debut Orhcestra Assistant Director

Emma serves as the Assistant Director and Winds & Brass Coach for the CYSO’s Debut Orchestra, where she provides specialized instruction for middle- and high-school age students studying woodwind, brass, and percussion in the orchestral setting.
Read more here.

Woodwind Technician

Emma works with Victor J. Andrew High School’s competetive marching band, the Marching T-Bolts.
As a woodwind technician, she specializes in visual
and music instruction for saxophone students,
along with overall support for the band’s woodwinds.

Assistant Band Director & Woodwind Instructor

As Assistant Band Director for Central School Bands in Lemont, Emma specializes in instruction for beginning flute, clarinet, and saxophone students in 4th-5th grade. Starting students on their instrument for the first time is a passion of Emma’s, as she believes in providing high-quality, technique-oriented instruction from day 1 in order to facilitate successful, long-lasting habits to carry young musicians throughout their musical journey.

Related Experiences

  • Golden Apple Scholar

  • Student Teaching: Glenbard East High School,
    Hindsale Middle School

  • Social Media Chair for the Women Band Directors International organization

  • DuPage Symphony Orchestra Educational Partnerships
    & Community Engagement committee member

  • Marching Band Assistant Instructor

  • Elmhurst Summer Fine Arts Assistant Instructor

  • Instrument Trials Associate (Quinlan & Fabish)

  • International Teaching Experience

Previous Experience

Band Director/General Music Teacher | 5th-8th grade | Hillside School

• Sole director of instrumental music for grades 5-8, including sole instruction of Beginning and Concert Bands. Goals included recruitment, retention, and revitalization of band program. Tripled student participation in band program.

• Sole teacher for general music classes, grades 5th-8th grade. Independently developed curriculum with units in composition, guitar/ukulele, cultural music study, and music literacy, along with focus on increasing student engagement, culturally responsive pedagogy, and social-emotional education.

Professional Affiliations

Golden Apple Foundation Scholar, professional development instructor Summer Institute 2024

Women Band Directors International,
Social Media Chair & published research in organization’s international journal, “The Woman Conductor”

Illinois Music Education Association, Outstanding Student Teacher nominee 2023

Whitener Undergraduate Teaching Scholar, Elmhurst University

National Association for Music Education

DuPage Symphony Orchestra Educational Partnerships & Community Engagement Committee