Members

OFFICERS

sue aber & evelyn falen, co-Presidents

Carol Cook, treasurer

Sue Evans, secretary

Sue Aber - piano

Sue Aber is vice-president of LAMTA and has lived in the Lawrence area teaching piano in her home studio since 1974. She has studied with Lorraine Landefeld, Elizabeth Pastor, Sylvia Reynolds Eckes, and Richard Angeletti. Sue has been employed as an accompanist for the Lawrence School District since 1997. She is also an accompanist for Choristers, a part of the Lawrence Children’s Choir Organization. Sue loves to teach children and adults, developing a specific plan, somewhat unique to each individual. Sue and her husband, David, love to spend time with their grown sons and families, singing with choirs, visiting with friends, and spoiling their dog, Goldie!

carol cook - piano

maria crosby - cello

Jean Drumm - piano

Music has been a part of Jean's life since her childhood desire to play the piano. After learning to play as a child, she decided to pursue music in her educational career. Her interest in vocal music and piano led to a music education major at Dominican University. After college, Jean attended the University of Wisconsin to receive her master’s degree in music education. For the past 25 years, Jean has been teaching piano out of her private studio. Her students range from pre-schoolers learning to focus, school children developing their motor skills, and adults at all stages of the learning curve. Outside of the home, Jean has taught vocal and general music in elementary schools and church, as well as directed an all girls high school chorus. As a 9-year old learning to play the piano, to a grad student finishing my degree, a general music teacher and choral director, and now a seasoned piano teacher – Jean has experienced all sides of music education.

Sue Evans, secretary - piano & voice

Sue Evans holds BME-MM-EDS degrees with over thirty years teaching experience. She teaches ages 3-93 and offers piano, voice, organ, and theory lessons. Her students have received 9 Superior Ratings in pre-school through college categories. Also, Sue has been the recipient of a"Master Teacher Award" for incorporating new music and composition into her lessons.

Evelyn Falen - piano

Evelyn Falen teaches piano to ages 5-18 and offers 30 or 45 minute lessons. She specializes in traditional methods using technology -- computer lab and composition included. Evelyn is currently organist at First Baptist Church of Lawrence, KS. She is also chairman of the National Federated Music Clubs Junior Festival held each March in Lawrence.

alison gruber - voice & Piano

Alison has immersed herself in the human voice and piano as a soloist, voice and piano teacher for all ages and skill. While she loves performing classical vocal works (Opera, Art Song, Oratorio), Jazz, Musical Theater and Folk, she supports her students through various genre. Alison has served as an accompanist, teacher and choir director within Montessori, Waldorf and conventional academic/church settings. As a vocal instructor, Alison helps her beginning through advanced students develop vocal freedom while nurturing and uncovering their individual sound. Piano students in her care develop a deep comprehension for their instrument in a playful way.

Alison holds a Bachelor’s of Music Degree from California State University, Northridge and has studied with Susan Gundunas, Jacalyn Kreitzer, Judith Scott, Brenda Reinebach, and Wayne Eikenberry among others. She is a member of MTAC, NATS, NAfME, MTNA (Kansas City, Mo; Lawrence, KS) and LAMTA. When not making or teaching music, Alison loves being active, cooking, and spending time with her husband and son at home and in nature in Lawrence, Ks.

Julie Holmberg - viola & violin

Jen Hosler - piano

Jen has been teaching piano for over 20 years and holds a degree in music education from the University of Kansas. As an employee of the Lawrence Piano Studio both during college and continuously since 2007, she has taught children and adults of all ages and abilities. Her professional experience also includes three years as an elementary music teacher in the Kansas City Kansas public schools, as well as her current position as the accompanist for Oskaloosa Jr/Sr High.

Laura Hrivnak - piano

laura King - piano

Linda Mannering - piano

Linda holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Master of Music in Music Education. She completed graduate level Music Therapy study at the University of Kansas with clinical practice teaching students with special needs. She also holds certificates and graduate degrees in computing, business administration, and software project management. She has performed as a soloist, collaborator and accompanist, and has taught piano over 30 years including four years as a certified Yamaha teacher.

Jennifer Martello - piano & music therapy

Jennifer holds a bachelors and masters degree in music therapy and has extensive training in piano pedagogy with an emphasis in teaching children with intellectual disabilities. Currently, she is a music therapist for the Shawnee Mission school district. After taking a long break to take care of her small children, Jennifer is very excited to return to the world of piano teaching.

Eric Sakamura - piano

Eric Sakumura graduated from Kansas University in 1983 with a degree in Piano Performance. Lawrence Piano Studio has been offering quality, fun-filled piano instruction for over 30 years. LPS began teaching group lessons in 1990, incorporating traditional piano method books in a group format. Their group classes include beginning blues improvisation, composition, ensemble playing, unison playing and student-student duets. Group classes also have two studio recitals (December and March) and one traditional recital at the Lawrence Arts Center main theater in May.

LPS also offers private lessons; these lessons are taught by Eric Sakumura or one of his associate teachers. The studio's teachers are Piano Performance or Music Education Majors from Kansas University, and private lessons include all types of music; Classical, Ragtime, Jazz, Rock and Pop. Private students have the opportunity to perform in recitals at the Lawrence Arts Center on their new Steinway piano.