Members

OFFICERS

linda mannering & eric sakUmura, co-Presidents

Carol Cook, treasurer                                                                      

Sue Evans, secretary

MEMBERS

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!

grace clark - piano, CLARINET & HARP

Grace Clark teaches piano, clarinet, and harp from her private home studio in Lawrence, Kansas. She works with students of all ages and strives to create a welcoming, encouraging environment where students feel confident exploring music at their own pace.

After receiving bachelor’s degrees in Music and Psychology at St. Olaf College, Grace returned to Kansas for her Masters in Music Education, Music Therapy at the University of Kansas. She believes music lessons should be both meaningful and fun, and values helping students build confidence, independence, and a lifelong appreciation for music. Outside of teaching, Grace enjoys performing, organizing studio recitals, and spending time with her dog, Wishbone.

carol cook - piano

maria crosby - cello

Sue Evans, secretary - piano & voice **Accepting new students, please request contact info here

Sue Evans holds BME-MM-EDS degrees with over thirty years teaching experience. She teaches ages 3-93 and offers Suzuki and traditional piano lessons, voice, organ, and theory lessons. Her students have received many Superior Ratings from KMTA, Women’s Federated, and Washburn University contests, and she has published an article for Suzuki Journal titled “101 Ways to Practice.” Also, Sue has been the recipient of a"Master Teacher Award" for incorporating new music and composition into her lessons and starting a musicianship program.

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 earned her degree in Music Education from the University of Kansas.  She has been a private piano instructor for over 20 years and teaches students of all ages and abilities.  In addition to her teaching, she has been a choral accompanist for over 10 years as well as a rehearsal and performance pianist for various musical theater productions in Lawrence.

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 SakUmura - 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.

carolyn welch - voice

Carolyn Welch holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado at Boulder (1982, 1983), and went back to school in the mid-90's for a BME from Minnesota State University. She taught and performed extensively in CO, NM, UT, WA, MA, CT and MN before moving to Lawrence in 1996 and putting down roots. Carolyn taught vocal music in the Lawrence Public Schools from 1997-2013, and worked with the Lawrence Children's Choir from 1997-2021, serving as Artistic Director from 2012 until retiring in 2021. 

Since then, she has greatly enjoyed returning to private teaching, as well as singing with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus, where she also serves as Executive Section Leader.