CODA

Grace Sorenson has taught piano in the Milwaukee area for four years. While attending UW-Milwaukee, she studied under Dr. Otwell and performed both solo and collaborative works on the piano. Grace teaches at Brookfield Academy, St. John Vianney School in Brookfield, and has a private studio in the Whitefish Bay area. She is also the Minister of Music at St. Paul's Lutheran Church where she plays both piano and organ. She has presented at the National Conference for Keyboard Pedagogy and the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Conference and has been published in Piano Inspires Magazine run by the Frances Clark Center. She believes that every student is capable of playing the piano, and loves to push students to new levels of success. Many of her students participate in the WMTA Badger State Piano Competition and the WMTA Composition Competition. Her lessons have an emphasis on creating well rounded musicians with a strong sense of personal responsibility. "A student is almost always motivated to practice if he leaves his lessons feeling capable." - Frances Clark.

Dr. Kristin Sponcia is a Milwaukee-based pianist, vocalist, arranger, composer, and educator specializing in unique jazz and pop arrangements. Her performance career spans from Carnegie Hall to a jazz residency in China, with extensive work as a freelance pianist and vocalist across Milwaukee, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and beyond.

Her academic credentials include a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance (Voice) from the University of Illinois (2018), a Master's from Roosevelt University (Jazz and Studio Music-Piano) (2005), and a Bachelor's from UW-Green Bay (Jazz Emphasis-Piano) (2000). Her doctoral research focused on female self-accompanied jazz vocalists.

Dr. Sponcia currently teaches at Brookfield Academy, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and is the owner and lead instructor at Starlight Music Academy. Throughout twenty-nine years of teaching experience, she has also taught at several Milwaukee-area schools and instructed thousands of students of all ages. Kristin strongly believes in the power of music and creativity as a healing force and a power that can unite the world.

She currently performs and teaches throughout the Milwaukee and Chicago regions while developing songwriting and music entrepreneurship skills. For performance updates and projects, visit www.kristinsponcia.com.