Private Music Lesson Program

Nurturing musical talent through expert teaching integrated into the school day

Private Music Lesson Program

The Private Music Lesson Program offers individualized instruction for students from age 3 through Grade 12, nurturing musical talent through expert teaching integrated into the school day.

CHCA is proud to be one of Cincinnati’s only schools offering private music lessons during the school day. Our lessons promote both musical growth and personal development. Registered students typically begin lessons in the second week of school. Your private instructor will contact you during the first week with your scheduled time.

Piano

Robin Albus

Music Lesson Provider

B.S., James Madison University

Campus

North Campus

Robin earned the National Guild of Piano Teachers High School diploma and has been teaching private piano lessons at CHCA since 2003. She also launched the Wunderkeys program at CHCA, which offers a musical experience on the keyboard for 3-5 year olds.

Classes:

Jill Duebber

Music Lesson Provider

B.M. Ed., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Campus

North Campus & Armleder Campus

Jill taught both piano and flute at a private studio for 28 years with students ranging from preschool to adults. As a child, she had wonderful music teachers who inspired her to choose music education as her vocation. Jill’s biggest passion has always been playing the piano, and she loves passing that on to others. She’s currently a member of the OMTA and MTNA and has a Level 1 Orff-Schulwerk Certification, as well as an MTNA Professional NCTM Certification. In addition to private music lessons, she has taught preschool music classes, summer composition camps, prep for RCM national exams, and has been an accompanist for high school and collegiate soloists. In her free time, Jill enjoys running, biking, reading, and spending time with her husband and three kids.

Classes:

Dr. Takako Frautschi

Music Lesson Provider

D.M.A., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
M.M., Eastman School of Music
B.M., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Campus

North Campus

Takako has taught precollege level students since 1992 throughout the United States and Canada. Her childhood musical training was completed through Toho Music School Preparatory division, one of the most prestigious precollege music programs in Japan. Her mentors and the experiences that she remembers from childhood inspired her to find true joy in working with precollege level students. Takako has performed in Banff, Paris, Prague, and Amalfi Coast. Takako’s performance highlights include an appearance at Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1998 and 2010. Her most recent recital was broadcasted over WECI 91.5FM, in Richmond, Indiana. Takako holds additional certificates in Suzuki Method and MTNA Professional NCTM Certification Program. Outside of CHCA, Takako serves on the faculty of the piano department at the Preparatory Division of University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music and the College of Examiner of Royal Conservatory in Canada. She also enjoys presenting lectures on pedagogical topics to share her teaching tips to other educators. She and her husband, David have two children and a Sheltie.

Classes:

Dr. Siryung Park

Music Lesson Provider

D.M.A., University of Cincinnati
M.M., University of Cincinnati

Campus

North Campus

Siryung Park is trained in the Sassmannshaus Tradition methods and has been teaching violin to a wide range of age groups and education levels since 2000. Her teaching experience extends through chamber music coaching and music theory class at Starling Project Foundation Preparatory, Sassmannshaus Tradition Preparatory Division, and CCM Preparatory Department. She is an accomplished soloist performer, orchestra member, and chamber musician in South Korea, China, Cuba, Israel, and the United States. Siryung is actively performing as a principal violin in the JS Chamber Orchestra, Con fuoco Piano Trio, and a substitute violin in the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.

Classes:

Dr. Dasom Kwon

Music Lesson Provider

D.M.A., The Ohio State University; M.A.
University of Cincinnati CCM.

Campus

North Campus & Armleder Campus

Dr. Dasom Kwon is a collaborative pianist and piano educator based in Cincinnati. She serves as Adjunct Faculty and Collaborative Pianist at Xavier University and Northern Kentucky University, where she teaches group piano and performs in recitals and choir concerts. Dr. Kwon has collaborated with organizations including the Indianapolis Opera, Interlochen Arts Camp, The King’s Brass, Glow Music and Amelia Island Opera. Known for her supportive and engaging teaching style, she is dedicated to helping students build strong musical skills, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for music.

Classes:

Chiaoyu Lin

Music Lesson Provider

D.M.A., University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
M.M., University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
B.M., Lee university

Campus

North Campus & Armleder Campus

Chiaoyu Lin is a Taiwanese pianist who has been recognized for her musical achievements in both Asia and the United States. She is a prizewinner of several international piano competitions and has performed as a soloist in Taiwan, China, Europe, and the United States. Chiaoyu holds degrees from Lee University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano. In addition to performing, she is passionate about teaching and enjoys helping children grow in confidence, discipline, and joy through music. She is committed to creating a supportive and encouraging learning environment where students can develop both musical skills and character.

Classes:

Voice

Amy Herbst

Music Lesson Provider

M.A., Belmont University
B.A., Northern Kentucky University

Campus

North Campus

Amy started her musical journey singing popular music and musical theatre songs before being introduced to the amazing world of opera!  She attended Northern Kentucky University before moving to Nashville to attend Belmont.  She has performed with Nashville and Dayton Opera, toured with Round About Opera for Kids, and sung in many church settings.  She still performs with Dayton Opera and various opportunities around the city.  She is very passionate about vocal pedagogy and uses the program created by the Northwest Institute of Voice.  She has taught in many studios and schools in Nashville and Cincinnati in addition to having her own studio.  She loves helping students find and use the beautiful voice that God has blessed them with!

Classes:

Carolyn Hill

Music Lesson Provider

B.M., Wright State University
B.Ed., Kentucky Christian College

Campus

North Campus

Carolyn Hill teaches Music in our Early Learning Program, leads worship for Preschool Chapel, and also teaches private voice lessons. Outside of CHCA, Carolyn is a member of the May Festival Chorus and Ensemble, serves as Children’s Minister at Connections Christian Church, and is the wife of a minister.

Classes:

Dr. Randall Wolfe

Music Lesson Provider

Campus

North Campus

Dr. Randall Wolfe has enjoyed various opportunities to share music and his faith with students from precollege to the university level. Having received his degrees at the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati, he served first as a vocal music teacher in the public schools, then as director of the Cincinnati Boychoir, and today as a senior lecturer at the University of Dayton. He founded the Schubert Chorale in Mason and maintains a private studio of voice and piano at his home in Mason.

Classes:

Strings

Dr. Siryung Park

Classroom Teacher

D.M.A., University of Cincinnati
M.M., University of Cincinnati

Campus

North Campus

Classes:

Dr. Sera Cheon

Music Lesson Provider

D.M.A., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
A.D., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
M.M., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Campus

North Campus

Sera has been teaching cello for more than 20 years to students of all ages. She has performed various solo and chamber recitals using both the baroque cello and the modern cello across the United States and Asia. Sera is currently a board member and a principal cellist at JS Chamber Ensemble and was selected to be an associate member in the Chicago Civic Orchestra and the New World Symphony. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. from Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea then earned 3 additional degrees from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She believes that music enriches lives, and she shares her passion and love of music through teaching and performing.

Classes:

Dr. Lydia Woodin

Director

D.M.A., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
M.M., University of Cincinnati
B.M., University of Alabama

Campus

North Campus & Armleder Campus

Dr. Lydia Woodin is certified in the Suzuki and Sassmannshaus Tradition methods and has been teaching violin and viola lessons for more than 30 years. She joined CHCA’s faculty in 2010 and became the Private Music Lesson Program Director in 2015.

In Fall 2024, Dr. Woodin was appointed Concertmaster of The Seven Hills Symphony, a community orchestra in Cincinnati, Ohio. Throughout her performing career, Dr. Woodin has often been appointed concertmaster and has performed professionally with orchestras, opera companies, and ballet companies around the United States; playing under notable conductors Yoel Levi, Louis Lane, Benjamin Zander, Awadagian Pratt, Hugh Wolfe, and Paavo Järvi. She especially enjoys playing to accompany opera, musical theater, and ballets, and has performed in almost 40 productions.

She has performed as a soloist with orchestras more than thirty times in her career, performing works of Bach, Mozart, Wieniawski, John Williams, Massenet, and others. Her most prolific solo was performing Schindler’s List as part of her concertmaster appointment in the Atlanta Passion Play. An Atlanta native and member of Dr. Charles Stanley’s church growing up, Dr. Woodin was invited to perform “Meditation from Thais” on the international InTouch Broadcast, which had a viewership of 7 million at the time.

A dedicated teacher, Dr. Woodin has studied pedagogy with Carrie Ruening-Hummel, Kurt Sassmannshaus, and under the esteemed faculty of the Starling-Delay Symposium at The Juilliard School. In her 30+ years of teaching the violin, Dr. Woodin has had several students pursue music professionally as performers and as music teachers. She strives to use to music to build into her students personally and hope it cultivates a life-long love of the arts.

Classes:

Dr. SeaKyung Hur

Music Lesson Provider

D.M.A., Michigan State University
M.M., Northwestern University
B.M., Roosevelt University

Campus

North Campus & Armleder Campus

Dr. SeaKyung Hur is a violinist and Suzuki-certified educator with extensive experience teaching students of all ages. She has previously taught at Northwestern University, the Boston Music Project, and several music schools in Boston and Korea. Dr. Hur holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance from Michigan State, a Master of Music in Violin Performance and String Pedagogy from Northwestern, and a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Roosevelt. She currently maintains an active teaching and performance schedule in the Cincinnati area.

Classes:

Peter Gemus

Music Lesson Provider

B.M. University of Southern California

Campus

North Campus

Bassist Peter Gemus grew up in New Jersey before moving to Cincinnati, OH to attend the UC College-Conservatory of Music. During his time in Cincinnati, he played with and learned from many of the great musicians in that area. Peter then relocated to Los Angeles where he completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the USC Thornton School of Music. During his time in LA, Peter kept an active schedule, getting to play with many great musicians in that region. While primarily a jazz musician, Peter is a life long student of the bass and continually studies and explores the capabilities of the instrument. He is very passionate about sharing with students the wide array of styles, techniques, and traditions that exist in the world of bass playing

Classes:

Woodwind

Dr. Ian McIntyre

Music Lesson Provider

D.M.A., Florida State University

Campus

North Campus

Dr. Ian McIntyre has been composing classical and electronic music for over a decade. During his undergraduate degree, he studied music composition with Dr. Bill Ryan at Grand Valley State University. In 2018, he began studying electronic music production using Ableton Live, and in 2020, Ian graduated from Florida State University with his Doctor of Music in Woodwind Performance. His dissertation focused on combining electronic music tools with acoustic instruments to make electroacoustic music more accessible. In addition, Ian is an active orchestral musician. In 2021, he presented a lecture-recital at the annual ClarinetFest sharing his research and compositions. He has self-released dozens of songs and compositions throughout many genres of electronic music that have received critical acclaim from top blogs and publications. His music has been performed at venues throughout the United States and amassed nearly a quarter million streams. He held the second clarinet position with the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra for six seasons, performs frequently with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, and serves as a Teaching Artist for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and The Carnegie.

Classes:

Brass

Emery Hicks

Music Lesson Provider

A.D., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
M.M., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
B.M., Belmont University

Campus

North Campus

Emery was first intrigued by the brass instruments in the great movie scores he grew up listening to. As he got older and began to perform, it brought him so much joy that he wanted to help spread that joy to others. Emery graduated from Belmont University with a B.M. in trumpet performance and went on to earn an M.M. and an A.D. in trumpet performance from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Today, he plays the second trumpet in the Evansville Philharmonic and performs regularly in several regional orchestras in the Greater Cincinnati area. Emery’s passion is to find beauty in the world, whether that be through music, art, or the natural wonders that the world offers.

Classes:

David Parrilla

Music Lesson Provider

A.D., University of Cincinnati
B.M., Belmont University

Campus

North Campus

David’s impressive music career started at his local church, where he played the trombone at a young age. There, he played various genres, such as gospel and Caribbean/Latin music. In 1999, he entered the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. A year later, he joined the State Band of Puerto Rico and later played with the Puerto Rican Arturo Somohano Pops Symphony until he moved to Cincinnati to study at CCM with the principal trombone of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He then went on to play with the CSO, West Virgina Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and the Springfield Symphony, as well as icons including Ray Charles, Andrea Bocelli, Hans Zimmer, Sandi Patti, among others. David is always grateful for the opportunities that God has presented him throughout his music career. 

Classes:

Percussion

Andrew Hartman

Music Lesson Provider

B.M., The Ohio State University
B.M.Ed., The Ohio State University

Campus

North Campus

Andrew is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the Percussive Arts Society. He teaches drumline for marching band during summer band camps. He has served as a church musician for 14 years, providing drums and percussion for Forest Chapel United Methodist Church, Northminster Presbyterian Church, and All Saints Catholic Church. In 2014, Andrew won the Ohio State University James Moore Percussion, and he performed with the Ohio Military Band as a featured soloist in 2010 and 2015.

Classes:

Music Production

Dr. Ian McIntyre

Music Lesson Provider

D.M.A., Florida State University

Campus

North Campus

Classes:

Guitar

Peter Gemus

Music Lesson Provider

B.M. University of Southern California

Campus

North Campus

Classes:

Eugene McCullough

Music Lesson Provider

B.A., Berklee College of Music

Campus

North Campus

Eugene McCullough is a Cincinnati native, CHCA alumni, and Berklee College of Music graduate. He is an experienced performer dedicated to inspiring students of all ages and skill levels. Specializing in contemporary music, he designs customized lesson plans that blend essential music theory with practical techniques. With a focus on nurturing creativity and improvisation, Eugene creates a fun, stress-free learning environment to help every student reach their full musical potential.

Classes:

Della Enns PMLP Scholarship

Please fill out the Scholarship Application below if you require financial assistance. Scholarships are awarded based on Scholarship Application results, and will honor your current CHCA Scholarship Percentage until donated scholarship funds are fully deployed.

FAQ

When does my student have lessons?

PK-Gr 4 lessons occur during non-critical learning times with homeroom teacher approval.
Gr 5-8 students may have lessons before school, during lunch/recess or a study hall, and after school.
Gr 9-12 students may have lessons during PRT, activity bell, or after school.

Important Dates

PMLP Open House

August 19, 2026 | 8:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Auto-payment withdrawal dates:

1st Quarter – August 10

2nd Quarter – October 5
3rd Quarter – December 7
4th Quarter – March 1

Spring Recitals in the EBL Gym

Preschool | Tuesday, May 4 at 11:00a.m.

Kindergarten | Tuesday, May 4 at 10:00a.m.
Grade 1 | Tuesday, May 4 at 12:30p.m.
Grade 2 | Tuesday, May 4 at 1:45p.m.

Spring Recitals in the Lindner Theater

Grades 3 – 12

Monday, May 10 & Tuesday, May 11
4:00p.m., 5:30p.m. & 7:00p.m.

Other Important Information

$45 annual book fee/class is non-refundable and due upon registration
$40 annual family registration fee is non-refundable and due upon registration
$15-$30 pianist fee for students using piano accompaniment billed at recital time
Private Music Lesson Program Withdrawal Form must be completed 2 weeks before the upcoming auto-payment date. Credit for unused lessons transfer to the next quarter – no refunds.