Our Teachers

Cameron Marquez is a freelance percussionist and active educator based in the Chicagoland area. From 2024-2026, he was a Regular Member of Percussion with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and a member of the Civic Fellowship Program. Cameron performs regularly with ensembles in Chicago and across the Midwest, and is a substitute percussionist for the New World Symphony. Cameron cares deeply about high-quality, accessible music education, and aims to create opportunities for students of all ages to find their creative voice through music and percussion. Cameron primarily teaches at Musicologie Edgewater, The People's Music School, and Niles West High School. When he is not teaching or performing, he enjoys to ride his bike on the lakefront.

Dubbed "Chicago's queer pop star" by the Chicago Tribune, Thair infuses the local music scene with soaring lyricism and high-energy, unifying dance music. An accomplished performer, he has taken the stage at major festivals like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Chicago Pridefest, and has appeared on WGN and FOX News.As a dedicated educator, Thair brings this same passion to students of all ages. Whether serving as a Ravinia teaching artist, vocal directing large productions, or teaching private voice and piano lessons, he balances technical discipline with personal experience. His student-centered approach builds confidence, fosters lifelong self-expression, and has helped launch his own students into national and international touring careers.

Juna has been teaching music for over 8 years and playing for most of their life! While specializing in guitar, they take pride in their eclectic approach, spanning both instrument and genre. They encourage students to experiment, problem-solve, and have fun, while sacrificing none of the functional knowledge of the instrument or theory. All of this culminates in a playful and informative journey of finding your musical voice!

Evangelina Combs is a graduate of the NIU School of Music, specializing in Vocal/Choral Music Education. She has studied under renowned faculty members and has diverse teaching experience, including directing a collegiate a cappella groups and teaching children's choirs. At NIU, she performed with various ensembles and participated/lead in opera productions. Evangelina has coached with notable vocalists like Grammy winner Karen Slack and online vocal coach Cheryl Porter Diva. Awarded the 2020 National Choral Award, she excels in classical, theatrical, and vocal jazz music. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes practice and fostering a love for music in a supportive, student-centered environment.

Brian Rasmussen is a multi-faceted musician with experience ranging from opera to rock and roll. With extensive experience as a pianist, vocalist, composer and director, Brian brings a wealth of experience to his teaching. With over 12 years of teaching experience, he prides himself on bringing an individualized and goal-oriented approach to teaching while keeping lessons engaging and fun. Brian holds a bachelor's degree in music education and a masters degree in opera. He is thrilled to be joining the Musicologie team and looks forward to helping young musicians grow.

Jasmine Barrette has been an active educator and professional jazz pianist across the northern Illinois region. As a child she had the opportunity to study composition with Chicago jazz legend Tom Garling. His tutelage opened many doors for her, and she was inspired to help future musicians develop their musical voices and encourage their love of music. Jasmine studied at Northern Illinois University, honing her skills on her instrument and earning her teaching licensure. Her philosophy is to "put the fun first", helping her students to hone their skills step-by-step and seeing the joy in the journey! In addition to teaching at Musicologie, she teaches elementary music in the suburbs and accompanies for school choirs and ILMEA events.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Indira Gutiérrez Marrero moved to Chicago to pursue her BFA in Musical Theatre at the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Her love of music began at age five with her first Kindermusik class, and she has been singing and playing instruments ever since. A musical theatre performer and teaching artist, she specializes in musical theatre voice and sings in both English and Spanish. Indira believes music should be a place to have fun, build confidence, and express yourself. At Musicologie, she hopes to help every student discover their own voice and develop a lifelong love of music.