Ms. Grimes holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Education from the Hartt School of Music, Connecticut and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Catholic University, Washington, DC. Ms. Grimes' primary instruments are violin/viola; she is also proficient on piano, cello and trumpet. She has over 25 years experience in working with young children, the last 15 as Director of the Smiling Strings program. A member of the American String Teacher's Association where she was a 2006 National Conference presenter, her public school orchestras consistently receive superior ratings at the CPS Elementary Music Festivals and she has appeared as a guest conductor for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Ms. Grimes is also the Music Director and Co-founder of the Northside Youth Symphony, a non-profit organization comprised of elementary/middle schoolers that rehearse at Northside College Prep HS representing students from approximately 25 North Side schools. Ms. Grimes is a member of the Lake Shore Symphony and in her free time enjoys world-wide travel and playing with her two young grandsons!

Ms. Capistran is a graduate student at DePaul University and a new member of our faculty...biography soon to follow!

Mr. Elfers graduated from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX in 2006. His main instrument is the viola and he is a member of the Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra and Buckingham Quartet. Mr. Elfers moved to Chicago last summer and is excited about his 3rd year of teaching, both with Smiling Strings and as a rehearsal coach with the Northside Youth Symphony. Before leaving Texas, he taught 6th and 7th grade orchestra in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District.

Ms. Gonzalez has taught both violin and viola for the last 6 years.She received training for Suzuki books One and Two, as well as traditional violin pedagogy. She has taught both privately and for DePaul Community Music, Kim's International Music and Smiling Strings. Ms. Gonzalez has been a free-lance violinist and violist in the Chicago area for the last 7 years. She is currently a member of the Rockford Symhpony Orchestra. Ms. Gonzalez graduated with a BM in Violin Performance from DePaul University School of Music in 2005, and will obtain a Masters degree in violin performance from DePaul University in 2010.

Mrs. Guilfoyle graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998 and earned her Masters of Music Education from Northern Illinois University in 2002. Melissa's career so far includes running a high school orchestra program in Rockford, Illinois for 3 years, a middle school orchestra program in Deerfield, Illinois for 5 years and teaching Suzuki violin at the Rockford College Music Academy for 8 years. She plays in many groups including the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Club Chamber Orchestra and the Ravenswood Community Orchestra. This is her 3rd year with Smiling Strings.

Mrs. Nott received her Bachelor's Degree in cello performance from the University of Wisconsin -- Madison and her Master's Degree in cello performance from the University of Missouri -- Kansas City. She has been teaching cello lessons to students of all ages for 13 years, and has performed in many orchestras throughout the Midwest, including the Madison Symphony, the Rockford Symphony, the Illinois Philharmonic, and the Des Moines Symphony. She is also a member of the Oakley Street Cello Ensemble and plays in a band called Mira Mira. This will be Mrs. Nott's 4th year teaching in the Smiling Strings program.

Ms. Tyus is a graduate student at DePaul University and a new faculty member....biography to follow!

Mrs. Hofmann graduated from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, Appleton, Wisconsin in 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree in violin performance. She is also an accomplished pianist. Before moving to Chicago, Rachel taught at the Rockford College Music Academy and the Lawrence University Music Academy. She currently plays with the Rockford Symphony, the Tristan Quartet and the Classical Symphony of Chicago. This is her 3rd year with Smiling Strings.

Mr. Peterman is a graduate student at Roosevelt University, Chicago College of Performing Arts and a new faculty member....biography to follow!