Staff
Gosia Bagley
Executive Director 312.738.2646 x122 [email protected] Gosia received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Piano Performance from DePaul University School of Music, where she studied under the guidance of Mary Sauer, the principal keyboardist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Gosia completed extensive piano pedagogy studies with Suzanne Baker and received Suzuki training from Doris Koppelman, Fay Adams, and Caroline Fraser. Gosia has taught at New Music School, at her home studio, and in the DCFS Pathways to Development program through DePaul University School of Music. From 2002 to 2021 Gosia was the editor of and contributor to the Piano Explorer magazine. During her 24 years at ChiME, Gosia has taught piano lessons and group classes, early childhood classes, and classroom music in ChiME’s partner schools. As an administrator, she has held positions of the Family Program Chair, Program Director, and the Director of Classroom Music and Instrumental Music. She has helped ChiME launch its Music Therapy program, and has been responsible for oversight of the school’s programs, including maintaining and developing the program content and continuum, providing support and guidance to families enrolled in the program, managing performances and events, and overseeing faculty professional development. Her work in both the pedagogical and administrative aspects of ChiME has helped the school achieve its goals of clarifying our unique recipe, strengthening the curriculum, and developing a meaningful professional development model for teaching artists. She is passionate about instilling the love of music in students and using music to help them express their voice, connect with others, and develop valuable habits and skills for life. |
Joel Appel-Kraut
West Town Manager 312.738.2646 [email protected] Joel is a percussionist, music producer, and administrator from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Throughout Joel’s musical career, he has had the privilege of studying under percussion luminaries such as Meruga Booker, Sean Dobbins, Keith Hall, and Jay Sawyer. In 2022, Joel graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor of Arts in Musicology as well as a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. During his time at Tufts, his studies focused on 20th Century American Popular Music and its relevant connections to American culture. He also performed frequently around the Boston area with groups such as Gam the Band, Tufts B.E.A.T.S, and TJAC. Joel is extremely passionate about the value of music education for people of all ages, and he considers himself very lucky to work at ChiME, where he has the opportunity to help make musical opportunities more accessible to students all across Chicago. When he is not at the front desk of ChiME’s West Town location, you’re most likely to find him playing pickup basketball, performing music around town, or attempting to find the greatest taco in the City of Chicago. |
Zoë Douthit
Program Chair 312.738.2646 [email protected] Zoë was born and raised in New York City where she was homeschooled for 9 years while attending Third Street Music School, studying the cello under the instruction of cellist and conductor Dr. Sibylle Johner. She graduated from Special Music School High School in 2017 while continuing her studies with Sibylle Johner and playing chamber music at The Chamber Music Center of New York, studying under Mary Jo Pagano, Founder and Artistic Director. Zoë performed in master classes taught by Stefan Kartman, Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin and Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic. She attended Wheaton College, where she graduated and received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Pedagogy in the spring of 2021 from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music. During her undergraduate years, Zoë performed with the Wheaton College Symphony Orchestra and sat as principal cellist during her senior year as well as participated in Baroque and chamber ensembles. Throughout her educational studies, she tutored as a practice partner with students at the Kaufman School of Music in New York City and The Chamber Music Center of New York, and taught students in private classes at Wheaton North High School. She has also worked as a summer music camp counselor at the Chamber Music Center of New York and at the Wheaton College Summer Music Camp. For two years, she interned at the Community School of the Arts in Wheaton, Illinois, where she led and coached string group classes and chamber ensembles. When Zoë is not playing her cello she can be found making coffee and teas at a local coffee shop in Wheaton. Alli Dunn
Director of Music Therapy Programs 312.738.2646 x133 [email protected] Alli attended Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy. She has been practicing as a board-certified music therapist since 2014. During her years at ChiME, Alli has served as music therapist, early childhood teaching artist, department chair, and now as the Director of Music Therapy Programs. Alli launched the music therapy program on-site at West Town, which provides individual music therapy sessions for clients of varied diagnoses and ages. She works with a 1:1 client-base of her own at ChiME and focuses on active music-making, child-led strategies, and neurodiversity-affirming practices as supports for individuals’ existing strengths. Alli formed and defined ChiME’s Therapeutic Model of Classroom Music, which brings music to over 800 children across Chicago weekly and uses a unique recipe of classroom music teaching and therapeutic skills to ensure each participant’s success. She continues to find fun and inspiration in the therapeutic classroom groups she leads weekly at ChiME partner schools, most especially with PreK-age learners. Alli also created the Buddy Band program, an inclusive beginner ensemble that brings children with and without disabilities together to make music and form friendships. Buddy Band currently operates at West Town and through ChiME partner organizations. Alli considers her strengths to include her ability to create meaningful rapport with students, use of diverse and fresh repertoire, and always including a healthy dash of silliness in her practice. Her principal instruments include guitar and voice, although ukulele, varied percussion, piano, and more all have a place in her professional toolkit. Nashira Pearl
Program Manager, Classroom Music Performance Model [email protected] Born and raised in Wisconsin, Nashira received her degree and certifications in General & Instrumental Music Education (K-12) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her Masters in Music Education from Boston University. She has taught in Milwaukee, New York, and now Chicago in a variety of settings including private, public, bilingual, and after-school programs. Most of her teaching has focused on general music and string education in elementary schools using a culturally responsive, popular music pedagogy. Nashira first experienced being a teaching artist with the Third Street Music Settlement in New York City and was thrilled by the opportunity to assume that role again with ChiME. As the Program Manager for the Performance Model team, Nashira is able to support both students and fellow teaching artists in growing and developing their skills. She has been instrumental in embedding Social Emotional Learning in the program’s curriculum and in organizing ongoing SEL-focused professional development for the team. She also enjoys helping her colleagues use technology for creative problem solving, planning, and teaching. Although Nashira was raised in the classical music tradition with piano, cello, and saxophone, she has found a new passion for non-performative social music-making. She occasionally organizes jam sessions with her synagogue community where she can be found singing and playing piano, guitar, or hand drums. The rest of her free time is spent playing with her kids and her cat, enjoying the Marvel Cinematic Universe with her husband, reading, making to-do lists, or listening to podcasts. Occasionally all at the same time. |