(Violin, Viola) - Jessie has been playing violin since she was eight years old. She has maintained a private studio in Chicago since 2007. Jessie graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a Bachelor's of Music in Performance in 2009.  She studied with David Taylor at Moody and with Laura Park Chen at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She is trained in the Suzuki method and her students have been accepted into the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra at both the Preparatory Strings and Debut levels. Jessie remains an active musician in Chicagoland, playing regularly with the American Chamber Opera Company, the Candid Concert Opera Company and other groups. In addition to violin, she also plays accordion and sings with her band Renegade Lightning Rebellion.

(Trumpet and other brass instruments) - Sara has played music since Middle School and has taught for about 6 years, on and off.  She has taught kids in the United States and in Jamaica.  Her education includes a Bachelor of Music, specializing in Jazz Studies, from Elmhurst College.  Teaching music helps her stay engaged in music education and she enjoys sharing her knowledge with others.  Sara speaks both English and Spanish.  She says, “I was fortunate to study under both Von Freemon and Fred Anderson.  Both men were Chicago Jazz icons and innovators having pioneered two distinct original Jazz styles.”

(Saxophone, Piano) - Brian has a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the prestigious University of North Texas with a concentration in Saxophone and Arranging/Composition. He has been performing since middle school when he joined his church band on electric bass. Since moving to Chicago in 2009, Brian has played saxophone regularly with the Done Deal Jazz Quintet, Big Band Boom and Suena Latin Jazz at such venues as the Dragon Lounge in Oak Park, Pete Miller's in Wheeling and the Fountain Square Art Festival in Evanston. In addition, Brian leads his own band, Renegade Lightning Rebellion, where he sings and plays upright bass. He is an active composer/arranger. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by various groups in Chicagoland including the Vandercook University Jazz Ensemble, the Covenant Presbyterian Choral Ensemble and the Willard Elementary School Children's Choir.

(Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele) - While singing with the Saint Gabriel and Father O’Malley’s Old Saint Mary choirs, Ed McGrath obtained an honors diploma from Saint Ignatius College Prep. While at DePaul University he studied classical guitar with Richard Pick and composition with Alexander Tcheripnin, among others, gaining a Bachelor's of Music in Composition, Magna Cum Laude. In post graduate work he studied jazz guitar with Joe Pass, Frank Dawson, Pat Martino, and keyboards and composition with Allen Swain. He has taught general music, guitar, keyboards, and composition to all levels from Headstart to college. He has performed with symphony orchestras, big bands, dance companies, musicals, clowns and a semi-trained monkey. He still enjoys teaching beginners because they haven’t learned anything wrong yet.

(Yoga Tuesday Evenings) - Ali came to yoga in 2005 to offset the effects of work travel and stress. Yoga helped to relieve her back pain and strengthen her body. As her practice deepened, she found her breath helped to calm her mind. Her personal practice and teaching focus on stretching and strengthening to bring the body back to a more balanced state. In her class, you can expect postures held statically and dynamically with a focus on alignment. Classes end with simple breathwork and meditation.

(Certified Zumba Instructor) - Janice grew up in Chicago and became a long-time Zumba® participant, then a Zumba® enthusiast, and now a Zumba® Instructor. She has always had a passion for dance and has attended a number of classes at the Lou Conte Dance Studio (LCDS) Hubbard Street Dance Center Ballet; Basic Jazz ;Basic Modern; African; Pilates ;Vinyasa Yoga ;Zumba®.  The driving force behind her work as a Zumba instructor is to bring people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and ages together to build a healthy spirit, mind and body through dance.  You do not have to be a dancer or even consider yourself coordinated in order to enjoy Zumba, just come ready to have FUN!  Outside of the dance studio, she works as an IT Telecommunications consultant for one of the world’s leading consulting organizations.

(Yoga Thursday Mornings) - Barb remembers her first attempts at yoga while watching Lilias on PBS when her children were young. She tried many styles of yoga before finding relief from an old back injury through Viniyoga and yoga therapy under the expert guidance and teaching of Kathy Ornish. Kathy introduced her to the Himalayan Institute where she was initiated into the Himalayan tradition in 2012. She will complete her 200-hour teacher certification with Tejas Yoga in March 2014 and is most appreciative to Jim Bennitt and James Tennant for their teaching and guidance.
She teaches Hatha style yoga incorporating asana, pranayama and meditation. Barb is forever grateful for the peace, balance, flexibility and stability found in yoga as it finds its way into every aspect of her life.

(Yoga Thursday Evenings) - After switching careers and becoming a personal trainer, Chris began practicing Yoga in 2009 as a way to augment his personal weekly exercise routine. Realizing Yoga was becoming a bigger part of his life, he enrolled at Tejas Yoga in 2013 and received his 200-hour teaching certification in the Spring of 2014. Chris teaches a Hatha Vinyasa style class that incorporates postures, breath work, and meditation. His goal is to help each person understand what yoga can give to them as individuals. He believes Yoga is for everyone and aims to help deepen his students' practice at their own pace.