Kenny Thompson
Kenny Thompson
Kenny Thompson
Guitar
(Available ONLY Wednesday)
Kenny Thompson is an active guitarist and composer in Chicago’s music scene who strives to blend his wide-ranging influences into a singular voice on his instrument and in his writing. He went to school at Deerfield High, graduating in 2011, then attended Elmhurst College, graduating with his B.M. in Jazz S
Guitar
(Available ONLY Wednesday)
Kenny Thompson is an active guitarist and composer in Chicago’s music scene who strives to blend his wide-ranging influences into a singular voice on his instrument and in his writing. He went to school at Deerfield High, graduating in 2011, then attended Elmhurst College, graduating with his B.M. in Jazz Studies four years later in 2015. He’s had the good fortune to perform alongside and glean from such luminaries as Sean Jones, Gary Smulyan, Bobby Shew, and Bobby Floyd, and has studied with some of the finest guitarists in Chicago, including Frank Portolese and Scott Hesse. Kenny is excited to share all he has learned through his teachers and experiences with his students!
Isabella Duda
Kenny Thompson
Kenny Thompson
Piano, Flute, Ukulele
(Available Monday - Friday)
Isabella started her music journey back at the age of five, beginning on the piano. Upon starting lessons, she immediately fell in love with the art and wanted to start learning as many instruments as possible. She has followed her passion for music and art her whole life, performing in EYSO
Piano, Flute, Ukulele
(Available Monday - Friday)
Isabella started her music journey back at the age of five, beginning on the piano. Upon starting lessons, she immediately fell in love with the art and wanted to start learning as many instruments as possible. She has followed her passion for music and art her whole life, performing in EYSO throughout high school as the principal flautist, taking college level music courses, and performing professionally as an accompanist for many solo artists. Music is Bella's favorite form of expression and aims to share this love and passion for music with every one of her students. With over four years of teaching experience, she brings expertise and professionalism to the practice room with a special ability to hone in on every one of her student's individual needs!
Patrick Feehan
Kenny Thompson
Patrick Feehan
Guitar, Percussion, Drums
(UNAVAILABLE)
Patrick works well with those who are looking to learn how to play solos, finger style, jazz and melodic guitar pieces as well. He also loves to duet with his students for performances so if you get stage fright but still want to perform, Patrick has your back!
Riley Elmore
Voice
(Available)
Riley Elmore started singing at the age of 12 in middle school as the supporting role of Lefou in their musical Beauty and the Beast. He then attended Dundee-Crown High School where he quickly discovered a passion for jazz voice. In 2016, Riley took a chance and auditioned for NBC’s “The Voice” and ended up as a contestant
Voice
(Available)
Riley Elmore started singing at the age of 12 in middle school as the supporting role of Lefou in their musical Beauty and the Beast. He then attended Dundee-Crown High School where he quickly discovered a passion for jazz voice. In 2016, Riley took a chance and auditioned for NBC’s “The Voice” and ended up as a contestant shortly after his 16th birthday. Riley lasted for multiple episodes and made it to the top 20 of the series. During his time there, he was a part of Team Adam Levine, working with him and learning from the front man of the famous pop band, Maroon 5. After his journey on ”The Voice” Riley began gigging and performing around the Chicagoland area. Upon finishing High School, Riley chose to continue studying music and attended DePaul University, graduating in 2022 with his degree in Performing Arts Management with a focus on Jazz Vocals. Riley currently teaches vocals at other locations and has a great passion for the Music Industry.
Sarah Kowal-Moore
Sarah Kowal-Moore
Sarah Kowal-Moore
Flute
(Available)
Sarah is our flute instructor, and comes to Signature Sounds with over 20 years of flute experience. She studied Flute Pedagogy at the University of Northern Iowa, and has performed on all range of flutes (Piccolo, C Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, and Contrabass Flute). Her flute knowledge spans many genres including Baro
Flute
(Available)
Sarah is our flute instructor, and comes to Signature Sounds with over 20 years of flute experience. She studied Flute Pedagogy at the University of Northern Iowa, and has performed on all range of flutes (Piccolo, C Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, and Contrabass Flute). Her flute knowledge spans many genres including Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary, and Extended Technique, or the flute as you don't normally hear it. She not only has a deep love of all things flute, but also specializes in Wind Band repertoire, has previously performed in pit orchestras, and also has 11 years of Marching Band experience. "I'm excited to bring my flute Henry and my piccolo Burt Reynolds to my students! Ask me how they got their names at our first lesson!"
Sam Schatz
Sarah Kowal-Moore
Sarah Kowal-Moore
Brass, Woodwinds, Guitar, Piano and Percussion!
(Available Tuesday, Friday)
Sam Schatz is a skilled multi instrumentalist and professional musician. Having started out playing trombone at a young age, Sam has always had a strong connection to music and a drive to deepen his connection to the art form. After primary school, Sam began to dis
Brass, Woodwinds, Guitar, Piano and Percussion!
(Available Tuesday, Friday)
Sam Schatz is a skilled multi instrumentalist and professional musician. Having started out playing trombone at a young age, Sam has always had a strong connection to music and a drive to deepen his connection to the art form. After primary school, Sam began to discover more instruments such as trumpet, piano, saxophone and more, and he only grew more excited to all he could! After high school, Sam immediately jumped into the music scene and has played throughout the Chicagoland area with various bands with musicians such as Mike Walters, Fred Johnson, Matthew Bishop and many more. Additionally, Sam is an active T.A. at McHenry community college under Michael Bazan since 2018, and has composted songs for their ensembles as well. Sam's love for music has enabled him to pick up many instruments throughout the years, so if you can think of an instrument, there is a great chance Sam has played it!
Anna Stock
Sarah Kowal-Moore
Anna Stock
Piano
(UNAVAILABLE)
Anna is one of our piano teachers and she comes with nearly 20 years of experience! Having taken lessons as a child, she’s spent many hours studying both theory and technique and now she’s bringing her talent to the lessons rooms at Signature Sounds. If you’re looking to take piano with a music veteran who really knows
Piano
(UNAVAILABLE)
Anna is one of our piano teachers and she comes with nearly 20 years of experience! Having taken lessons as a child, she’s spent many hours studying both theory and technique and now she’s bringing her talent to the lessons rooms at Signature Sounds. If you’re looking to take piano with a music veteran who really knows her stuff, look no further! Anna has you covered and you may leave with more knowledge about theory than you anticipated!
Christian Sanchez-owner | Executive Director
The face of Signature Sounds! A former D300 graduate, Christian achieved high honors reaching the all-state level in ILMEA for jazz during High School. In his senior year, he interned at DMS as a band and choral director under Matthew Bishop and Tim Gorski. Upon graduation, Christian earned his Bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies from Elmhurst University, as well as countless awards across Illinois, including a Concerto Competition win at Elmhurst. Along with classical wins, Christian also has 7 outstanding soloist awards at the Elmhurst College/University Jazz Festivals from 2019-2022. He's worked with, and continues to work with many big names in jazz and music such as Doc Severinson, Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Roberta Gambarini and more. He currently performs regularly at many world famous jazz venues across the Midwest U.S. and continues to work and perform in the professional music scene. Christian has been teaching for many years dating back to 2018, and is a current teacher at Dundee-Crown High School, Dundee Middle School, and other local schools outside of D-300. He is an active member of the local music scene performing regularly at numerous venues in Dundee. Christian is proud to bring Signature Sounds to Dundee and is filled with ambition, great ideas, talent and the will to make his students succeed!
Remembering Matthew Bishop - Educational Consult (1989-2024)
Matthew Bishop received his degree in Music Education from the VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois, where he spent time focusing on instrumental and vocal pedagogy and performance, composition/arranging, and conducting.
He currently teaches at Dundee Middle School in West Dundee, IL, where he instructs choir, band, orchestra, a music class to students with special needs, sponsors various clubs, and serves as Music Director for the spring musical performed at Elgin Community College. His DMS ensembles have received top ratings at regional and state contests and festivals.
Matthew was appointed as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Elgin Master Chorale Children’s Chorus (in-residence ensemble at Elgin Community College) in August 2018. Following his strategic plan, the organization has since transitioned to become the Elgin Youth Choir with multiple choral ensembles to include students in grades 2-12. As Artistic Director, he has collaborated with the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin to establish an annual combined concert series titled “Get the Whole World Singing” with the goal of offering music instruction to underrepresented youth in the community. Recently, Matthew and his top Elgin Youth Choir ensemble performed concerts with the ECC Concert Choir, Elgin Master Chorale, and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Matthew has served as guest conductor and clinician for local community and professional vocal and instrumental ensembles, the Illinois Music Education Association's Regional Elementary Chorus District VII, in-district festivals and events, and serves as director for various summer choral and vocal camps in the Fox Valley.
Additionally, he serves as Music Director for theater organizations that include Marquee Main Stage Theater, Schaumburg on Stage, Point 2 Productions, Children’s Theater of Elgin, and Fox Valley Theater Company. Recently, he was appointed to the role of Artistic Director for Children’s Theater of Elgin and Fox Valley Theater Company.
As an advocate of live music and community service, he calls together colleagues and professional musician friends to form the Bishop Super Band, a rhythm and blues band that plays school and community fundraiser events like Dundee Middle School’s ‘Schoolapalooza’, West Dundee’s ‘Heritage Fest', Elgin's 'Rib Fest’, and fundraiser events.