Meet Our Teachers

Alison has been a dedicated music educator for over 25 years, specializing in piano, voice, and music theory. As a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, she launched her jazz career as a vocalist and arranger before earning a master’s degree in Music Education, with a focus on inclusivity in the classroom. Alison is committed to a student-centered teaching approach while ensuring a strong foundation in musical fundamentals for pianists and vocalists alike. Beyond teaching, Alison is an accomplished performer with Madison’s renowned Steely Dane, a 14-member band that tours throughout Wisconsin and neighboring states. The group has performed at major concert venues and outdoor festivals, sharing the stage with artists such as Jason Mraz and Styx at the iconic Summerfest. When not performing, she enjoys painting, taking walks, and watching Marvel Universe films.

Caroline began playing violin at the age of 5 with Shauncey Ali and currently studies with Eugene Purdue of UW-Madison. In addition to private lessons, Caroline has been a member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras for 5 years. She has participated in WSMA Solo and Ensemble 5 times. Caroline attends Oregon High School and has played violin in the OHS pit orchestra for the past 2 years. She has attended UW-Madison’s Summer Music Clinic twice. In March 2024, she won her school’s concerto competition. When not playing violin, Caroline enjoys making art, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Sami Elmer is a theatre artist and teacher based out of the Madison, WI area. She earned her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Drake University in Des Moines, IA. She also has a B.S. in Communications Sciences and Disorders (vocal health) from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She has over 20 years of vocal training and has been teaching voice lessons for the last nine years. As a voice teacher she helps each student establish a healthy vocal technique and a strong sense of confidence, both as a performer and as an individual.  In addition to voice lessons, she also has experience teaching Music Together® (an early childhood music program) and working as a teaching artist, performer, and director for several theatre companies in Madison and the surrounding area.

Emma Cifrino is a violist and violinist who earned her DMA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Emma began her studies with Betsy Kobayashi at the Pineland Suzuki School in Augusta, ME. She holds a B.Mus from Lawrence University, and an M.Mus from Bowling Green State University. At Bowling Green she was a member of the Graduate String Quartet and served as principal viola in the Bowling Green Philharmonia. Emma has almost a decade of experience teaching students of all ages and levels. She believes that her primary duty as a music educator is to produce students who are respectful of the art of music-making. This means instilling students with good practice habits, encouraging participation in chamber ensembles, and modeling a scholarly – but enthusiastic –  approach to performance. Emma joined the Academy of Sound faculty in 2017.

May Kohler is a Master of Music student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She studies opera, with her most recent roles being Franca (The Light in the Piazza), Calisto (La Calisto), Cis (Albert Herring), and Isabel (Pirates of Penzance). This academic year, May will sing the role of Elisabeth in Lisa Bielawa’s new opera, La Ballonniste, as well as Guadalina in Lowe & Rourke’s Songbird. May has participated in training programs with Musiktheater Bavaria, and the Madison Bach Musicians. Besides being an avid performer of opera, May regularly sings and teaches contemporary vocal styles with the Madison Church of Christ worship team. In addition to this, May’s teaching experience includes leading classes at the University of Wisconsin Madison’s Summer Music Clinic, tutoring music theory at the University of Wisconsin Madison, and conducting private lessons as a voice teaching assistant for the Mead Witter School of Music. May teaches many kinds of singing styles and age ranges. May joined our faculty in July, 2024.

Madison is a clarinetist and music educator based in the greater Madison area. A native of central Illinois, Maddie attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned degrees in clarinet performance and K-12 music education. Maddie moved to Madison WI in 2021 to begin studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with JJ Koh and Alicia Lee. In the fall of 2024, Maddie began her appointment as Lecturer of Clarinet at UW-Madison, and additionally maintains a small private teaching studio. Maddie is an active performer with the Capitol City Band Association's summer concert series, and also works on the management team of its two bands throughout the year. Outside of music, Maddie enjoys working with animals and has an interest in dog training and behavior. She currently lives in Oregon WI with her partner, Ryan, and their senior dog, Dodger.

Michael began playing drums at the age of two. He was a self-taught drummer for years until he started taking lessons at Academy of Sound in 2012. In the six years that Michael took lessons at Academy of Sound, he developed strong drumming skills and a strong passion for music performance. Michael has been heavily involved in the Oregon School District’s music programs. He participated in the school's percussion ensemble, jazz band, and various concert bands. Outside of school, Michael participated in Shadow Drum and Bugle Corps as well as Shadow Indoor Percussion. After graduating from Oregon High School in 2022, Michael is currently attending the University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he is working towards his bachelor of science in Kinesiology. Although he is not studying music, he is actively a part of the university's percussion ensemble program.

Owen Shefchik is a jazz guitarist based in Madison, Wisconsin. He began playing guitar casuallyat the age of twelve and gradually developed a deep interest in the blues and otherimprovisational styles of music. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison MeadWitter School of Music in May of 2025 with a double major in English and Jazz Studies. Whileat UW–Madison, Owen had the opportunity to study closely with respected jazz musicians andeducators, including Louka Patenaude, Peter Dominguez, and Johannes Wallmann. He also didensemble work with renowned players like Peter Bernstein and Dayna Stephens. Theseexperiences helped shape his voice as a guitarist and deepened his understanding of the jazztradition. Owen is an active member of the Madison music scene, often performing at local jams,collaborating with fellow musicians, and taking part in various jazz ensembles around the area.

Chris Telfer comes to us with a BA in Vocal, General & Instrumental Music from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. He also holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Marian College, and has a Doctoral Degree-in-progress at Edgewood College in Educational Leadership. Chris has worked as a Choral Director, Vocal/General Music Director, and Instrumental Director at multiple schools and grade levels. He is currently working in the Mount Horeb School District teaching 6th Grade General Music and Choir. Chris teaches brass instruments such as trombone, trumpet, euphonium, tuba, and the baritone, woodwind instruments, as well as piano, drums, and voice, and joined Academy of Sound in 2012. 

Braden Bartlett began playing piano at the age of 8, and is currently taking private lessons with Elisabeth Petersen. In addition to piano, Brady started playing violin when he was 9 years old, and clarinet just one year later. He currently studies violin with Kay Black and clarinet with Patrick Dorn. Further, he has performed as the principal clarinetist of the WSMA High Level State Honors Band, and as concertmaster of the Wisconsin All Stars of Music band program. Brady has received a first rating in the WSMA State Solo and Ensemble four times, across all three instruments. He attends Oregon High School, where he founded the Oregon Symphony Orchestra club, and participates in the Orchestra, Band, Music Composition, and Jazz Studies courses.

Adam Chisman grew up in Oregon WI, and graduated from Oregon High School in 2009. Adam began his study of guitar with the late John Bauman in 2004. From 2006 through 2008, he studied the Berklee method of guitar under Sims Delaney-Potthoff. Adam also studied Music Theory and Music Composition. In 2007, Adam attended Guitar Sessions at Berklee College of Music and went on to major in Guitar Performance at Berklee. After college, Adam spent six months traveling in New Zealand and participating in the WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) program. Adam also worked as a Library Assistant at the Oregon Public Library from 2009 through 2016. Adam joined Academy of Sound as a guitar teacher in 2011. He began working as a Managing Director in 2016. Adam currently lives abroad and continues to teach online.

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Elisa Kaether has been part of Academy of Sound her entire life with her mother being the founder of Academy of sound. She joined the faculty in 2013 as a receptionist and began teaching in 2018. Elisa studied piano and voice primarily, while also learning violin, drums, and ukulele. She pursued music education at Madison College and Edgewood College.

Elisa is the founder of two a cappella groups, Noteworthy at Oregon High School and The Drama A Cappella Group, which she continues to direct and arrange music for. She has performed in numerous musicals and has always had a deep love for musical theatre. One of her favorite roles she’s ever played is Glinda in The Wizard of Oz! Beyond the stage, Elisa enjoys songwriting, producing music, and developing creative new classes for Academy of Sound students. In early 2025, she purchased the Academy from her mother and now proudly serves as the owner. Continuing to be part of providing exceptional music and performing arts education is both her dream and her passion.

Ally Kurihara is from Lancaster, Wisconsin. She began taking piano lessons when she was 8 years old, and continued through high school. She also plays the saxophone, which she began playing when she was 12 years old, and continued to study seriously through college. Ally studied at Lawrence University where she earned her degree in music education. During her time at Lawrence, she discovered she enjoys both teaching and traveling. Ally has taught music in (the U.S.) Jamaica, Haiti, and New Zealand. Outside of teaching, Ally has her own business in piano technology. She repairs, tunes, and cares for pianos.  Ally has been enjoying fostering her love of music by teaching at Academy of Sound. She joined the Academy of Sound faculty in 2019.

Megan Leitner is a classically trained pianist with over a decade of experience, bringing both expertise and passion to her craft. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Music Business through Berklee College of Music's renowned online program, combining her classical training with a deeper understanding of the music industry. Megan started teaching piano in 2022. Megan is skilled at tailoring lessons to suit each student's unique learning style and needs. Her patient and encouraging teaching approach helps instill confidence and a love for music in her students, fostering both technical growth and artistic expression.

Cellist Jacob Muratore is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Jacob received his undergraduate education at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music and received his Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in December, 2021. His primary teachers include Regina Mushabac and Uri Vardi. Jacob has also worked extensively with Daniel Pereira (Cleveland Institute of Music) and Mark Rudoff (Ohio State University). Other significant mentors include Parry Karp (Pro Arte Quartet), James Hirt (Baldwin Wallace), and Deborah Price (Chamber Music Connection). Jacob’s experience with the Feldenkrais Method of somatic education allows him to teach with a unique, whole-body perspective. Jacob believes it is his job as a teacher to bring out and celebrate the qualities that make each person unique. Curiosity and tangential thinking are hallmarks of Jacob’s teaching style: he has been known to incorporate elements of dancing, singing, sports, and science into cello lessons. Jacob joined the Academy of Sound faculty in 2024.

Riley Smith, a native of Michigan, has been studying classical guitar since before 2009. While in high school, Riley studied privately with Dr. Brad DeRoche at Central Michigan University. He went on to pursue a BFA and a MM in guitar performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Columbus State University respectively. Riley has had the pleasure of learning performance and pedagogy from some of the leading guitar professors in America, such as Rene Izquierdo, Dr. Andrew Zohn, and Adam Holzman. In 2022, Riley taught at Carver Elementary and Arts Magnet School as a full time guitar instructor. He is currently pursuing a DMA in guitar performance from the University of Wisconsin Madison, Studying under Javier Calderon. Riley joined the Academy of Sound faculty in 2024.