Enjoy a Noteworthy Afternoon at Recital

“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach,” goes the old saying that sniffs derisively at the teaching profession.

On Sunday, those who teach, also will do. 

The will feature the annual at 2 p.m. Sunday, at 227 East Side Drive, Geneva. Performing will be on trumpet; Kevin Henrickson, voice and guitar; and Chris Jamrose,, flute (all of Geneva Middle School North and South); and Julie Lawrence (Geneva High School), on cello.

Cost is $5 a person or $15 for an entire family. 

The music leads to a great cause—scholarships for Geneva music students. 

It’s inspiring for students to see their music teachers doing something besides teaching, to see them performing at a professional level, said Suzan Farley of the Music Boosters, which sponsors the annual recital. “These are accomplished musicians,” she said. “They have incredible talent.”

"Performing for our students is a great motivational tool,” said Flaks. “We are the ones constantly pushing them to have the most meaningful relationship with music possible. If they can see us perform, it only reinforces our passion for what we do and why we hold the study of music in such high regard. They get a chance to see that the rewards of music really can be reaped over a lifetime.”

And from the faculty’s standpoint, the recital is a “thank you” to the Geneva Music Boosters, which enhances the district’s music program in multiple ways, Flaks said. “Whether providing new instruments, scholarships for lessons and summer camps, support for guest artists and clinicians or for other supplies like robes and uniforms, the Boosters are always there for us.”

The recital has been a part of the Geneva School District music environment for more than 10 years. It started out featuring Geneva Middle School faculty and funded scholarships for middle school students, then branched out to embrace the entire district. 

“It’s a fun concert and it’s wonderful for the kids to see their teachers doing something different,” Farley said.

Teachers perform for more personal reasons as well, Flaks said.

“On a personal level, music plays the same role for the teachers as it does for the students. It is a way for us to express ourselves through sound. It is an intellectual  endeavor that is good for the soul and is one of the many ways for teachers to stay connected with the subject they teach,” he said.

A recital of teachers, with proceeds going to further students’ musical world? 

It all makes for beautiful music.

(Brief biographies of the four musicians, and accompanist Kerri Calloway, are below.)

Kerri Calloway has a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Philadelphia Biblical University. Kerri obtained National Board Certification in 2007 for Early and Middle Childhood Music. She taught elementary and junior high choral music in Pennsylvania and Maryland and is now in her fifth year of teaching in Geneva. Performance experience includes The University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble, District 10 Songfest Accompanist and Children's Choir Director/Church Accompanist in Princeton, New Jersey. Kerri has also served as music director for The Children's Theater Camp at The Media Theater for the Performing Arts in PA. She is currently a private piano instructor in Wheaton, IL. 

Jason Flaks has performed with both the Elmhurst Symphony and Illinois Brass Band while maintaining an active schedule as a freelancing musician in the Chicagoland area. He is a trumpet student of William Scarlett (formerly of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and has music education degrees from University of Wisconsin, Madison and Northwestern University. Mr. Flaks also is the Associate Conductor of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of its Brass Choir. In his free time he used to enjoy watching baseball, practicing, reading, running, gardening, and cooking. His hobbies now include changing diapers, stopping his kids from hitting each other, and sleeping. Mr. Flaks team teaches the bands at GMS North and South with Mr. Jamrose.

Kevin Henrickson has a Bachelors of Music Education and a Masters of Music Performance (Choral Conducting) from Eastern KY University. He has taught choral and general music classes for 25 years, thirteen of those years at Model Laboratory School on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University. He teaches 6th grade general music at Geneva Middle School. Mr. Henrickson loves camping, basketball and sports. Kevin also serves as a part time youth minister for the Community of Christ, organizing youth camps and retreats. He loves to compose songs for guitar and keyboard and has produced several CD's. Just before Christmas in 2007, John Williams of WGN radio played one of his Cubbie Christmas songs on air and had a telephone interview with Kevin. He then experienced some positive stress when he received 700 orders for his "I'm a Cubs Fan" CD over the next two days. His family turned into a CD production/shipping company overnight. His newest CD "Christmastime in Wrigleyville" produced in 2009, is slightly unusual, eleven Christmas songs, but all with Chicago Cub themes. His newest song “Go Cubs, Go All The Way” will be available on iTunes only - around opening day!

Chris Jamrose received his Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Illinois and will pursue his Masters in Music Education this summer. He studied flute under Dr. Jonathan Keeble at the University of Illinois. As an active musician, Mr. Jamrose has played all over the world and now performs around the Chicagoland area on both flute and trombone in various ensembles. He currently performs with the Evanston Lakeside Flute Choir. His current hobbies consist of enjoying Mexican food, sleeping, exploring Chicago, promoting apple products, and learning as much as he can about the world. Mr. Jamrose team teaches band at GMS North and South with Mr. Flaks.

Julie Lawrence is no longer willing to admit how many years of experience she has teaching elementary, middle school and high school orchestras. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from the University of Illinois in the early Cretaceous Period. In addition to her teaching career in Illinois and Colorado, she has been a member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, Colorado Springs Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of the Springs (Colorado), Mellowood String Quartet, Wheaton Symphony, and Elmhurst Symphony. Presently she performs with the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra. She teaches at Geneva Community High School and also assists with the District 304 elementary orchestras. As a fan of all of the visual and performing arts, Ms. Lawrence feels fortunate to live close to a great cultural city like Chicago. Her “perfect day” would definitely include enjoying outdoor activities, in every season of the year. (And as a mother of two beautiful grown daughters, she would like to offer these words of encouragement to Mr. Flaks: It gets better!)