Jessi Cook is the Office Administrator at Kalamazoo Music School (KMS). She has resided in the Kalamazoo area her whole life. Jessi has an extensive professional background in working with children of all ages and needs, and administration. She works hard to take the utmost care in assisting our KMS families, and can be found at KMS in the mornings to later afternoons.

Jessi has played the clarinet for many years, and is an amateur vocalist and karaoke enthusiast. You'll often find Jessi around the local Open Mic music events, supporting and participating in Kalamazoo's music scene, or in a body of water enjoying nature. Jessi is mother to a special needs child of 4 years, whom has also inherited her love of music.

Annabelle Pollard (voice, piano) is a singer and teacher in the Kalamazoo area. Annabelle has been in love with music since she was a young child, often performing in band, choir, and local musicals. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Spring Arbor University and her Master of Music in Voice Performance with a specialization in voice science and vocal pedagogy from Bowling Green State University.

Annabelle’s passion is to teach voice and piano in a way that is both physically and mentally healthy, while also encouraging students to find their own voices and have fun creating music on their own and with others. And while Annabelle loves to sing and play music from the classical tradition, she also enjoys helping students discover and experience music from many different genres. Annabelle teaches voice and music courses at Spring Arbor University, in Spring Arbor, MI. She is beyond excited to be teaching and sharing her wealth of musical knowledge in her hometown at Kalamazoo Music School.

Aedan McCauley (piano, jazz piano) is junior at Western Michigan University studying music education. He has been teaching piano lessons since his freshman year of high school. He has a passion for jazz and pop piano. He enjoys playing a variety of genres such as classical, jazz, and popular music. His teaching style focuses on a strong piano foundation while incorporating elements of pop and classical into his lessons. He enjoys a George Gershwin quote he learned during his jazz studies: “Life is a lot like jazz… it’s best when you improvise.”

Emily Brown (voice, brass) has been living in Kalamazoo for 5 years after living in Southeast Michigan. They are a senior at Western Michigan University with a double major in instrumental music education (Trumpet) and vocal jazz performance. Emily is currently in WMUs award winning collegiate vocal jazz ensemble, Gold Company. They have been teaching private lessons and brass sections in band camps for many years, and is passionate about creating a healthy relationship with music and instilling a life-long love for the art. 

Dave Van Haren (drums, percussion) was born in Montreal, Canada, but grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dave started playing drums at the age of 7, after falling in love with everything drum related upon hearing his high school drumline perform at a football game. Dave played in many ensembles during high school, but attended Albion College for a degree in Biology, pursuing a Pre-Dental career. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Dave was not accepted to dental school, and as a result he decided to pursue music as a career. He first attended Grand Rapids Community College for basic music training, and later attended Western Michigan University for a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance. Dave has since been living in Kalamazoo teaching and performing music, primarily at local theaters including Farmer's Alley Theater and the Kalamazoo Civic Theater. Dave very much enjoys helping drummers find their sound, and loves to see improvement in his students! He has been teaching at KMS since June 2021.

Dave was nominated by his students for 2021 Teacher of the Year at KMS:

“Dave is the BEST! He is so happy and enthusiastic for each lesson with Drake. He encourages and continues to challenge Drake just enough to keep him growing, but loving the drums. Drake leaves his lessons feeling encouraged and determined. Drake not only enjoys his time with Dave, but enjoys practicing for the next time they get to "jam" together.” - parent of a drum student

Hans Hansen (guitar, ukulele) is a multi-instrumentalist with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies - Guitar Performance from Michigan State University under the great Jazz educator Randy Napoleon. Along with over 6 years of private teaching experience on guitar and various other instruments, Hans has performed at many notable venues such as Greenfield village, the Ark, the Detroit Jazz festival, the River Raisin Jazz festival, and the Michigan Jazz festival. Hans is very well-versed in not only Jazz, but many different genres of music as well such as Funk, Fingerstyle, Rock, Metal, Punk, Singer-songwriter, Blues, Fusion, and many more. He joined the team at KMS for the 2022 - 2023 teaching year.

Stephen Lundquist (guitar) is a guitarist, singer, and teacher originally from Battle Creek, Michigan, now based in the Kalamazoo area. Stephen received his associates in music at Southwestern Michigan College, and his Bachelor's of Music at Wayne State University in Jazz Studies/Performance. Stephen has played in a broad selection of ensembles, from big bands, rock groups, and musical theatre, to a variety of jazz combos. Stephen is passionate about music education and enjoys working with students at their pace, focusing on each person's interests, and hopes to support each and every student on their musical journey.

Luisa Zúñiga Molano (piano) started studying piano at the age of 4 at the Suzuki school inside the National University of Colombia. Due to showing exceptional talent at the age of 7, she gained a scholarship to attend the music program at the National University of Colombia, where she professionally pursued piano performance. During the 2 years that she furthered her musical studies at a collegiate level, she become a part of a Colombian music sextet, explored duet repertoire, and accompanied several wind players on a consistent basis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Luisa was admitted into Western Michigan University’s music program and began studying under Lori Sims. While studying at WMU, Luisa also began studying jazz piano with professor Matthew Fries. At this time, Luisa is double majoring in piano performance and jazz studies. Having been an avid pianist and teacher since a young age, Luisa brings a passionate approach to teaching, one that combines a focus on technique, as well as developing love for music and the piano.

Josiah DeNooyer (Director of Jazz + Creative Orchestras, piano, drums) Bio forthcoming. He has been teaching at KMS since April 2020.

Josiah was nominated by his students for 2020 and 2021 Teacher of the Year at KMS:

"Josiah is patient and kind. He has taken the time to get to know what I like and helps me learn the songs.” “Josiah has found contemporary music that appeals to our son and has been wonderful at inspiring Alex to practice. Josiah is a talented and gifted music teacher!” - Alex W. and his parent

"Josiah is very patient and teaches me so much! He listens to all my craziness and never makes me feel bad when I mess up." - Landon A., piano student (2020)

Rachel Stratton (piano) is new to the Kalamazoo area having grown up in mid-Michigan. She has studied piano and flute since elementary school and is also a self taught acoustic guitarist. While receiving her Bachelor’s in Music Education at Alma College, Rachel participated in multiple ensembles including the concert band, orchestra, and flute ensemble. After graduating, Rachel pursued a career in worship leading for churches and was most recently employed for two years as a Director of Contemporary Worship. While in Cadillac, Rachel participated in the music community with the Cadillac Area Symphony Orchestra, the Cadillac Footliters production of ‘Mamma Mia’, and became the assistant director for the Cadillac Community Chorus. Rachel has been teaching private lessons for ten years and is happy to be joining the team at Kzoo Music School.

Emily Ickes (piano, percussion) grew up in Kalamazoo, and attended Western Michigan University from 2003-2007, obtaining a Bachelor of Music in Percussion.  She went on to Ithaca College, where she studied with Gordon Stout, and received her Master of Music in Percussion performance in 2009.  After graduating, Emily remained in central New York, and was an adjunct faculty member at Ithaca College for several years.  There she taught music theory and aural skill classes, percussion methods class, and twice served as a long-term substitute percussion professor. Concurrent with her work at Ithaca College, Emily was also a private music instructor, providing piano, percussion, and music theory lessons throughout the Southern Tier region of New York.

Emily has been a member of Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes in Corning, NY since 2008, and became the orchestra’s principal timpanist in 2012.  She has performed extensively as a freelance percussionist and pianist throughout central New York. Since returning to her hometown in 2022, she has continued teaching both piano and percussion, as well as performing, appearing with such groups as the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and the Southwest Michigan Symphony.

Emily is a member of the OXtet, a jazz fusion group heavily influenced by the music of Frank Zappa. She performs mallet percussion on the band’s latest album, The OXtet Does Hindemith.  Read more about it here: Parma Recordings: The OXtet Does Hindemith

Emily is passionate in teaching piano and percussion to students of all ages, experience levels and musical styles, and she is thrilled to be part of the faculty at Kalamazoo Music School.

Wilson David Casallas Palomo (piano) is a Colombian pianist, currently studying piano performance with Lori Sims at Western Michigan University. After finishing his bachelor's degree and Master of Arts: Instrumental Performing and Pedagogy at the National University of Colombia, He was awarded with a scholarship to study piano performance at college of Chinese and Asean Arts in Chengdu University, China. He studied piano under the guidance of William Mac McClure, Luz Angela Posada, Patrick Lechner and Lori Sims.

He has played in master classes for Harold Martina, Marta Zabaleta, Blanca Uribe, Eric Schoones, Jorge Luis Prats, Cyprien Katsaris, François Dumont among others.

In September 2022 Wilson was awarded with the first prize in the piano competition at the 39th international piano festival UIS in Colombia. He was the winner of the performance competition organized by the National University of Colombia, He played and recorded with Toccatta Classics discography from London the First piano concerto of Luis Carlos Figueroa. He has received awards internationally too, as the first prize at the BO AO Piano festival, and second prize at the LSH Asia piano competition in China. Also, He recipient the special prize of the jury in the 4th edition of the Klavierwettbewerb für Junge pianisten (2015).

Wilson Casallas is passionate not only for the performance but to pass his knowledge and experience to his students. He is a Graduate assistant teacher and collaborative pianist at WMU and a piano lab teacher at the Gilmore Education in Kalamazoo Michigan.

Zollie Schut (Director of Artists + Innovators, drums, percussion) is a native of West Michigan and has been playing percussion since he was 11 years old. He soon was obsessed with the instrument, playing drumset in church and percussion in middle school band. By the time he joined marching band in high school, he was already gigging around Michigan with his dad’s band, and had decided to be a musician when he grew up. Now, Zollie enjoys performing in a variety of styles such as jazz, rock, classical, funk, pop, Afro-Caribbean, musical theatre, and many others. He has performed throughout the Midwest, and most recently worked as a cruise ship drummer in East Asia for Celebrity Cruises. Zollie received his B.M. from Oakland University, where he majored in percussion performance, and his M.M. from Indiana University, where he majored in jazz studies. Zollie is also a passionate educator and loves working with students of all ages and skill levels. He has been teaching music since 2015, and joined KMS in February 2022.