Robbie Gearhart

Bass Faculty

Robbie Gearhart is a musician and composer whose work extends over multiple genres including classical, jazz, and musical theatre. Mr. Gearhart graduated from St. Ambrose University with a degree in music education in 2018. He has experience working with students ranging from early childhood to adults. His approach to teaching is characterized by his ability to diagnose...

Justice Heinold

Cello Faculty

Justice Heinold studies cello performance under the tutelage of Christina Craig Gentzsch at Clarke University in Dubuque.  She has recently been named to the Dean’s list and is on track to achieve her music degree. Ms. Heinold has been a part of many choral and orchestral ensembles and is passionate about spreading the art of music to others. Ms. Heinold has also served...

Mike Jozefowicz

Banjo, Bass, Guitar, Oboe, Percussion, Trumpet, Ukulele, and Voice Faculty

Mike Jozefowicz graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville with a bachelor’s degree in music education having both a vocal and an instrumental major. In 1971 he earned his Master’s Degree in teaching music. String bass was Mike’s original instrument, but one that he never had opportunity to teach until retirement. When Northeast Iowa School of Music...

Lydia Pakala

Violin Faculty

Bio coming.

Jotham Polashek

Violin and Viola Faculty

Jotham Polashek teaches strings in the Dubuque Community School system. He studied viola at the University of Northern Iowa where he participated in the Spectrum Project. Mr. Polashek was also able to visit Iceland with the UNI Varsity Men’s Glee Club. He has been a part of many orchestral ensembles and loves to share the joy of music: “I want to help students use music...

Tracey Rush

Composition, Viola, and Violin Faculty

Tracey Rush taught orchestra at Roosevelt Middle School and recently retired as the founding conductor of the Dubuque Community String Orchestra after 20 years. She has a BS in Music Education from Bob Jones University and a Masters of Music from UNI. She served many years as the principal violist of the Dubuque Symphony and is a veteran chamber music player.

Tracey...

Julie Sonne

Cello Faculty

A passionate and accomplished young musician and performer, cellist Julie Sonne has toured worldwide and performed as soloist with the Buffalo Suzuki Strings Advanced Performance Ensemble. She held the position of principle cellist with the University of Florida Orchestra for two years and has played with the Amherst Symphony Orchestra.

In the spring of 2016 Julie...

Kara Tann

Cello, Viola, and Violin Faculty

Kara Tann has earned a M. A. Ed. From Arcadia University in Glenside, PA. She was enrolled in the Honors Program at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA and was selected for the Senior Music Educator Award and Selective Music Scholarship. Ms. Tann held the position of Orchestra Teacher in Newton, KS from 2014-2021 where she directed the High School...

Brianna Tieskotter

Viola and Violin Faculty

Brainna Tieskotter graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa and is certified to teach K-5 and 5-12 Music Education in Iowa. She recently finished her sixth year as an Itinerant Elementary school orchestra teacher in Dubuque Community Schools. She plays violin in the Dubuque Community String Orchestra.