Teachers
Margaret Milford
Piano
Originally from Oconomowoc, Margaret began learning piano at age 7 and has been playing ever since. She graduated from UW-Madison in 2016 with a degree in Environmental Sciences, pursuing other jobs until realizing her passion was playing and teaching music.
Since then, she has taught piano for a total of 7 years, serving the Waunakee community for the last 5. She specializes in teaching classical piano and particularly enjoys learning pieces by Chopin, Debussy and Brahms, to name a few. In her spare time Margaret enjoys gardening, reading, and baking treats for friends and family.
Irene Verdegan
Piano, Voice
Without MUSIC, life would be a MISTAKE.” —Friedrich Nietzsche
Irene Beth P. Verdegan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Piano and Vocal Performance at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila Philippines. Irene has a Masters degree in Music Ministry from Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Evanston, IL.
She is an accomplished musician who has numerous published compositions in her native tongue of the Philippines. She has studied many types of musical genres, musical techniques and styles, and music literatures.
Her areas of specialties are in piano and voice. She has performed and taught with different groups such as church choirs in Manila, Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music Chorale, and Youth Gospel Ensemble Choir throughout various places: Dubai, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Her passion for music motivates her to develop the talent in others of all ages who might find music a place of comfort, and peace.
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Dena Johnson-Schlitz
Violin, Viola
Dena grew up in a home filled with music: her mom was a public school music teacher, played organ at church, and taught piano lessons in the home in the afternoons. Dena started piano at around 7 years, but violin quickly became her main instrument, continuing to play music at UW-Eau Claire where she received degrees in Biology. As a Biology teaching assistant she realized her passion for teaching. In 2007, she accepted an offer to teach violin at a Waunakee music school. Besides teaching violin and working a science job at UW-Madison, Dena has shared her music at church and weddings, and played with a band that recorded 2 albums and performed at Lifest.
Alexandra Flint
Piano
Alexandra Flint began learning piano at age 5 in Anchorage, Alaska. In 2020, she graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a degree in piano performance and earned a master's degree in piano performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022. Her instructors have included Ms. Rumi Smith, Dr. David Sutanto, Dr. Dino Mulic, and Professor Christopher Taylor. She specializes in classical piano and has been teaching for 11 years, working with students of all ages and levels. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, exploring the outdoors, and various arts and crafts.
Roger Marcus
Guitar
Roger Marcus received his first folk guitar at the age of 11. By the age of 13 he was taking private lessons on classical guitar, which continued through high school.
Roger attended the California Institute of Arts in Valencia, California and received a BFA and subsequent MFA in classical guitar, the last two years as teaching assistant with guitarist Stuart Fox.
Over the years he has taught privately and performed with various ensembles, ranging from small Renaissance consorts to duos/trios with voice, flute, recorder, and violin. This would include playing at weddings, and as guitarist in the pit orchestras of various community and high schools in the Dane county area.
Roger had been on the teaching staff at Arboretum Music School in Waunakee, since the schools opening up until AMS closed in spring of 2023. He currently plays guitar with the Dimensions of Sound big band, which he was fortunate to join in 2015. He offers instruction on acoustic, electric and classical guitar, for beginner to intermediate students of all ages.
Roger likes working in the community vegetable garden, which he and his wife have had for the past 5 years, watching movies, taking walks and biking, and catching up on reading.He is looking forward to teaching guitar at Harmony and is now currently available for guitar lessons.
Zach Busch
Piano, Voice
Zach Busch has been playing piano since the age of 6. Singing and playing his way through grade school, he also began organ lessons in high school and began a career as a church musician. Throughout his career, he has been teaching students of all ages voice, piano, and pipe organ. He has degrees in music from Luther College and Luther Seminary. He is passionate about sharing the process of musical discovery and the discipline of musical practice with aspiring musicians. Simply and joyfully put, music is his life. Apart from teaching, Zach writes music and directs musical theater. He is thrilled to be joining Harmony and has immediate openings for new students.
June Turner
Flute
June has been a flute instructor for more than 40 years, working with students from 4 to 65. She moved to Middleton with her daughter's family from Austin, Texas 5 years ago and is delighted to find a new teaching home at Harmony. She attended the U. of
Missouri-Kansas City conservatory for her undergraduate and graduate work in flute and music history after receiving a BA in Japanese from Stanford University. (It's a long story.)
Although June is happy to work with students who already play in school band programs, she especially enjoys starting pre-band students as young as 7 using the Suzuki method.
Parents are an integral part of the Suzuki program-if a student and/or parent is interested in these lessons, they should schedule a meeting with June to learn what is involved. (A 6th grade Komrey student, whom June started with Suzuki in 4"* grade, was recently selected for the WSMA State Project program, one of 20 middle school flutists selected from the entire state. As a fifth grader, this same student was the 3rd place winner in the Wisconsin Flute Festival competition for students through 8th grade. This student is not typical but also not unique in terms of her progress with Suzuki.)
Although June has taught many very accomplished students, her main desire is to help students achieve whatever goals they have for themselves with their music. Her teaching is very student-centered, and she has experience in working with ADHD and other learning challenges that students may deal with.
Outside of teaching, June loves spending time with her two granddaughters and 4 (!) cats. She also confesses to spending too much time watching British murder mysteries and Japanese soap operas on TV.
Interested in Teaching?
Contact Margaret at harmonyconservatoryofmusic@gmail.com
Please include your name, music experience, instruments you teach, and available teaching days