Private Lesson Staff
Belzer Band Private Music Teachers

Mackenzie Greer: Flute

           Mackenzie Greer grew up in Evansville, Indiana and received her degree in Flute Performance and Arts Administration from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2004. She studied with Kathryn Lukas. In addition to maintaining a private teaching studio, she is also an active freelance musician, performing with Orkestra Projekt, Indiana Wind Symphony, studio sessions with Hal Leonard Publications and Gaither Studios, and substituting regularly with regional orchestras.

Kari Espeland: Oboe/Bassoon

Christina Block: Clarinet

Marianne Shifrin: Saxophone

          Marianne Shifrin received her M.M. degree from Yale University and her B.M. from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she majored in Clarinet Performance and also studied saxophone. In May she will be receiving a Performer Diploma from IU. Marianne has been teaching privately at Belzer since 2006. During her time in Connecticut, she taught saxophone and clarinet in a New Haven elementary and middle school in addition to teaching Yale undergraduates. She has performed at the Aspen, Sarasota, Chautauqua, and Bowdoin Music Festivals and plays regularly as a substitute member in several local groups.

Gary Graziano: Trumpet

         Gary attended Indiana University, Butler, and the University of Louisville. Gary has played for Lynard Skynard, Marie OsmondAretha Franklin, Maureen McGovern, Frankie Valley, Ben Vareen, Johnny Mathis, The 5th Dimension, The Temptations, Fred Travolino, The Supremes, Charo, The Four Tops, and many more.

         Gary aslo traveled with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He played at Son Amar in Mallorca, Spain from November 2006 - September of 2007. He has also worked for Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Gary is presently a member of the Indianpolis Jazz Orchestra, Endless Summer, Bahama Llama, Soul Shine, and Orquesta Bravo!

Renee Menkhaus: French Horn

Bob Meyer: Trombone and Baritone

        Included in his 43 year teaching career, Bob was Middle School Band Director for twenty-five years in the Lawrence School system.  Since his retirement he has been teaching private lessons (trombone & baritone) in the township's three Middle Schools. Bob plays trombone in several musical groups in the community as well as producing musical arrangements for those groups as well as his students.

 

Paul Carlson: Tuba and Baritones

             Paul Carlson is a native of Macomb, IL, and has earned recognition as both a performer and teacher. Paul completed a BM in Tuba Performance from the University of Illinois - Champaign, a Master's in Music Performance from the University of New Mexico, and is currently finishing a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Indiana University.  Paul is currently freelancing in the Indy area as a performer and maintains a private lesson studio on both Tuba and Bass. Paul can be seen performing with a variety of groups around town, including regular gigs at the Chatterbox Jazz Club. In 2004, Paul performed with the Disney Collegiate All-Star Band, made up of some of the best musicians around. In addition to his jazz gigs paul has performed with the New Mexico Symphony, Terra Haute Symphony, the Santa Fe Brass Quintet, and has studied with Karl Hinterbichler, Brian Meixner, Joseph Goble, Mark Moore, Richard White, and Dan Perantoni

Jonathan Dikteruk: Percussion