Downers Grove Academy of the Arts
Welcome to the New Downers Grove Academy of the Arts!
This Academy has been created to bring a well-rounded yet affordable arts program to the Downers Grove community. The program is designed to challenge both the novice and seasoned artist in various areas from music to dance to cultural arts. Performing arts classes are offered in numerous string and percussion instruments as well as voice along with our year-round dance program. Cultural arts classes for both youth and adults are offered in drawing, ceramics, painting and culinary arts along with various other art classes. Our goal is to provide a fun, safe and nurturing environment while sparking creativity in all of our students. 
Art
Create a distinctive masterpiece during a pottery, drawing, painting or ceramics class for ages 5 – 18 years old. All classes are conveniently located at the Lincoln Center and are taught by trained art instructors who will bring out the artist in each and every participant.
Drama
Stand in the spotlight at the Downers Grove Park District! New drama programs are offered through the Park District in partnership with the Grove Players. Classes from Shining Star Productions allow participants to reenact, share knowledge and develop creative thinking through comedies, movies and popular series.
Music
Improve your musical talent by enrolling in piano lessons for ages 5 – 18 years old and guitar and violin lessons for ages 8 – 18 years old. Percussion lessons are offered for ages 7 & up. Voice lessons are now offered in group format for ages 7 – 10 years and semi and private format for ages 10 & up. Music lessons range from beginning through advanced levels. Please review our fall brochure for more detailed information about our music lessons.
Meet our Music Instructors:
David Agee, percussion instructor, received his B.A. in Production Studies in the Performing Arts (Audio Engineering) from Clemson University in May 2008. While at Clemson, David played in the University Steel Band, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, Tiger Band, and Symphonic Band. David is currently attending DePaul University for graduate work in Jazz Studies-performance. While at DePaul, David has performed with the Jazz Orchestra, the Phil Woods Ensemble, and the DePaul University Pep Band. He is currently studying privately with Bob Rummage and Joel Spencer. Over the years, David has shared the stage with Phil Woods, Wayne Bergeron, Alex Iles, and the Airmen of Note, to name a few.
Residing in Chicago, David has performed with the Mulligan Mosaics Big Band, Lowdown Brass Band, JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, BS Brass Band, Nootka Sound, as well as performing with the Union League of Chicago at the 2009 Chicago Jazz Festival. David is on staff as Percussion Instructor at Niles West High School and at the Downers Grove Park District Academy of Arts. David continues to freelance with various musicians in and around Chicago as well as in his hometown of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Madelyn Kuehl, piano instructor, received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University and her Master of Education degree from National-Louis University. She has taught piano here since 1998 as well as for the Wood Dale, Elmhurst and Addison park districts. Madelyn enjoys teaching piano lessons. She goes beyond the instruction book by teaching her students songs, as well as musical games which makes the learning more fun.
Richard Kuehl, string instruments instructor, is a certified music teacher who feels that the student should be self-motivated. To that end, he composes songs at times to meet his students’ needs. Richard was the string teacher for the Burlington, Wisconsin school system and has also been the band instructor for Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. He has built numerous music programs in various park districts, YMCA’s and public and parochial schools and has been with the Downers Grove Park District since 1991. Currently, Richard teaches piano, guitar and violin but also has experience teaching electric guitar, bass guitar, banjo, viola, and cello.
Emily Sites, voice instructor, holds a Masters of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Northern Illinois University, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a minor in Dance from Millikin University. In 2009, she was a winner of the N.I.U. concerto competition, as well as a recipient of a full tuition scholarship. At both Millikin and N.I.U. she played lead roles in the main stage operas, including Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Carolina (Il Matrimonio Secreto), Countess (Marriage of Figaro), and Ottavia (Coronation of Poppea).
She currently studies with Orna Arania, and sings with the Canterbury Singers in addition to teaching. Her previous teachers include Cynthia Oeck, Beverly Renaldi, and Perla Robinson. As a participant in the Oberlin in Italy music program (2006), she had the opportunity to study with Benton Hess and Ruth Golden. She is proficient in French, Italian, and German and familiar with a variety of approaches to vocal technique in order to best fit the needs of each student. She has experience teaching all ages and levels of students in a variety of styles.
