In 2001, Mr. Smith left Lincoln-Way Community High School after serving five years as Director of Bands. He returns to Lincoln-Way East from the University of Miami in Florida where he has been pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting. While a student at Miami, Mr. Smith served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, instructing students in basic conducting technique and conducting the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and Woodwind Chamber Ensemble. He will continue to complete his doctoral degree while fulfilling his duties at Lincoln-Way East High School.

   Prior to his first appointment at Lincoln-Way, Mr. Smith held the Donald R. Shepherd Chair in Conducting at the University of Michigan. In that role he was the Assistant Director of the Michigan Marching Band and was the interim coordinator of percussion studies.

    An avid clinician and adjudicator, Mr. Smith was recently conductor of the Broward County Honors High School All-County Band, located in Florida. He currently holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Auburn University, located in Alabama, and a Master of Percussion Performance from the University of Michigan.

   Mrs. Alysia Lambert, a native of Atlanta, GA, has been the choral director at Lincoln-Way East High School since 2002. She is responsible for conducting the three curricular choirs as well as the six extra-curricular choirs and serving as co-advisor for the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is also the director of the Madrigal Dinners and the Spring Musical and teaches classes in Piano I, independent studies in music theory, choral composition and musical theatre, Individualized Music through the Special Services department, and Music Seminar, a advanced course in music history and theory.

    Mrs. Lambert received her Bachelor's Degree in choral and instrumental music education from Western Carolina University, and a Master's Degree in voice performance from Illinois State University. Prior to coming to Lincoln-Way East, Mrs. Lambert taught general music and chorus at Flossmoor Hills Elementary.

   Mrs. Lambert is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA),the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the National Educator Association (NEA), Who's Who of American Women, and Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Mrs. Lambert lives in Steger, IL with her husband, Bobby, who is the assistant band director at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, IL.

Mr. Michael Teare
Guitar Instructor

Email: mteare@lw210.org
Voicemail: (815) 464-4065

   Mr. Michael Teare is a music instructor at Lincoln-Way East High School. In addition to teaching guitar classes, he also works with the Marching Griffins and the Pep Band.

   Mr. Teare holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Elmhurst College. During his studies at Elmhurst, he performed with the percussion ensemble, wind ensemble, pit orchestra, and multiple jazz combos. In 2002 he was named Honors Recital Winner and Student Conductor. Mr. Teare currently holds a part time adjunct faculty position as a percussion teacher at the college, which also allows him to perform as a guest with the college percussion ensemble and as a guest conductor with the college wind ensemble.

   Other performance credits include the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (1999) and the 105.5 FM WYKT Tomanoland talk show group Tomanosaurus.

   Aside from teaching in the United States, Mr. Teare has a special relationship with music educators in Jamaica. In 2000 Mr. Teare worked for two weeks at Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay, Jamaica. In 2003 he was a guest conductor in the Western Jamaica International Music Festival. Mr. Teare is happy to play a role in the growth of this program and looks forward to returning to this festival again. During the past five years, Mr. Teare has worked with multiple high school marching bands either as a marching assistant or as a percussion consultant.

Ms. Jennifer Kluchenek
Orchestra Instructor

Email: jkluchenek@lw210.org
Voicemail: (815) 534-3069

Mr. Cary Ruklic
Instrumental Instructor

Email: cruklic@lw210.org
Voicemail: (815) 464-4345