Staff & Music Teachers at Bach to Rock Arlington Heights

Michael Priller - Michael is the Director at Bach to Rock in Arlington Heights as well as the Area Manager for all three Chicago B2R locations. He attended Illinois State University where he studied with Dr. Sarah Gentry and received his Bachelor of Arts in Music, Liberal Arts. Michael started his journey in music at the age of three playing cello. By the age of seven he was playing piano and violin as his primary instruments while taking lessons at the Betty Haag Academy of Music. As a violinist, Michael toured with the academy performing concerts throughout the United States and across Europe. He has performed with the Pacific Symphony in Irvine, California, with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in the Czech Republic, and at the Prague Castle for Prince Lebkowicz. In Italy, Michael has performed in Abruzzo, Rome, and at the Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI. Michael has participated in numerous competitions, in the District 214 Honor’s Orchestra, the ILMEA District 7 and All-State Honors Orchestras, and Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra. He was a violinist in Elgin’s premier chamber ensemble, the Maud Powell String Quartet. During his time at Illinois State University, Michael taught music through their award winning after school music program, The String Project. Michael has taught private and group lessons to students of many ages. In his downtime, Michael enjoys writing lyrics, and producing music. Michael believes learning music can inspire every child, building a strong foundation and work ethic, leading to their future success in all areas of life. He is honored to lead a team of amazing musicians at Bach to Rock!

Anthony G - Anthony is a passionate musician and future music educator from Bartlett, IL, currently pursuing a degree in Music Education and Jazz Studies at Elmhurst University. Throughout his time at Elmhurst, he has actively participated in various ensembles, including the Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Concert Band, Flute Choir, Flute Quartet, Saxophone Choir, Saxophone Quartet, and Varsity Band. As a gigging musician, Anthony has gained valuable experience performing in theater pits, recently serving as a substitute for the reed book in the musical "Camelot." He primarily teaches woodwind instruments such as saxophone, flute, and clarinet, with beginner piano as a secondary focus. Anthony is dedicated to fostering a love for music in his students by creating engaging and personalized lessons that cater to their individual needs. He believes that music education should be an inspiring journey that encourages creativity and self-expression. When he’s not teaching or performing, Anthony enjoys exploring new musical genres and collaborating with fellow musicians.

John H - John began playing the guitar at age 6 and grew up playing folk, country, and rock 'n roll. He spent 7 years in the music industry retail business selling, configuring and repairing professional music equipment. He also spent 3 years as technician for several professional recording studios and personal clients. John began teaching privately in 2004 up until 2014, helping students learn harmonies and rhythms for guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, ukulele, and mandolin. Realizing a need to expand his own technique and repertoire, he began studying jazz in 2006 and fell in love with genre. After a few years away, he returned to teach another 5 years at the Sam Ash Music in Buffalo Grove. John believes music is a language just like any other and prefers the solfeggio or solfege (do re mi) method for teaching musical concepts and fundamentals. For over thirty years he has been involved with many aspects of the music business, and has worked on both sides of the stage as performer and technician, and in the recording studio from equipment installations to production. He has enjoyed and been privileged to meet and work with a diverse musical community.

Jonathan B - Jonathan B - Jonathan B. is a musician and teacher from Winfield, IL. He studied extensively under the brilliant music professors at Taylor University. Despite spending the last 16 years diligently studying classical composition and repertoire, Jonathan also loves to perform all kinds of music genres. He also loves to utilize the skills and knowledge he has acquired to improvise and write his own music, whether it is a classical piano trio, trap/hip hop beats, alternative rock/metal, and everything in between. His primary instrument is piano, though he is also proficient in vocals and acoustic/electric guitar. Jonathan has had an interest in playing music since he was learning to read notes at age 4 and began to play piano at 5, and has continued to learn new instruments and skills ever since. Jonathan has performed countless times and in a multitude of settings, from his very first performance (simply walking on stage and bowing) to performing alongside his talented peers at cancer hospitals and orphanages across the world. Jonathan believes music is at the core of every individual, and finds immense joy in helping unleash potential in his students. He would like to say a special thank you to the many wonderful instructors and professors who poured into him over the years - he would not be here without them, and he is forever grateful!

Lauryn T - Lauryn’s passion for music and education led her straight into teaching music after college. She studied Guitar Performance at Dominican University to train as both a classical musician and educator, gaining extensive knowledge in music theory, performance, and history. She worked throughout college as a music tutor and mentor and has taught a variety of instruments to students of all ages, from toddlers to adults! Lauryn also geared her studies toward research on the importance of music education to early development, as many kids miss out on access to this education. Her love of learning motivates her to inspire the same love in her students, believing that learning music is one of the sweetest unspoken ways to connect to each other and to ourselves.

Matt G - Matthew is a lifelong musician and music lover. He has been inspired by a huge variety of genres, styles and artists throughout his life. This has led him to teaching the techniques and creativity behind DJ work as well as guiding new and experienced students in the process of music production and composition. Graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Arts, Entertainment and Media Management, Matthew has spent time touring in rock bands, recording and engineering in studios, and working on sound design for numerous organizations. He began his DJ career at age 14 with two turntables and some records and has been going strong ever since; collecting honors both nation-wide and international while sharing bills with world touring DJ’s. He also has multiple Creative Producer credits on numerous songs for visual media as well as songs well received on the Billboard charts. Passing on and teaching the skills and musicality he has picked up over the years is a very important goal for him as he tries to encourage every unique student’s particular skills, styles and creativity to grow as much as possible.

Michael S - Michael Satarino has been playing and performing with his outstanding guitar virtuoso performances for over two decades. Michael has developed his own unique guitar style through these years which is akin to the likes of 'Eddie Van Halen' and the British vs. American rock n' roll wars veteran of the 60's-80's, 'Jimmy Page'. Also influenced by Flamenco and Classical guitar playing. Michael was the main stay guitarist for the highly vaunted 'Visionary' band which was one of Chicago's finest hard rock bands during the 1990's. Michaels traditional, yet personally designed hard rock guitar style was the driving force behind the 'Visionary' sound and power Michaels acoustic approach to his guitar performances lacks nothing in dynamic ranges or masterful fretwork and adds a personal and light, but demanding acoustic guitar style that absolutely amazes even the most dedicated guitar fans. His songwriting continues to this day!

Natalie M - Natalie has been part of Bach to Rock in Arlington Heights since 2021 and was promoted to Assistant Manager in January 2025. She fell in love with theater and opera at a young age, studying classical voice before earning her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Millikin University and her Master of Music in Voice Performance from DePaul University. Natalie has performed in operas such as The Medium, Dido and Aeneas, Albert Herring, Don Giovanni, and Manon Lescaut, as well as with the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and DePaul Concert Orchestra. She also toured with the Millikin University Choir and participated in the world premiere of Aldegunda by Péter Zombola, which later traveled to Hungary and continues to be performed internationally. Passionate about vocal pedagogy, Natalie believes anyone can learn to sing. She combines her performance experience with a deep understanding of healthy vocal technique to help students build confidence and express themselves through music. She is thrilled to be part of the B2R family and loves inspiring students of all ages!

Carmen V - Carmen Vizin is a musical artist and educator based in Chicagoland, Illinois. Primarily an Opera singer, Carmen has performed in a long range of operas presented internationally; Her most recent performances include her debut as Dorabella in Mozart’s “Così fan tutte”, Cherubino in Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” and Melanto in Monteverdi’s “Return of Ulysses”. Other engagements have included the Third Lady in Mozart’s “Magic Flute” with the Berlin Opernfest, Bradamante in Händel’s “Alcina” and a two-time consecutive soloist with the OrgonaPont Fesztivál in Hungary. Carmen teaches her primary instrument of voice, and her secondary instrument from childhood, piano. As a first generation Hungarian-American, Carmen passionately teaches with the Kodály Method, a method to music education created by Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist Zoltán Kodály. While having a background in classical music, Carmen incorporates her classical foundation of musical technique into other genres such as Jazz, Popular, Musical Theatre, Rock and more.

Charlie P - Charlie P. is a musician and teacher from Crystal Lake, IL. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Urban and Popular Music from Columbia College Chicago, allowing him to play many different musical styles. His primary instruments are guitar and bass while also teaching piano and drums. Charlie has had an interest in playing music since he was learning to read notes at age 4 and began to play guitar when he was 10. He has performed in numerous settings ranging from the jazz ensemble in middle school to solo classical guitar performances to playing at music festivals and touring to different states with a rock band. Charlie believes anyone can play music and have fun doing it, and is excited to help students find their musical direction!

Gabby J - Gabby is a musician from Lake in the Hills who has always known she wanted to teach music. She recently graduated from Elmhurst University with a degree in general music and plans on continuing her musical journey to get her MFA in music education. While at Elmhurst, she performed with the concert choir, Late Night Blues vocal jazz ensemble, and both of the jazz bands, while also helping run the largest collegiate jazz festival. Her primary instruments are voice and piano and enjoys picking up other instruments and learning them. Gabby believes that music can speak louder than words and that everyone should have music in their lives.