Meet the SIDE-BY-SIDE Teaching Artists!
Dylan Feldpausch, violin
Senior Teaching Artist & Program Manager (Southland College Prep Charter High School)
Dylan Feldpausch is a violinist from Austin, Texas, and served as a violin fellow with the Chicago Civic Orchestra. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Violin Performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and holds a Master’s in Violin Performance from Arizona State University. After making his solo debut with the Austin Symphony in 2013, Dylan has attended summer festivals including The Castleman Quartet Program, Domaine Forget, National Music Festival, Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival, and Lucerne’s Contemporary Music Academy in Switzerland. Dylan has taught extensively in private studio settings, in chamber music settings, and in group classes in public school settings.
Chad Polk, cello
Head Teaching Artist (Huth Middle School)
Chad Polk began playing cello at the age of six as a member of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Intensive Community Program (ICP), which provides children from historically excluded communities the opportunity to learn an instrument. For his undergraduate degree, Chad attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with acclaimed soloist and chamber musician Sharon Robinson, as well as receiving long-term Suzuki Pedagogy training from Suzuki teacher Abbey Hansen. Chad is currently attending the DePaul School of Music, studying cello performance with the former Assistant Principal Cellist of the Chicago Symphony, Stephen Balderston. In addition to his cello studies, Chad has a passion for arts advocacy and mentorship, and currently serves as a Teaching Artist for the Grant Park Music Festival’s Classical Campers program.
David Beytas, violin & viola
David Beytas has been an instructor with Apollo’s Fire String Program in Matteson since 2021 and is happy to return. In the past he has taught for several other programs that also provide free music instruction to students in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. In addition to teaching David regularly performs with various regional orchestras throughout the midwest and holds music performance degrees from Northwestern University and Depaul University.
Emily Nardo, violin
Originally from Arizona, Emily Nardo discovered her love for music at the age of six, initially requesting to learn the banjo. A compromise with her parents brought her to the violin instead, and the rest is history. Currently, Emily is Associate Principal Second Violin of Orchestra Iowa, and also a member of the Des Moines Symphony and Missouri Symphony. She was a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Emily has twelve years of experience teaching violin. She holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in violin performance from San Francisco Conservatory.
Cameron Slaugh, cello
Cameron Slaugh (they/them) has been playing cello since the age of five, and has been teaching privately since the age of 17. They hold a bachelor’s degree in performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a master’s in performance from the University of Oregon. After teaching 5th grade instrumental music in the Boulder Valley School District, Cameron went on to become a teaching artist with Apollo’s Fire in the Matteson School District and completed Suzuki Book 1 certification. Cameron currently performs as a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Orchestra Iowa, and this summer participated in the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Justine Teo, violin
Justine Teo is a Singaporean violinist based in Chicago. She has performed internationally at venues including Symphony Center, Taipei’s National Concert Hall, and the Esplanade in Singapore. Her summers have been spent at the Chautauqua School of Music, Dartington International Summer School, Northwestern University Summer Violin Institute, and Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. Justine’s passion for teaching began with her giving music classes to children in Southeast Asia, and eventually led her to obtaining her Suzuki violin teaching certification in addition to joining the faculty at FAME Center in Chicago. She recently graduated with a Master of Music degree in Performance and Pedagogy at the Chicago College of Performing Arts.