teachers posing
Left to Right: Miss M&M (former teacher), Miss Crystal, Miss Erin, Miss Emma (former teacher), and Miss Becca (former teacher).
Crystal DeMey "Miss Crystal"
Teacher: Tuesday and Thursday mornings
crystal@themusicplayhouseofchicago.com
Crystal is thrilled to be joining The Music Playhouse team! She grew up in a very musical family, her grandfather was a well known Calypsonian artist from the Caribbean island of Grenada and her father is a singer and has been managing reggae artists since she was born. Crystal has been playing the piano since the age of 5 and has also been in a few NYC Off-Broadway productions such as Songs of the New World and Hair. She ran the music and theater program for her local YMCA summer camps for 3 years. She is so happy she gets to share her passion for music with children again! Crystal has her B.A. in Theater Arts from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. She now resides in the Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago with her daughters, Aaliyah and Ella, and husband.
Erin Watt "Miss Erin"
Center Director
Teacher: Friday mornings, Advanced Music Class
erin@themusicplayhouseofchicago.com
After four amazing years performing and working in New York City, Erin is back in her hometown of Chicago! While in NYC, Erin performed in operas, concerts, short films, cabarets, and a web series. In addition, Erin taught afterschool music classes and private voice and piano lessons to students of all ages while producing and directing recitals and showcases. She will always treasure her time on the east coast bringing the joy and power of music to children, and is very excited to continue here at The Music Playhouse! Ms. Erin has a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance, and a BA in Theater. She now lives in Lakeview with her husband, and son, Harrison.
Katarina Spungen "Miss Kat"
Teacher: Tuesday afternoons, Saturday mornings
katarina@themusicplayhouseofchicago.com
Katarina is ecstatic to join The Music Playhouse as a teacher after falling in love with the program with the kids she nannies! Her mother loves to say that she was singing before she could talk, and consequently grew up studying voice, flute, and piano. She left the suburbs of New York City to study acting at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and graduated with a BFA. She has been in Chicago ever since. In addition to nannying, Katarina has taught youth acting classes and started a custom dessert business, Pardine Pastries. She is so excited to share her love of music with the new generation of artists!
Cole Burdick "Mr. Cole"
Teacher: Monday mornings
cole@themusicplayhouseofchicago.com
Cole is so happy to be joining The Music Playhouse team! He has had a passion for music and for working with kids for as long as he can remember. In his hometown of Decatur, IL, Cole has been performing music since 4th grade, and has been working with kids ever since he could get a job. Cole recently graduated from Millikin University in Decatur with a B.A. in Commercial Music, and has been living in Chicago ever since. Cole can't wait to continue to pursue his passions in the big city with The Music Playhouse!
Stephen Coakley "Mr. Steve"
Teacher: Wednesday mornings
stephen@themusicplayhouseofchicago.com
Steve is thrilled to be joining the team at The Music Playhouse after moving to Chicago back in October. He has been playing piano since he was 5, and found a love for theatre shortly after that. He splits his time performing, music directing, and songwriting and has recently found a new avenue as a recording artist with his duo Viv and Steve. Check them out on all streaming services! He graduated with his BFA in May 2019 from Ohio Northern University and is thrilled to continue to explore this new city and chapter of his life. When not engaged in the arts, you can find him hiking the nearest trail or upside-down on his yoga mat.
Job Openings:

None at this time.
(updated November 2019)