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Our Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Dr. Roosevelt Griffin III
Walter Dyett Chair for Jazz Studies, Diversity and Inclusion
Co-Artistic Director of One City Jazz
Dr. Griffin, a renowned jazz educator, has garnered numerous accolades including the 2023 "Think Big" Award from Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and the 2022 John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year. He's also received recognition from Berklee College of Music, Jazz Education Network, and Concordia College. With a career spanning from teaching to performing with icons like Luciano Pavarotti, Diana Ross, and Jimmy Heath, Griffin's impact extends nationwide. His innovative teaching methods have earned him features in prestigious publications like DownBeat and JAZZed. Currently, he instructs at One City and Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's Jazz Academy, while also serving as a guest artist and clinician.
Professor Anthony Kidonakis
Director of Collegiate Jazz Studies
Co-Artistic Director of One City Jazz
Anthony Kidonakis, Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Saxophone at VanderCook College of Music since 2009, earned degrees from Northern Illinois University, VanderCook College of Music, and Northwestern University. He performs regularly with local musicians and has collaborated with recording artists like The Drifters, Gene "The Duke of Earl" Chandler, and The Cryan’ Shames. He also made a guest appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno alongside The Redwalls. Professor Kidonakis composed a series of original pieces for One City bands, honoring Bronzeville's musical heritage. Titles include “Jumpin’ with Earl” (Earl Hines), “Donegan Stomp” (Dorothy Donegan), “Miss Lil’s Blues” (Lil Hardin Armstrong), “Bronzeville Boogie,” and “Muddy Puddles” (Muddy Waters).
Lucinda Ali-Landing
Co-Artistic Director of One City Strings
Lucinda E. Ali-Landing is a violinist and the Founding Director of the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute, a member of the first violin section of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sphynx Orchestra, and the Chicago Sinfoniett, where she is in the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra and has performed Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night's Dream and more. She is a freelance artist who has performed with artists such as Ray Charles, Brian McKnight, Oprah Winfrey and many more.
Dr. Yvonne Davila-Cortes
Director of Collegiate Strings
Co-Artistic Director of One City Strings
Dr. Davila-Cortes holds a Doctorate in Music and Human Learning from the University of Texas at Austin with an emphasis on parental involvement and on incorporating multicultural repertoire into the Suzuki curriculum, a Masters in Music in violin performance from UW-Madisonand a Bachelor of Music from DePaul UniversityShe is currently the Director of String Activities in the collegiate division at VanderCook College of Music.
Dr. Leah Schuman
Associate Professor of Trumpet
Executive Director of One City
Dr. Schuman has served on the faculty of VanderCook College of Music since 2002, where she teaches trumpet and brass classes. She took on the additional roles of Executive Director of One City in June of 2018 and Director of Development in 2023. She holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, a Masters in Music in Trumpet Performance from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University. She is a former member of the St. Petersburg (Russia) State Chamber Orchestra and has performed extensively as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician.
