Meet The Team

Co-Artistic Director, 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.

Co-Artistic Director, One City Strings
Assistant Professor Orchestra, VanderCook College of Music

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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 University. Dr. Davila-Cortes’ research interests focus on children’s musical development, parent education, and children’s musical achievement.  Dr. Davila-Cortes has presented her research at the Suzuki of the Americas Association, American String Teachers and Texas Music Educators Association conferences. She is currently the Director of String Activities in the collegiate division at VanderCook College of Music.

One City Program Director
Adjunct Professor of Flute, VanderCook College of Music

Mariana Gariazzo earned a Master of Music from Yale University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. Gariazzo enjoys a growing reputation as an engaging and thought-provoking pedagogue, lecturer and performer. Her research focuses on new music by Latin American composers, and she has served as a guest artist and speaker on the subject at prominent venues and conferences in Europe, Asia, Latin and North America. Gariazzo served as Program Chair for the 53rd National Flute Association Convention (2025), Executive Director of the International Low Flutes Festival (2022) and is an immediate Past President of the Chicago Flute Club. She actively collaborates with composers in commissioning, recording and performing new music for flutes.

Co-Artistic Director of One City Jazz

A few of the many awards Dr. Griffin has received are the 2022 John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year from Berklee College of Music and the Jazz Education Network, 2021 Outstanding Alumni from Concordia College, 2019 Men of Excellence Award from the Chicago Defender/Real Times Media, the 2018 Men of Excellence Award from the Illinois Education Association, 2017 Jazz Educator of the Year from the Jazz Institute of Chicago, Semi Finalist for the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Music Educator, 2015 Outstanding Alumni from Northern Illinois University, 2015 Jefferson Award for Public Service, and the 2014 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.  In addition to his work at One City, Dr. Griffin also teaches at the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s Jazz Academy, the Griffin Institute, and is a frequent guest artist and clinician across the country.  He served for more than a decade as director of the acclaimed jazz bands at Harvey School District 152.  His middle school students have performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Jazz Showcase, and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.  In June of 2022, he joined the collegiate teaching faculty at VanderCook College of Music.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.

Co-Artistic Director, One City Jazz
Director of Collegiate Jazz Studies, VanderCook College of Music

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).

Co-Coordinator for One City Percussion

Jennifer Tarka is a dedicated music educator based in Chicago, Illinois, with over 15 years of teaching experience. Since 2010, she has served as a General Music Teacher at ACERO Charter Schools, first at Octavio Paz Campus and now at Torres Campus, where she teaches Kindergarten through 8th grade music and leads a variety of school music programs. She has directed choirs, talent shows, and concerts, and recently established and directs the Torres Elementary extracurricular concert band. Jennifer was recognized as Teacher of the Year (2013–2014) and has played an active role in supporting schoolwide events and curriculum planning. Beyond the classroom, she has taught percussion privately and worked extensively as a cymbal line instructor with high schools, universities, indoor percussion ensembles, and the Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps.

Coordinator One City Percussion
Director of Percussion Studies, VanderCook College of Music

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Dr. James Yakas Director of Percussion Studies at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL. He holds a B.M. in Music Education from the University of North Texas, a M.M. in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from Northern Illinois University and a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance from UNT. Dr. Yakas spent a total of twelve summers in the drum corps activity spanning from performing as a snare drummer with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps to eventually becoming their Percussion Coordinator and Arranger in 2003. Dr. Yakas has also studied and performed the music of many world cultures including performances with Northern Illinois University’s Steel Band at the World Steelband Festival in Trinidad/Tobago and the Seoul Drum Festival in Seoul, South Korea; Studying Afro-Cuban Drumming with Orlando Cotto and Studying abroad in Ghana with Ethnomusicologist Dr. Steven Friedson, specifically the Ewe Culture of the Volta region. Dr. Yakas is an endorser of Yamaha Percussion, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Remo Drumheads and World Percussion Instruments and Sabian Cymbals.