Meet the CAKE Board Members
Jana Martin, President
Jana is in her 19th year of teaching music, with experiences in PK-12 vocal and general music. She holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado and Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She completed her Kodály Certification at New York University, and Orff certification at DePaul University. She also had the opportunity to participate in the 2017 Kodály Seminar at the Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary to learn more about the methodology in the birthplace of Kodály and to study with world-class musicians and continue her musical learning. Jana currently teaches general music at Highcrest Middle School in Wilmette Public Schools District 39, and directs the Wilmette High Five Junior Choir for students of all abilities. She is also a member of the faculty at the DePaul University Summer Kodály Institute, where she has taught musicianship classes since 2016. Contact Jana: chicagokodaly@gmail.com
Larena Code, President-Elect
Larena Code is a PreK-5 elementary music teacher in Tinley Park, Illinois. She holds a music education degree and Kodaly Certification from DePaul University as well as Orff Levels I & II. Taking her passion of teaching into the community, Larena has presented at local and state music education conferences as well as published articles in the Illinois Music Educator Journal. Along with her primary instrument of piano, she has performed in choruses, musicals, and orchestra as both a singer and violinist. As a child, she lived in Norway which sparked an interest in many genres of music such as world, folk, and jazz.
Contact Larena: larena.code@gmail.com
Daniel Ewen, Treasurer
Daniel Ewen currently teaches elementary K-6 general music at Minooka District #201. Before working at the elementary level, he taught at the secondary level but found his passion teaching the younger students. Daniel received his Bachelor’s in Music from Concordia University and his Master’s from VanderCook. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Teaching from St. Xavier University. He continued his education by completing all three levels in Kodály at Indiana University and in Orff at DePaul University. He has continued his professional association with both of these organizations by serving on the local chapter’s boards. Although Daniel began his musical experience on the violin, his primary instrument is voice. He loves to dabble on other instruments like piano, organ, guitar, ukulele, dulcimer, banjo, trumpet, clarinet and anything else that can make a sound. If it can help him teach his students, he wants to know about it! Contact Daniel: danieljewen@yahoo.com
Amanda Caretta-Hull, Membership Secretary
Amanda Caretta-Hull is a general music and instrumental teacher in the Mukwonago Area School District in Wisconsin. She has been teaching for over a decade, and has a strong background in Kodály inspired education. In her free time, Amanda plays Traditional Irish Music with the bands Ogham, Tradforce, and Paddygrass, and is a musician and the music director at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Amanda graduated with a BFA in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in 2005, and earned her MA in Education from Boston University in 2011.
Contact Amanda: acaretta@gmail.com
Ella Bender, Recording Secretary
Alicia Brown, Member-at-Large
Alicia Brown currently teaches preschool through sixth grade Spanish and English bilingual general music and fifth and sixth grade advanced choir for Chicago Public Schools. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and received her MA in Music Education with a concentration in Kodaly from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Alicia completed Level III training in Orff-Schulwerk and Level III Kodaly certification and master-classes at the University of St. Thomas. She is currently presenting at the local, state, and regional level and is passionate about teaching bilingual students and the use of Spanish-language music in the elementary classroom.
Contact Alicia: abrown1@iwu.edu
Vicky Long, Member-at-Large
Jamie Parker, Past President
Jamie is in her fifth year teaching kindergarten through fourth grade music at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, Illinois. She also directs the Troy Craughwell fourth grade choir and teaches clarinet lessons privately. Jamie received her Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2008 and her Master’s Degree in Music Education with a Kodály Emphasis from The Kodály Institute at Capital University in 2012.
Contact Jamie: Jamie.pitts1@gmail.com
Janell Bjorklund, Webmaster
Jana is in her 19th year of teaching music, with experiences in PK-12 vocal and general music. She holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado and Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She completed her Kodály Certification at New York University, and Orff certification at DePaul University. She also had the opportunity to participate in the 2017 Kodály Seminar at the Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary to learn more about the methodology in the birthplace of Kodály and to study with world-class musicians and continue her musical learning. Jana currently teaches general music at Highcrest Middle School in Wilmette Public Schools District 39, and directs the Wilmette High Five Junior Choir for students of all abilities. She is also a member of the faculty at the DePaul University Summer Kodály Institute, where she has taught musicianship classes since 2016. Contact Jana: chicagokodaly@gmail.com
Larena Code, President-Elect
Larena Code is a PreK-5 elementary music teacher in Tinley Park, Illinois. She holds a music education degree and Kodaly Certification from DePaul University as well as Orff Levels I & II. Taking her passion of teaching into the community, Larena has presented at local and state music education conferences as well as published articles in the Illinois Music Educator Journal. Along with her primary instrument of piano, she has performed in choruses, musicals, and orchestra as both a singer and violinist. As a child, she lived in Norway which sparked an interest in many genres of music such as world, folk, and jazz.
Contact Larena: larena.code@gmail.com
Daniel Ewen, Treasurer
Daniel Ewen currently teaches elementary K-6 general music at Minooka District #201. Before working at the elementary level, he taught at the secondary level but found his passion teaching the younger students. Daniel received his Bachelor’s in Music from Concordia University and his Master’s from VanderCook. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Teaching from St. Xavier University. He continued his education by completing all three levels in Kodály at Indiana University and in Orff at DePaul University. He has continued his professional association with both of these organizations by serving on the local chapter’s boards. Although Daniel began his musical experience on the violin, his primary instrument is voice. He loves to dabble on other instruments like piano, organ, guitar, ukulele, dulcimer, banjo, trumpet, clarinet and anything else that can make a sound. If it can help him teach his students, he wants to know about it! Contact Daniel: danieljewen@yahoo.com
Amanda Caretta-Hull, Membership Secretary
Amanda Caretta-Hull is a general music and instrumental teacher in the Mukwonago Area School District in Wisconsin. She has been teaching for over a decade, and has a strong background in Kodály inspired education. In her free time, Amanda plays Traditional Irish Music with the bands Ogham, Tradforce, and Paddygrass, and is a musician and the music director at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Amanda graduated with a BFA in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in 2005, and earned her MA in Education from Boston University in 2011.
Contact Amanda: acaretta@gmail.com
Ella Bender, Recording Secretary
Alicia Brown, Member-at-Large
Alicia Brown currently teaches preschool through sixth grade Spanish and English bilingual general music and fifth and sixth grade advanced choir for Chicago Public Schools. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and received her MA in Music Education with a concentration in Kodaly from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Alicia completed Level III training in Orff-Schulwerk and Level III Kodaly certification and master-classes at the University of St. Thomas. She is currently presenting at the local, state, and regional level and is passionate about teaching bilingual students and the use of Spanish-language music in the elementary classroom.
Contact Alicia: abrown1@iwu.edu
Vicky Long, Member-at-Large
Jamie Parker, Past President
Jamie is in her fifth year teaching kindergarten through fourth grade music at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, Illinois. She also directs the Troy Craughwell fourth grade choir and teaches clarinet lessons privately. Jamie received her Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2008 and her Master’s Degree in Music Education with a Kodály Emphasis from The Kodály Institute at Capital University in 2012.
Contact Jamie: Jamie.pitts1@gmail.com
Janell Bjorklund, Webmaster