Making Music a Reality for You!

115 N 3rd St, Niles, MI 49120  (269)-362-5780     info@themusicacademies.com

Without music      life would be           a mistake.      ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

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Meet the Staff . . .

Valerie Rumpf, founder and president of The Music Academies, has been performing since she was 8 years old. Valerie earned her Bachelors (with high honors) and Masters degrees in Music from Indiana University (SB), having studied under the Toradze Studio instructors in piano,  Eric Kus, David Machavariani, and Earle Perez on cello, and Delores Wilson on violin and viola.  She is also an accomplished composer and member of ASCAP and ASTA, having had works performed in the US and in Europe.  Valerie is also an enthhusiastic orchestra conductor, having studied conducting under Dr. Michael Esselstrom and Dr. Robert Colt at Indiana University, and Bruce Ochimura at Western Michigan University.  She currently conducts the New Apostolic Church Orchestra in the South Bend District, and the Niles Area Community Orchestra in Niles, MI. Her unique style of teaching is the key to the success of The Music Academies.  While being a firm believer that each student at all ages should be musically literate, she also observes the individualities of each student and tailors instruction so that music can become a reality for them. In her "spare" time, Valerie also continues to compose and arrange music for the various groups she works with,  is primary organist/pianist and choir leader at the New Apostolic Church in Niles, and play cello in the Rumpf Village String Quartet.

Robbie "Bert" Rumpf is instructor for Advanced Guitar, String Bass and Percussion.  He has studied at Indiana University/South Bend under Darrel Tidaback, Delores Wilson, and Valerie Rumpf at the Music Academies, and is an accomplished performer on bass in classic orchestral, contemporary ensembles, and jazz.  He also performs solo and vocal accompaniments on classical guitar, as well as being a highly skilled percussionist in both classical and combo drum settngs.  He also has a keen interest in composing and arranging music, and is close to finishing his first piano concerto with full orchestra (which he will probably insist on playing the piano solo at its debut).

Contact	Email address
Valerie Rumpf	valerie@themusicacademies.com
Robbie Rumpf	bert@themusicacademies.com
David Rumpf	dave@themusicacademies.com
General questions	info@themusicacademies.com

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