ISMTA Teacher of the Year: Lynette Zelis
Congratulations to WSMTA member, Lynette Zelis, who is the Illinois State Music Teachers Association Teacher of the Year for 2024!
Lynette was honored at the ISMTA Conference banquet on November 1, 2024 and presented the award by president Jeff Kleinsorge.
Lynette Zelis, the visionary behind Noteable Notes Music Academy, is a dedicated piano educator with a deep passion for teaching and discovering new music. She offers private piano lessons and oversees studios for 24 other music instructors, including a talented group of 8-10 emerging professionals. Noteable Notes currently has 3 locations, two in downtown Wheaton and one in Bloomingdale, Illinois. In addition to her role at the academy, Lynette serves as an adjunct professor at Wheaton College, where she teaches the Piano Pedagogy Course for Piano Performance Majors each spring.
In recognition of her exceptional contributions to the field, Lynette was honored as the Illinois State Fellow of the Year at the 2019 Music Teachers National Conference in Spokane, WA. Her leadership extends beyond her academy; she has served as the President of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association, the Director for the East Central Division of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and held numerous roles in the West Suburban Chapter of ISMTA.
Lynette’s commitment to the music community is further demonstrated by her long-standing involvement with the Illinois State Music Teachers Association, where she has acted as the AIM State Repertoire Chair, AIM Performance Chair, and held various executive positions including vice president and treasurer for the West Suburban Chapter. She was also honored as ISMTA Member of the Year in 2002 and served as president of the West Suburban ISMTA from 2009 to 2011.
A permanent member of both ISMTA and MTNA, Lynette was one of only five teachers nationwide to receive the Group Piano Teachers Award from the Music Teachers National Association and the National Piano Foundation in 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Hope College, MI, and earned both a Master of Music and Master of Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northern Illinois University under the guidance of Donald Walker.
For the past seven years, Noteable Notes has proudly partnered with Steinway & Sons, allowing students to enjoy lessons on exquisite Steinway pianos. Lynette’s dedication to fostering young musicians and mentoring emerging teachers is evident in her vibrant teaching community. She actively engages with local, state, and national music organizations, encouraging student involvement in AIM exams, Silent Film presentations, and fundraising for scholarships. Her students and teachers consistently excel in performances, competitions, and exams, reflecting her unwavering commitment to their growth and success.
Lynette has served in countless positions in our local West Suburban Music Teachers Association and is currently the TIE (Teacher Information Exchange) meeting coordinator. In 2023 she finished a five-year term as AIM Theory Exams Coordinator. She was president of WSMTA from 2009-2011 before serving as president at the State level.
WSMTA members with Lynette and 2024 WSMTA Member of the Year Anne Marie Kuhny at the ISMTA Conference banquet on November 1, 2024.
