Ashlee Mack

The encouragement that Ashlee Mack gives to always do one’s personal best and to put oneself fully into the music inspires students to go above and beyond what they thought was possible with their own playing. Her love of contemporary classical music and her performances of it are inspiring. Her sheer talent, attention to musical detail, and patience with students make her a phenomenal teacher with whom to take lessons with.

Ashlee is a true musician. Besides being a fantastic pianist, she is generous of spirit -- she has absolute confidence in each of her students' abilities to develop; she easily adapts to individual students' needs; her sense of humor and energy are infectious. Learning from Ashlee develops in you a more robust self-confidence, one that sticks throughout daily life, not simply when you sit at the keyboard. In the three years I've spent with her -- which have been far too little time -- my playing has certainly improved, but more importantly, I have begun to believe that most of my anxieties (from turning another musician's pages to playing a solo recital) are actually conquerable. Anyone who pays attention to what Ashlee has to teach will surely be changed.

Ashlee Mack goes beyond simple technical instruction to inspire students of a wide range of ability, experience, and interest. She shows her students how to understand music on a higher level. She is also a pianist of tremendous ability and regularly performs at Knox and in the Galesburg community, and has performed all over the world and appeared on several renowned recordings. Ashlee's performances are always defined by the same strengths that characterize her teaching-sensitivity, passion, and a profound understanding of music.