IfCM Leadership and Board of Directors

Chris Teal - Executive Director, Founder, Program Director (www.christeal.com)

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Whitworth University, drummer Chris Teal is the co-Director of the Institute for Creative Music (IfCM) and a recent transplant to Denton, TX. Chris has performed as a member of the IfCM Collective, Mingus Dynasty Quartet, Dave Rivello Ensemble, the Mighty High and Dry, Nick Finzer Quintet, Alexa Tarantino Quartet, John Nyerges Trio, Jake Hertzog Trio, and Matt Smith Group. Chris released his first self-titled album as the Chris Teal Trio, “Analog Dreams”, in 2019; four albums with the band Quintopus on ears&eyes Records (Voyage to Ornoc, April Showers, and Prehistoric Beach, and The Adjacent Possible); and four albums with the IfCM Collective on Outside in Music Records (“Volume 1”, “A Tribute to Prince,” “A Tribute to Björk,” and “Volume 4: A Tribute to St. Vincent”).

Along with other Teaching Artists from the Institute for Creative Music, Teal has presented workshops and performances at schools throughout the United States, and has presented workshops at the 2017 NYU Impact Conference and 2015 TEDxFlourCity conference. Chris directs the Denton Jazz Workshops and teaches drum set, piano, and improvisation lessons in Denton, TX. Raised in Spokane, WA, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters, running, and NBA basketball (especially the 2025 champion Detroit Pistons).

Nick Finzer - Artistic Director, Founder (www.nickfinzermusic.com):

…is one of the most dynamic musicians of the millennial generation. An award-winning composer, producer, entrepreneur, educator and trombonist, Finzer is bringing the joy and power of Jazz to traditional fans and the most modern 21st century audiences. He’s on a mission to be a passionate voice defining the sound of Jazz in this age.

Born into the musical world (his mother, Sherry Finzer, is a flutist), Finzer developed a fascination for the music of Duke Ellington and found himself, in high school, performing at the annual Essentially Ellington competition of Jazz at Lincoln Center. It was then that he decided to pursue a life in music himself. His budding talent was recognized by Wycliffe Gordon who began a mentorship by writing four pieces for the young Finzer while he attended the Eastman School of Music. Nick went on to get his masters at Juilliard’s prestigious Jazz program where he was mentored by trombone legend Steve Turre. 

2020 saw two new honors for Nick; a Grammy nomination with Anat Cohen’s Tentet and topping the Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll in the “Rising Star Trombone” category. Finzer’s 5th album as a leader “Cast of Characters” with his sextet Hear & Now was welcomed to critical acclaim, and a nationwide album release tour. 

Sara Vonhold

...graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Science in Social Work, specializing in Program Development & Evaluation of Educational Services. As part of her graduate studies, she assisted in planning and implementing a drop-out prevention program collaboration between an arts based non-profit and a NYC public high school. Prior to graduate school, Sara earned a B.A. in Psychology from SUNY Geneseo, and worked on multiple research projects examining the effects of interpersonal relationships on children’s development. Currently, she serves as a Program Advisor at a NYC non-profit focused on promoting traditionally underserved adolescents’ educational and career opportunities. Sara is excited to bring her commitment to empowering youth and their communities to the Institute for Creative Music.

Kim Teal (https://music.unt.edu/faculty-and-staff/kimberly-teal)

...Kimberly Hannon Teal begins her tenure at the University of North Texas in August of 2021 as Assistant Professor of Jazz History and Research. Her research addresses contemporary jazz and she is interested in how live performance contexts contribute to musical experiences and meaning. She holds a PhD in historical musicology from the Eastman School of Music, where she also taught music history and served as the Director of Graduate Advising. Her writing can be found in American Music, Jazz Perspectives, The Journal of the Society for American Music, and Jazz Research Journal. She comes to UNT from the University of Arkansas. She also enjoys giving courses for older adults at local community centers and teaching trumpet in schools, music camps, and private lessons. Born and raised in rural northwest Montana, Kim is committed to supporting, preserving, and extending live music scenes and opportunities in communities of all shapes and sizes.

Matthew Golombisky (https://matthewgolombisky.com/)

… is a USA-born, Buenos Aires-living acoustic & electric bassist, composer, improviser, conductor, producer, educator, and ideator who also wears many hats like the director/founder of independent record label `ears&eyes Records´ and publicity agency, Thirsty Robot Media, curriculum developer, teaching artist and board member of 501(C)3 non-profit Institute for Creative Music and in the past, conductor & artistic director of the youth orchestra, Orquesta Creer Es Crear, in Avellaneda, Argentina, stage-managed for Pitchfork Music Festival, Hideout Block Party, The Swell Season, Peter, Bjørn & John, DJ-ed/produced radio for WNUR 89.3FM, curated an annual ears&eyes Festivals, and wrote, composed and directed musical theatre for Bizzo!. Matthew’s discography includes over 60 recordings featuring his performance, compositions, conducting, film scoring, artwork/design, photography, recording/mixing, and/or production. His composition style is wide-ranging, steeped in modern classical, experimental, experiential, thoughtful, jazz, rock, metal, and pop genres, but never limits himself to anything and absorbs any music experienced. He creates moods and aural images that captivate, intrigue, invigorate, confuse and/or excite his audience. Most currently, he is working on a book: `24 Etudes for Improvisation´.

Tyler Cassidy-Heacock (https://www.drstrangevox.com/)

Tyler Cassidy-Heacock is a fundraiser, performer, administrator, educator, and scholar with a passion for contemporary music and art and a commitment to making the arts accessible. Dr. Cassidy-Heacock pursued Master's and Doctoral degrees at the Eastman School of Music, where she studied voice with Dr. Katherine Ciesinski and was awarded the Ph.D. in Musicology in 2015 for her research on contemporary chamber music for female voice. Now the Director of Development and Donor Relations at the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, she previously held the positions of Manager of Annual Giving at Geva Theatre Center, Assistant Director of Development at The Hochstein School, and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rochester.

Tyler performs often as a professional solo vocalist, appearing in concert during 2019 and 2020 with Cordancia Chamber Orchestra and ROCopera collective. As a soprano, she specializes in 20th century and contemporary music. She further supports arts organizations through consulting services, including work with ensemble fivebyfive, the Rochester Early Music Festival, and Musica Spei. She has also volunteered as a board member with PUSH Physical Theatre and the Institute for Creative Music as well as serving on regional arts grant panels.