Members

MONTY ADAMS

Music Director

Monty has a professional musical career that has spanned over 40 years, including performing with world-renowned artists and conductors. Monty became the Music Director of Lakeside Flutes in 2001.  He is also the Music Director of the Mt. Prospect Community Band and former conductor of the Ridgeville Band of Evanston.

Prior to receiving a M.M. degree from Northwestern University where he was a conducting student of the eminent band director, John Paynter, Monty was the principal flutist and soloist with the U.S. Air Force Band and Orchestra in Washington D.C. under the direction of Col. Arnold Gabriel. Returning to Chicago after his enlistment, he performed as a substitute flutist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and as a regular member of CSO chamber ensembles for 20 consecutive years.

In addition, Monty frequently performs with his wife, harpist Phyllis Adams. The duo is recognized for their many innovative flute & harp arrangements. They have produced two CDs, Opera by Request and Universal Peace and have published numerous arrangements for flute & harp and flute choir.

Meredith Esposito

grew up in New York and began playing flute in fourth grade. She studied with David Whiteside, principal flutist of the National Philarmonic before minoring in music at the University of Delaware for a year and a half, under the tutelage of Eileen Grycky. Travels to Louisiana for a BFA in Fine Art landed Meredith in the Greater Baton Rouge Flute Choir for several years until she moved to Chicago where she has studied flute with Kim Sopata. As a full time Chicago Police Officer and a full time new mother of twins, flute playing was put on hold for a bit, but Meredith's true love of music has beckoned her back and she is thrilled to be performing with Lakeside Flutes!

Emily Fenton

graduated from University of Iowa with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance and Biology.  There she studied under Nicole Esposito for 3 years and Gro Sandvik for 1 year and performed with several small ensembles, such as the ensemble for the Center for New Music.  A highlight of her musical studies includes a performance at Carnegie Hall as part of the University of Iowa Concert Band under award-winning conductor Myron Welch.  Emily followed a career into medicine as a Physician Assistant, but continues to enjoy playing her flute as a dominant hobby.

Todd Alan Kersh

attended the University of Iowa where he majored in Flute Performance before receiving his B.A. in Dance. He has studied flute with Marcia Korb, Dr. Nathen Jones, Katherine Borst Jones and Roger Mather. As a professional dancer/singer/actor Todd's credits include A Chorus Line, Carousel, Funny Girl, Sweet Charity, West Side Story and he danced in the world premiere of the ballet Wanderers by Alfonso Cata of Ballet du Nord . He has performed on Celebrity, Princess and Norwegian Cruise Lines as a dancer and featured vocalist, and acted in Television and Movie productions. Todd is principal flutist with the North Shore Chamber Orchestra and is also a member of the Venti Wind Quintet.

Margo Klein

started playing flute at the age of 10. She has studied with Jan Smith, former Assistant Principal Flute in St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Margo participated in the CASA Young People's Orchestra 1990-1992. She attended the University of Tulsa on academic and music scholarships and participated in the university orchestra under the direction of Dr. Frank Ryan from 1992-1997. While at the University of Tulsa she studied privately under Leonard Garrison. Margo is currently a registered nurse and in her spare time continues to play a variety of music. She has studied jazz with Bill 'Skinny Williams' Simms at the Old Town School of Folk Music and Erwyn Helfer. Margo is currently participating in David Jennings Jazz Ensemble Group at Old Town School of Folk Music.  She is also studying Irish flute with James Reilly at the Irish Music School of Chicago.

Jennifer Kosharsky

born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL, is a professional opera singer and has been a member of Lakeside Flutes since 2018.  At a very young age she discovered a passion for music and at age 9 started her flute studies.  Throughout high school, she became an accomplished flutist receiving several regional and statewide awards as a band and orchestra principal musician.  Those achievements led to a college music scholarship where she continued her flute studies and discovered her voice.  From there her focus shifted to classical voice.  Jennifer graduated from DePaul University with a BM in Vocal Performance and upon graduation was invited to work in Venice, Italy, spending 7 years abroad, where she studied to be a professional opera singer and became fluent in Italian.

Patrick McCray

studied with Vivina Beaudreau, Judy Athmejvar, and Caroline Pittman and audited Walfrid Kujala's 1992 and 1996 master classes in orchestral performance. He has performed in high school, college and community bands and has soloed with several choirs. Patrick is a member of the National Flute Association and the Chicago Flute Club.

Angelica Moran

Lisa Nazar

began playing flute in the fourth grade with the dream of one day becoming a member to The University of Illinois Marching Illini.  After her time with the MI, Lisa switched her musical focus to playing in concert bands and pit orchestras for children's musical theater where she currently holds 15 unique show credits.  She also performs as a soloist in churches across the Chicagoland area.  Professionally, Lisa has enjoyed working as a Theater Costumer and Administrator, Designer specializing in competitive figure skating dresses, and Life & Health Insurance Broker.  She is an avid fan of NCAA basketball and a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts of the USA.

Fran O'Connell

got her introduction to the flute studying with Peggy Rohmer and Emil Eck. Flute continued to be an advocation while she pursued her graduate degree in Management. Fran returned to more serious flute playing in 1990, beginning with studying with Ruth Abbinanti.

Sandra Rowland

earned her BA and MA degrees in Flute Performance from Eastern Michigan University and has studied with Glennis Stout, Dr. Penelope Fisher, Dr. Rodney Hill. and Bernard Goldberg. She performs regularly with the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra, Lakeside Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and Lakeside Flutes. She has performed on "Live from WFMT" hosted by Kerry Frumkin with pianist Jamie Shaak. Sandra serves as a Board Member for both the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra and Lakeside Flutes. Maintaining a private studio and working as Personnel Director at the SVSO round out her schedule.

Diane Telgen

is a freelance editor and children's book author who has been performing in community bands and flute orchestras for 35 years.  She has been a featured flutist with both the Dexter (MI) Community Band and the RAF Association President's Band of Hillingdon, England.  Her many outside interests include transcribing music for flute choir.  Diane holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts.