Meet our Team
Hannah Ceaser
Hannah Ceaser is an alumna of Elmhurst University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business and a double minor in Music Production and Digital Media. Throughout her academic and professional journey, she has cultivated expertise in event planning, audio engineering, and leadership. Notable for planning successful events like Spring Playback at Elmhurst University and Quiet Fest with Dupaul USA, Hannah has proven herself capable of organizing large-scale productions with ease.
At Elmhurst University, she demonstrated her leadership skills by serving as President of the Music Business Student Union and Social Events Chair for the Elmhurst University Hillel Chapter. Her passion for the music industry extended beyond the classroom, where she held valuable roles such as Assistant to the Director of Music Business at Elmhurst University, Assistant to the Development Director at the Chicago Philharmonic, and has worked in the ticket booth for both Lollapalooza and Re:SET Chicago.
Currently, Hannah is applying her customer service and retail management skills as a Senior Retail Sales Associate at Music & Arts, further immersing herself in the intersection of music and business.
Benjamin Robins
Benjamin Robins is a recent graduate of Elmhurst University, earning a degree in music with a focus in fine arts education, a minor in theatre education, and a certificate of vocal performance. Throughout his academic career, Ben had spent the majority of his time on stage or behind the scenes of many music and theatre events, in and outside of school. His most recent projects include directing a production of StarKid’s Firebringer and lighting design for Hinckley-Big Rock High School’s production of Alice in Wonderland.
Ben is currently a private lessons and group class instructor at Bach to Rock music school in Naperville, IL. He teaches voice, piano, ukulele, and early childhood education. His students have performed at a variety of events and showcases. He hopes to continue to grow his studio and provide the gift of music!
Outside of music, Ben currently serves as the Lab Operations manager for Jewish Plays Project, the leading producer of Jewish Plays in the US. Ben is also a co-host of the comedy podcast Yapfest ft. Ben and Lola.
Daniel Cruz
Daniel Cruz is a dedicated and compassionate recent graduate of Elmhurst University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music with a concentration in Choral Conducting. Throughout his time at Elmhurst, Daniel demonstrated his leadership abilities in various roles, including Assistant Conductor for the Elmhurst Choral Union, where he had the honor of conducting Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. His commitment to fostering musical expression extended to his role as Pit Director for the university's production of SchoolHouse Rock Live! and as Music Director for Legally Blonde: The Musical!. He also served as the Intern Conductor for the Napervoice Fall 2024 Concert.
Currently, Daniel serves as the Choral and Musical Ensemble Leader at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheaton, IL, where his devotion to nurturing musical talent is evident in his work with the Adult Choir, Children's Choir, and other ensembles he creates. His compassionate leadership style encourages collaboration and growth among his performers. Daniel also works with Music & Arts as an Education Representative, where he supports local music teachers by helping them get the instruments, repairs, and resources they need to keep their programs running smoothly.
As the Executive Director and Founder of Emerging Artists, Daniel is deeply committed to supporting fellow conductors as they discover their unique conducting styles and grow in their careers. His passion for mentoring and guiding others reflects his dedication to the art of conducting and the future of music leadership.
Catherine Clare Songco
Catherine Clare Songco (she/her/hers) is a music educator and proud graduate of Elmhurst University, dedicated to uplifting and empowering voices from all walks of life, and cultivating inclusive and collaborative opportunities and communities through music. She currently serves as Choir Director and Mariachi Teacher at Leman Middle School in West Chicago, IL, where she directs three curricular choirs, teaches three curricular mariachi classes and two co-curricular mariachi ensembles, and vocal directs the musical.
As a first-generation Filipina-American, she is a devoted and passionate advocate for inclusive, accessible, and equitable music education that is tailored to meet students where they are at and incorporates their background, experiences, interests, and strengths. Catherine Clare believes that music should be a safe space for students of all ages to make mistakes, ask questions, express themselves, and be inspired as they learn and grow, both as musicians and as individuals.
In addition to teaching private piano, guitar, ukulele, and voice lessons at the Songbird School of Music, Catherine Clare is a proud member of both ILMEA and IL-ACDA, where she holds a position as Membership Co-Chair. Beyond the classroom, Catherine Clare is an active professional musician and can be found singing with various choirs and professional ensembles in the Chicagoland area — most notably, Chroma.
Lola Frost
Lola Frost is a graduate of Elmhurst University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Music in Theory and Composition, a minor in Music Production, and a certificate in Vocal Performance. Throughout her academic career, she composed and premiered a variety of works for chamber ensembles, including low brass trio, string trio, and chamber orchestra. Her most recent compositional achievement includes premiering selections from Gorgon, an opera-in-progress that reimagines the ancient Greek myth of Medusa.
In addition to her work in classical composition, Lola has produced music for video games and film. Her original score for the film Talent Show premiered at the 2024 Elmhurst University Film Festival, where she was honored with the Achievement in Film Score award.
Since graduating, Lola has actively participated in choral and interdisciplinary projects, including the Emerging Artists Workshop and Frankenstein: A Night of the Macabre. Beyond her musical endeavors, she is the co-host and producer of the comedy podcast Yapfest ft. Ben and Lola.