Matthew hickey

---

Matthew Hickey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from North Park University, graduating in 2019 magna cum laude with a primary focus on violin. He began playing viola at the age of nine and violin when he was twelve. He has been teaching string instruments since 2017 and has worked with students of varying ages, learning styles, and ability levels.

Matthew’s passion for music has presented him with many rewarding experiences. Throughout college he played violin and viola in the North Park University Orchestra. He also performed a variety of repertoire in numerous chamber ensembles and events around town. During his final year, he had the great honor of performing as a soloist in North Park’s Fall Orchestra Concert; this was a wonderful experience he will always remember!  

During clinical studies in college, Matthew had the opportunity to student teach a variety of classes in several diverse educational establishments. He student taught fourth through eighth grade orchestra at London Middle School in Wheeling, middle school ukulele and elementary school choir at Jamieson Elementary School in Chicago, and he assisted the orchestra director with string instructional methods and conducting at Northside College Preparatory High School in Chicago.  He also served a yearlong internship with The People’s Music School at Hibbard Elementary School in Chicago, where he had the honor of assisting several instructors in teaching violin, viola, and music theory to underserved students in the first through eighth grades. 

Shortly after graduating, Matthew started his teaching career as an orchestra teacher in a summer orchestra program in the Elk Grove Village School District. In this intense but fun music camp, students were able to learn seven pieces of music in three weeks. The students put on an awesome multi ensemble concert performance on the last day of camp and it was such an amazing experience for everyone. Later in the 2019-20 school year, Matthew accepted a position as an elementary and middle school orchestra director in a public school setting in Glenview. There, he heightened his own skills, directing four middle and elementary school orchestras. He led large ensemble performances, hosted local festivals, and state competitions in collaboration with the fine arts team. In addition, he inspired each student to achieve new musical abilities and develop a genuine love for music. He is currently the Music Director at Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest, IL, serving as the director of choir, band,/orchestra and instructor of class piano and AP Music Theory.

Whether teaching or performing, Matthew loves sharing music with others, students and audiences alike. He is an active member of the American String Teachers Association and now enjoys teaching private string lessons, working with students in the fourth through ninth grades. He truly believes that music has a special place in everyone’s life and that every student can learn to play an instrument, regardless of learning style. Each student has his or her own way of learning, and Matthew likes to tailor the lesson to the student’s learning style. He believes that if a student is encouraged to enjoy learning, they will learn to set achievable goals and maintain a fun, lifelong learning experience. Matthew is delighted to be a part of the Lessons By Brooke and Company team, and he is looking forward to providing students with the same meaningful experiences that music has given him in his lifetime! 

“I would have to say that I am most inspired by Hilary Hahn. She is a world-class violinist and I listen to many of her recordings when I’m trying to learn a new piece of music. I was able to see her perform live and it was a fantastic performance. Hilary Hahn is a very humble and kind person, she was even happy to meet and talk with her fans at her concert.”