Jesse Gomez – VIOLIN
Jesse, a Kenosha native, is a private violin instructor in the Kenosha and Racine area. He began playing violin in the KUSD music program. He is an active violinist throughout Northern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin, playing with a variety of orchestras, Kenosha Symphony, Racine Symphony, Highland Park Strings, and Symphony 847, as well as chamber ensembles, including being a founding member of the Brandgás String Quartet and the Prairie String Quartet. Jesse is also the director of the Kiwanis Youth Orcherstra. His goal is to educate the community through classical music and deliver music to youth in the area.
Ann Lemar Heide – VIOLIN
Ann, violinist and teacher, has been an active member of the local music community for the past 25 years. She has degrees in music from Northern Illinois University and Western Illinois University, and until recently was an active orchestral player as a member of the Kenosha Symphony and the Racine Symphony. Today Ann is a member of the Parkside Community Orchestra and founding member of the newly formed Prairie String Quartet, as well as performing with the Rivest-Heide Duo.
Heather Kamikawa – VIOLA
Heather, a Kenosha native, serves KUSD as an elementary and high school orchestra teacher. Currently the director at Bradford High School, she has taught grades 4-12 throughout her 17 years of orchestra teaching. She teaches viola lessons in the Kenosha area as well. Heather plays in Kenosha Symphony and UW-Parkside Community Orchestras. Currently, she is a member of the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra Board and a founding member of the Prairie String Quartet. She is also employed seasonally at Pacetti’s Maestro of Music. Heather enjoys giving back to the strong music community in which she was taught.
Julia Nowicki – CELLO
Julia, born in Milwaukee, learned to play cello in the Milwaukee Public School music program. Later she practiced law and served as a judge in Chicago, where she co-founded the the Chicago Bar Association Orchestra in 1986. For the first twenty years of its existence, the CBASO practiced in her courtroom after hours. She currently plays with as many chamber groups as she can, both in the Kenosha and Chicago area, and performs occasionally. She is a founding member of the Prairie String Quartet. As a former member of the Kenosha Symphony Board, she and Heather Kamikawa collaborated with the Mahone Fund, culminating in the opening act for the Mahone Harbor Park Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Festival in 2021.
The Prairie String Quartet 