Our String Studio

Peyton Miles has been teaching cello and double bass teacher at Hip Cat Music School for over a year. He graduated from Illinois State University in December 2023 with a Bachelors in Music Education and New Media Composition. He has worked at Illinois State University String Project from 2018-2023 in addition to performing in numerous ensembles. Peyton participated in the Bloomington Normal Youth Symphony as well as the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and East Valley Youth Symphony in Arizona. He loves working with his students and watching them grow and develop as musicians. In his free time, Peyton enjoys creating his own electronic music compositions and exploring other musical opportunities.

Maria Emmons is a violinist, string teacher, and arts administrator. In addition to teaching private lessons at Hip Cat Music School, she is a string instructor with the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestra, violin and viola faculty for the Ralla Klepak and Preparatory programs at Illinois Wesleyan University, violin faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp during the summer, and assistant librarian for the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Previously, she has been a graduate teaching assistant with the ISU String Project, violin coach with the UNH Youth Symphony Orchestras, and marketing intern with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. Maria maintains a large private studio and is Paul Rolland String Pedagogy Method certified. 

As a violinist, she has regularly performed in the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra (assistant and substitute concertmaster), Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Society (substitute concertmaster), MiOpera, and Symphony NH. She enjoys performing in pit orchestras and was a violinist on the 2019 PBS special of Tim Janis’ Celtic Heart. 

Maria is a recent graduate of a Master of Music in violin performance degree from Illinois State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance degree from the University of New Hampshire, where she graduated with honors, along with minors in arts administration and business administration.

Daniel Boy is currently pursuing a degree in music education, with a minor in jazz studies, at Illinois Wesleyan University. In addition to teaching double bass and bass guitar at Hip Cat Music School, Danny is involved with numerous organizations at IWU. He performs with the IWU Symphony Orchestra and IWU Jazz Combo. Danny is also the Titan Band Conductor, Stage Crew Manager for Presser Hall as well as the String Intern for the Bloomington-Normal Youth Symphony. Danny is an enthusiastic educator who loves music of all genres, especially jazz. He enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities to help them achieve their musical goals.

Eliana Woodman began developing her passion for the violin at the age of 5. Both the Suzuki Method and ISU String Project were instrumental in her foundation as a musician. She has enjoyed performing with the Bloomington Normal Youth Symphony, Peoria Youth Symphony, ILMEA All-State Honors Orchestra, District 3 Orchestra, and Cornerstone Orchestra, holding Concertmaster, Assistant Concertmaster, and Principal positions. Eliana has been selected for summer intensive trainings at the Conservatory of Annie Moses (Columbia, TN), Belmont University (Nashville, TN), and Credo National Festival (Chicago Symphony Center). She loves sharing her joy of music by performing with JoyElle Strings, her professional violin and cello duo, at various settings such as weddings, fundraisers, nursing homes, and holiday events. Major highlights of her musical career thus far have been performing on the stages of the Chicago Symphony Center and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In her free time, Eliana also loves singing, playing volleyball, and serving with her church.

Eliana is passionate about sharing the gift of music with others. For the past few years, she has loved teaching young violinists in her private music studio.  She is both excited and humbled by the opportunity to encourage and train younger musicians in a manner which they achieve success, while also learning the value of practice, persistence, and performing. Eliana is looking forward to the opportunity to get to know your child at Hip Cat Music School and begin making music together!

Hannah Manwarring developed her love of music listening to her mother teach private voice lessons in their home. She took piano lessons from the age of seven through college. In 2011 Hannah Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bradley University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music with a focus on viola and a minor in voice. From 2011-14 she worked as the Orchestra Teacher for Dunlap Homeschool Co-op and was a Choir Accompanist for Roosevelt Magnet School in Peoria. From 2014-2018 Hannah worked as the Orchestra Director for Concordia Lutheran School in Peoria, Illinois while also teaching a studio of twenty music students privately. In 2018 she committed to privately teaching her studio of music students in viola, violin, voice and piano. In 2022 she and her husband, Nathan Manwarring, were married and moved to St. Louis where she began teaching privately as well as being the Heartland homeschool co-op Music Teacher. After a year, she and her husband moved to Bloomington, Illinois for a job opportunity and in September 2023 Hannah began teaching at Hip Cat Music School where she now teaches a studio of almost thirty students. When she is not teaching, Hannah loves to spend time with her husband and aussiedoodle, Bear, going on hikes and exploring. She volunteers at her church, Charis Community, and loves to participate as a part of the worship band. Hannah works with students of all ages and abilities, helping them achieve their musical goals.

Joy Rattan will be pursuing a degree in both Music Education and Cello Performance. She currently plays in the Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra and is the principal cellist of the Bloomington Normal Youth Symphony. Joy has also been conducting through her school. She performs regularly in the violin/cello duo Joyellestrings. Joy is enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge and love of music with young students in the Bloomington/Normal area.