Staff

Zoells_Thomas Thomas Zoells, Founder/Executive Director, is the owner of PianoForte Chicago, Inc., a piano dealership representing Fazioli, Grotrian and Wendl & Lung pianos. Mr. Zoells was born and raised in Switzerland and in Vienna, Austria. He has also worked for Ingpen & Williams in London and Agence Caecilia in Geneva, where he helped promote Jessye Norman, Alicia de Larrocha and Alfred Brendel, among others.
Email: thomas@pianofortefoundation.org

susan Dr. Susan Heiserman, Artistic Director, manages artistic, development, and marketing operations for the PianoForte Foundation. She is a sought-after collaborative pianist with 17 years of experience accompanying and coaching singers and instrumentalists of all levels in recitals, lessons, competitions, and rehearsals. Dr. Heiserman specializes in the vocal repertoire, and in Chicago has performed at venues such as Orchestra Hall, Fulton Hall, PianoForte, the University Club, and the Merchandise Mart. She received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Minnesota, where she studied with Margo Garrett and Tim Lovelace. She also received a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, and Bachelor of Music Education and Music Therapy degrees from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. She lives in Chicago with her husband and daughter, and one too many cats.
Email: susan@pianofortefoundation.org

Rhapsody Snyder, Program Coordinator holds a Bachelors of Arts in Music from DePaul University in Chicago where she studied piano, and has 10 years experience as a Church musician, accompanist and teacher of both piano and harp. She currently works as the Program Coordinator for the PianoForte Foundation, where among other responsibilities she organizes the Chicago Amateur Piano Competition. Rhapsody is currently the Co-Music Director and pianist for Wellington United Church of Christ in Lakeview, and teaches private piano lessons to students of all ages and skill levels. She is dedicated to the promotion and development of Not-for-Profit organizations, and is a board member and on-site organizer of Active Blessing Uganda, a orphan relief organization based in Mbale, Uganda.
rhapsody@pianofortefoundation.org

Beatrice Weiss, Bookkeeper, is a degreed professional with over 18 years of accounting experience and international business management. Her personality combined with her strength in analytical and organizational structure led her to specialize in accounting management and consultancy for small businesses and entrepreneurs. She is the owner of Bea2B Accounting and Process Solutions.