Administrative & Instructional Staff
Our Professional Staff is the heart and soul of our organization! Each of our instructors has a strong background in music, with all holding or working toward a college-level music degree, and having extensive performance and teaching experience. Our staff comes from all over the greater Grand Rapids area, and represents a variety of generations. All of our instructors share a passion for students and for sharing our love of music with them!
Rick Wiltse
Director of Programming
and Band Instrument & Piano Instructor.
Rick is our Director of Programming as well as a Band Instrument & Piano Instructor.
He has been on staff since 2009 and has been teaching music for nearly 30 years. His primary instrument is
trombone, with secondary instruments of voice, piano, electric bass, and handbells. He holds a Bachelor
of Music degree from Alma College along with a Master of Music in Music Education degree from
Western Michigan University. He has studied trombone with teachers representing Alma College,
Central Michigan University, Aquinas College, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University,
and the Grand Rapids Symphony. He taught public school instrumental and general music for 15 years
and has performed with and led numerous bands, orchestras, and choirs over his career. He is currently
also Director of Handbell Choirs for West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts in Byron Center and Children’s Choir Director
for Aldersgate United Methodist Church of Grand Rapids. He is a resident of Wyoming.
Lyn Jameyson
Founder & Board Trustee
Lyn is our Founder & Board Trustee, and has served as a Kindermusik Instructor for 14 years
as well as Executive Director of Family Harmony. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with an
emphasis in vocal music from Western Michigan University and is an avid vocalist, pianist, flautist, and
composer. She lives in Grand Rapids with her two children.
Vicki Dauw
String Instructor
Vicki has been a string instructor with Allegro for over a decade now, and has been teaching
violin since 1982. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She
currently plays in the Rockford Civic Symphony and has been a member of several musical ensembles for
many years before her time with the RCS. She lives in Coopersville with her husband and has three
daughters, two son-in-laws and two grandsons.
Irvin Foster
Piano, Violin, Guitar & Band
Instrument Instructor
Irvin is one of our most diversified staff members, serving as a Piano, Violin, Guitar & Band
Instrument Instructor in his second year with Allegro. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from
Grand Valley State University and has taught in a variety of locations including Muskegon and California.
He currently serves as Music Staff Director at Phillips Chapel AME Church in Muskegon and has performed with artists
such as Natalie Cole, Bobby Blue Band, and The Dazz Band. He also has composed and arranged a
number of musical pieces. He currently resides in Muskegon.
Janet Kremers
Kindermusik Instructor
Janet Kremers has been a Kindermusik Instructor with Allegro School of Music for over 20 years and is
currently our longest tenured staff member! She is fully certified in Kindermusik and enjoys teaching
children in the Grand Rapids Oral Deaf program through Kent Intermediate School District. She lives in
East Grand Rapids with her husband and has two grown children and one granddaughter.
Brenda Rieger
Piano & Clarinet Instructor
Brenda Rieger has been a Piano & Clarinet Instructor with Allegro since 2015. She earned her Bachelor
of Science degree in Music Education from Olivet Nazarene College and currently serves as a pianist at
Byron Center Bible Church, as well as Clarinet Teacher for West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts in Byron Center. She
has experience teaching music in public schools and has taught private piano and clarinet lessons since
1984. She was a longtime member of the Kankakee, IL Symphony Orchestra and currently lives in
Wyoming with her husband. She has nine grown children and seven grandchildren.
Rachael Varnum
Piano Instructor & Office Assistant
Rachael Varnum is our newest staff member, having joined as a Piano Instructor just this fall! She is
also serving as an Office Assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music & Worship from
Moody Bible Institute and has played piano for most of her life. In college she participated in chorale
and symphonic band, and was a keyboardist for Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church. She has
performed extensive piano masterworks at Junior & Senior Recitals in both high school and college and
now resides in Grand Rapids.