Teacher Profile: Caleb Varns

About Caleb Varns

Caleb Varns is a performing artist who enjoys singing with the Dickens Carolers and playing piano for local churches and retirement homes. Caleb is teaching piano and voice because he believes in passing on the joy of play which comes to those brave enough to add their soul to the song of life.

Caleb came from Kansas City Missouri, where he had the privilege of growing up around several jazz legends. His favorite childhood memory is playing blues licks on the saxophone at The Majestic Steakhouse with the legendary Bram Wjinands Trio, which kicked off a lifelong passion for live music performance and a love for improvisation in particular. He began learning saxophone in 1991 and then in high school he started to study voice as well. He had the privilege of weekly private lessons with Mr. Robert Murray. Caleb earned the IHSA State Champion title for vocal performance during his senior year and then went on to college to study voice with an emphasis on opera and music theater.

Caleb furthered his music education studying classical voice at the Southern Illinois University School of Music under Professor Jeanine Wagner, Dr. John Mochinik and Professor Margaret Simmons. He performed with many ensembles and choirs and took on starring roles in "Candide" and "Oh Boy!". Self-taught at the piano, he also joined the rhythm section of the SIU Jazz Band at the piano, and mentored under Shadi Frick for additional jazz studies.

Caleb believes in learning music for the joy of self expression and the living connection that it provides to our shared history and to each other. He knows from personal experience that learning an instrument can be a rewarding challenge with huge dividends in self-confidence and social skills. With traditions which reach back hundreds of years, music is still an art of "Now" and there is no other experience like it for building focus, attention, and strong connections with each other.