Here's - VanderCook College of Music

Trustee
A Passion for Community
Erica Chianelli
Erica Chianelli’s relationship with VanderCook began
involuntarily. Working for the Lakeside Bank branch in
Chicago’s Chinatown, agreeing to serve on the Board of
Trustees of the college was part of her job description.
Once Chianelli met the college president, Dr. Charles
“The actions of a leader speak louder than words.
During Erica’s tenure on the board, her contributions have
resonated quite loudly. She can always be counted on to get the
job done despite her busy schedule, and we are grateful.”
– George Quinlan, VanderCook Trustee
Menghini, and experienced firsthand the enthusiasm
that resonates through the halls, she “jumped
on board.” Chianelli wonders how anyone can meet
Menghini and witness the life of VanderCook without
getting hooked. “Charlie is excited and enthusiastic all
the time. He lives and breathes VanderCook. The faculty
and staff…the leadership…the passion and loyalty
those people have for VanderCook and what they do is
inspirational.”
Chianelli herself is the personification of enthusiasm.
Her smiles are warm and sincere, lighting up her deep
brown eyes as she talks about the passion she now has
for VanderCook and its vital place in the landscape
and fabric of the Near South neighborhood the college
has called home for over 100 years. Chianelli was
first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2005. Now
in her second term, Chianelli believes her greatest
contribution to VanderCook is probably her ability to
capitalize on her community connections to help raise
VanderCook’s profile throughout Chicago. “Anything I
can do to help spread the word about VanderCook and
get more people to be aware of the college, the better.”
Chianelli describes herself as “a typical Asian kid”
whose relationship with music started in the 4th grade
with piano and violin lessons taught in the Suzuki
Method. She stayed with both instruments through the
8th grade and played violin in the orchestra. Content to
sit second-to-last chair, Chianelli admired the girl who
played first chair and recognized her classmate’s superior
dedication and musicality. Private piano lessons
with an “awesome teacher” who lived just a bike ride
down the block were always a welcome weekly outing.
Chianelli remembers arriving early so she could take
full advantage of the home-baked treats her teacher
provided, particularly at the holidays.
Though Chianelli’s love of sports would eventually
trump music when she reached high school, she
credits those early musical experiences for much of
her personal and professional success. “I remember
going to contests in junior high and being so nervous.
That performance experience early on has translated
to my adult professional life. It definitely helped build
my confidence and self-esteem.” Her appreciation of
music and awe of performance also grew out of those
early musical endeavors. And the discipline and structure
of practice definitely served her well throughout
high school.
A three-sport athlete, Chianelli transferred her energies
to cross country, basketball, and soccer at Libertyville
High School in Libertyville, IL. After graduation in
1994, Chianelli entered Loyola University in Chicago
on an academic and athletic scholarship. The former
point guard focused her efforts on soccer and earning
a degree, and in 1998 graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in Communication in Social Justice and a
minor in sociology. Her professional life began at
the MidAmerica Leadership Foundation (MLF), now
called Goodcity, a non-profit that helps high potential
community-based entrepreneurs turn their visions into
a reality. Chianelli coordinated a program at MLF to
help low-income families and individuals build their
personal and financial assets.
36 www.vandercook.edu