Tim Helisek (Group and Private Guitar, Group and Private Piano, Bass, and Real Rock Bands) is a two-time winner of the annual Normandale Composition Award for his classical chamber music, Beauty in Sadness (2004) and Dancing Towards the Sun (2005), which also placed second in the MMEA Composition Contest (2005).  He holds an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Guitar Performance from McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he is from originally.  Tim has completed four years of additional music studies in composition and piano from California State University Northridge and Normandale Community College. Teaching private guitar, bass, piano and composition to students of all ages since 1999, Tim enjoys teaching music because he believes it is important to share his knowledge of music with others.  Tim's students have defined him as patient and easy-going, as well as being helpful in his approach to explaining theory and technique. Aside from teaching, Tim works as a composer and music copyist.  He is also the assistant to the award-winning film composer Garry Schyman.