Experience

Freelance Guitarist
I perform regularly for a variety of public and private events as a solo artist and with the Athens-based jazz ensemble, The Jazztet, and I am often called upon to backup artists visiting Athens. Recent performance highlights include sharing the stage with such artists as Jeff Coffin, Pete Huttlinger, Mark Pender, and Vince DiMartino and performing a concerto for electric guitar “Chaos Theory” with the Ohio University Symphonic Band. I have also played for Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio and several locally-produced musicals including West Side Story, Anything Goes, and Godspell.

Guitar Instructor, University of Rio Grande
Using a combination of solo guitar and jazz repertoire, I present guitar majors at the University of Rio Grande with material that will sharpen their skills and assist them in building a diverse repertoire. I have also developed a curriculum to ensure mastery of fundamental concepts and techniques.

Guitar Instructor, Studio E Music
For the past ten years my private teaching studio has found a home at local music retailer Studio E Music where I teach approximately 50 students each week. Lessons emphasize music literacy including standard notation and specialized guitar notation, proper right and left hand technique, and music theory while addressing the musical and creative interests of the student.

Guitar Instructor, National Guitar Workshop
For the past three summers I have I led intensive daily workshops and coached ensembles for students majoring in jazz and acoustic guitar styles at National Guitar Workshop’s Chicago, IL and New Milford, CT campuses. Shorter seminars on Alternate Tunings, Chord Melody, Ear Training, and Improvisation were also presented for NGW students. I will be returning to NGW in the summer of 2008.

Guitar Instructor, Athens Community Music School
Since the fall of 2005 Beginning Guitar for Adults has been offered via Athens Community Music School. Classes present novice guitarists with basic skills and songs to help them begin making music immediately.

Classroom & Residency Artist, Artsbridge & Ohio Arts Council
Artsbridge has facilitated several school-wide and classroom guitar informances for elementary school students in Southeastern Ohio and West Virginia. During these presentations I perform a variety of acoustic and electric guitars and discuss the historical links between seemingly diverse musical styles. I am also available for longer 2- to 4-week residencies via the Ohio Arts Council.

Guitar Instructor, Ohio University School of Music Fall 2007
In this class, specifically designed for Ohio University Music Therapy majors, I emphasized reinforcing knowledge of fundamental musical concepts as they relate to the instrument and mastering several idiomatic strumming and fingerpicking accompaniments for folk, rock, country, and blues styles.

Guitar Instructor, Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch Summer 2001
During a four-day retreat at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch, I provided both one-on-one and group instruction to a group of 23 young guitarists. Among the workshops I presented were performance development, theory and improvisation, and use of guitar effects.

Education

Douglas Niedt Summer Master Class
Kansas City, Missouri 2004

Bachelor of Music, Duquesne University School Of Music
Pittsburgh, PA 1992

Private Studies
Marty Ashby, Joe Negri, David Budway

Washington High School, Washington PA
Graduated 1988

Private Studies
Tony Janflone, Sr. Janflone’s Guitar Studio

Honors and Awards

Best Soloist Award California University Jazz Experience 1988
Louis Armstrong Jazz Award 1988
McDonald’s All-American High School Band Nominee 1988
Guitarist, Mellon Jazz Festival Student Jazz Spectacular 1988
Guitarist, California University Honors Jazz Ensemble 1987

References

References are available upon request.