Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 7pm
Ventura County Classical Guitar Society
Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District,
1605 Burnley Street, Camarillo, CA 93010
Thursday, August 19, 2010, 7pm
New Mexico School of Music
310 Washington Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
Saturday, July 24, 7pm
Borders (Bolingbrook)
161 North Weber Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60590
Saturday, July 17, 7pm
Borders (Wheaton)
101 Rice Lake Square, Wheaton, IL 60187
Sunday, July 11, 10:15am
High Road Bible Church
380 High
Road, Lockport, IL 60441
Saturday, July 10, 7pm
Borders (Oak Brook)
1500 16th Street, Suite D, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Sunday June 20, 2010, 7pm
Wheaton
Academy, Atrium
900 Prince Crossing Road, West Chicago, IL 60185
Sunday, June 6, 2010, 3pm
College
Church, Sanctuary
332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187
Monday, May 24, 2010, 7pm
Christian Heritage Academy, Chapel
315 Waukegan Road, Northfield, IL 60093
Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 7pm
New Mexico School of Music
310 Washington Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
Sunday, May 16, 2010, 5pm
New Hope Community Church
1380 E Guadalupe Road, Gilbert AZ, 85234
Saturday, May 8, 2010, 8pm University of Southern California
United University Church,
817 W 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089
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I was born in Winfield, Illinois in
1984 and began playing the
guitar when I was 14. It was the combined influences of my
brother Steve and long-time buddies Tim Foster 'n Drew Fortson
that attracted
me to the guitar in the first place. I said "Hey Steve, will
you teach me how to play guitar after you get outta school?"
After struggling for quite some time to accurately form a C
chord, I was thoroughly inspired.
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It was my mom who encouraged me to start
learning how to read music. Half-a-my lessons were
divided between playing classic rock tunes and learning how to
read. My teacher
Russell Turek was classically trained and
studied with the classical guitarist Scott Johnston of whom I
would later become a student.
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My classical studies began in 2001 during my junior year of
high school at the
College
of DuPage with Scott Johnston. Mr. Johnston was a former
student of Christopher Parkening
and, during a a typical lesson not unlike any other, he said
"Have you thought about going to Pepperdine?" At the
time, I thought Pepperdine was in Connecticut and was
confused when I saw pictures of palm trees on their website. The following year I transferred to
Pepperdine University
and became a private student of
Christopher Parkening.
- The next three years were
absolutely amazing. What a blessing and privilege it was to
study under Mr. Parkening. A musical icon and devoted
Jesus follower, Mr. Parkening challenged me to pursue excellence
in both my musical and personal life.
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In 2005 and 2006 I had the opportunity to perform
as a soloist with the Pepperdine University Orchestra. And
when I became a Senior, Mr. Parkening asked me to perform
Elmer
Bernstein's guitar concerto with the
YMF for a
special tribute to the late film composer. Talk about
being nervous . . .
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My Pepperdine friend
Brandon Jones
helped me record a CD of original instrumental guitar
compositions and hymn arrangements entitled
Meditations
(2005). He was even so kind as to
put a couple of my pieces on his
own CD (Enlightenment, 2004).
And Meditations even spent some time on the shelves of
Hobby Lobby.
Thanks mom!
My parents, along with the rest-a-my family, have always
supported my music and things wouldn't have turned out the
way they did without their mone . . . uh, love and
encouragement!
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I
graduated from
Pepperdine University
with a BA in Classical Guitar Performance and just finished
the MM at the
University of Southern California
working with
Scott Tennant.
I am currently pursuing the DMA at SC and teaching
guitar at
Pepperdine.
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