John Kregor

Since turning his interest to jazz in 1995, John Kregor has received awards for outstanding musicianship from I.A.J.E. (International Association of Jazz Educators), the Western States Jazz Festival, and two from S.C.S.B.O.A. (Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association). He was also a featured soloist in the 1996 Southern California High School All-Star Jazz Band. John recently earned his bachelors degree in jazz composition with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin. He studied classical guitar with Adam Holzman, composition with Rick Lawn, Dr. Mark Schultz and Dan Welcher, and jazz guitar with Jeff Hellmer and Mitch Watkins. He was also given the opportunity to play with and write for Michael Brecker, and Peter Erskine and was awarded the Kent Kennan scholarship for his musical accomplishments.

In his hitherto brief tenure in the Chicago area, John has established a studio of over forty students, and has begun playing in and around town with the Mike Jeffers Trio, B-Dawg Quartet, Ted Hogarth Quartet, Big Joe's Jazz All Stars, Michelle Thomas, Denise LaGrassa and many other great musicians, including Chicago greats Johnny Frigo and Mark Colby.

Sam Macy

has been playing guitar since the age of thirteen, starting out playing rock, but quickly becoming a serious student of jazz-related music. He holds a B.A. in music, with a concentration in jazz, from the University of North Carolina, Asheville. He has studied with Tim Haden, the University of Tennessee’s Mark Boling, and the New York guitarist, Ben Sher.
 
Sam Graduated in 2001, and moved to Chicago in 2003 to perform, compose and teach. For the past three years, Sam has enjoyed working with some of the city’s finest musicians, and regularly performs in several Chicago clubs and venues. Some of his current musical projects include the Ed Breazeale Group, the Tomorrow Music Orchestra and the Sam Macy Duo and Trio. 

I personally regard the ability to teach well, as one of a musicians most important attributes. I’ve had the experience of studying with teachers who were extremely talented but lacked communication skills. I think teaching is all about relating to every student as an individual, getting a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of each student and building on those things. Some of the subjects I like to explore with students include sight-reading, learning the fingerboard and the foundations of harmonic progressions and chord shapes, and ear training. I enjoy teaching all types of music weather it be Blues, Rock, Jazz or classical.

- Sam Macy

Brian Riggs

Brian Riggs began his guitar studies with classical guitarist Norman Ruiz and has studied with some of the world's finest classical guitarists. He received his Bachelor of Music in guitar performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts of Roosevelt University in 2007, where his principal teacher was Paul Henry. Brian has performed in master classes with Roland Dyens, Nigel North, Denis Azabagic, Leo Brouwer, and Christopher Parkening. While a member of the Moody Men's Collegiate Choir, Brian performed as a guitar soloist in churches in many states as well as in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the summers of 2003 and 2005, Brian was a master class participant in the Cordoba Guitar Festival in Cordoba, Spain. Brian has been active as teacher in the Chicagoland area since 2004, teaching private lessons and group classes. In addition to teaching and playing in solo and chamber recitals, Brian has shared his enthusiasm for the guitar by giving performances and demonstrations of the classical guitar in Chicago Public Schools. While his studies have focused on the classical guitar, Brian enjoys playing a wide variety of musical styles.

"I enjoy sharing my passion for the guitar with others, and teaching is a wonderful opportunity for me to help others reach their musical goals. Whether I am teaching private lessons or a group class, it always a pleasure to help students learn to make music. While teaching classes in a group setting, it has been exciting to see students of a variety of ages and ability levels."

- Brian Riggs