Electric Guitar

Thomas Gunn

Guitar (electric and acoustic), bass and piano — piano beginner to intermediate
A graduate of the Berklee School of Music in Boston with a degree in film scoring, Thomas has been teaching music locally since 1997, at the same time performing in multiple bands spanning the east coast. Thomas is a highly accomplished fingerstyle guitarist and songwriter, with 20 years of experience in the recording, performing and producing of music. Recent projects include the release his debut solo album “Sleeping Giants”, an executive producer credit on Portuguese singer/songwriter Jose Maria’s newly released “Any Day Now”, and special guest opener for blues legend John Hammond during his last live concert in Charlottesville.

Humberto Oliveira Sales

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar

Humberto Oliveira Sales received a bachelor’s degree in classical guitar from the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil. He went on to teach music theory, technique and harmony for classical and popular guitar at that same university for 8 years before touring in Turkey and moving to the United States in 2004. He has been teaching and performing for 17 years and brings a plethora of experience and diversity in style. He currently resides in Charlottesville, Va where he leads a band called Beleza Brasil with his wife, Madeline Holly-Sales. He also teaches guitar and theory at Mary Baldwin College and Saint Anne’s Belfield. Berto works with all ages and skill levels and provides instruction for the following styles: rock, pop, fingerstyle, Brazilian, Latin, Flamenco, and Classical. For more information please visit www.belezabrasil.net.

Rick LaRue

Violin, guitar, bass, mandolin, viola, cello and piano

Rick LaRue is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Music with violin as his principal instrument. Over the years he has taught violin, guitar, bass, mandolin, viola, cello, and piano. He has performed with fiddle legend Vassar Clements, jazz great Ira Sullivan, former Dizzy Gillespie bassist Chris White, and Grammy award winning band The Mavericks. In addition to being a member of the Miami Symphony and Lynchburg Symphony he has recorded with the Florida International University Jazz Band and Celtic rock band The Volunteers. He has also directed orchestras and taught strings, jazz band, guitar, improvisation, fiddling, and music theory in Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York private and public schools. Rick currently performs with the Lynchburg Symphony, The Acme Swing Band www.swingco.net, The Toad Mamas contradance band www.toadmamas.com, The Bella/LaRue Jazz Project, guitarist Peter Richardson, and the The LaRue/Donahue Classical Duo. He teaches the following styles on all string instruments including guitar: classical, jazz, rock, blues, bluegrass, and Irish.

Max Katz

Flute, Beginning Guitar

Max Katz started playing classical flute at the age of six, and by high school was playing professionally and teaching. She started playing jazz while earning a bachelor’s degree in English at UVA, studying and performing with local Charlottesville players including Jeff Decker, John D’earth, Robert Jospe and Pete Spaar. After receiving a Master’s degree in Music from UVA, where she taught ear training and music theory, she started playing electric guitar and has toured nationally and in Europe playing guitar and keyboard in rock bands. She presently plays both classical and jazz flute professionally in the area. Max is happy to accommodate interest in a variety of flute-related areas including classical playing, jazz techniques, improvisation, theory and ear training.