Guitar
Education
Gary holds a B.F.A. in Jazz & Contemplative Studies and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan and completed his M.M. in Music Education from The University of Michigan.
Performance and Teaching Experience
Gary performs regularly in all contemporary guitar styles, from jazz to bluegrass, blues, rock, and all points in between. Gary has performed at many major regional venues including Blues Alley, The Atlas, Bohemian Caverns, The Birchmere, Carter Barron Amphitheater, The 9:30 Club, The Rock n Roll Hotel, and The Black Cat. He can often be heard performing at Levine as part of the Levine Presents concert series and accompanying performances by Levine Music Theater.
In addition to working at Levine, Gary is the Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher at the Charles E Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD. Past positions include teaching at The Siena School, the Sheridan School, and The Capital Hill Arts Workshop. From 2009-2010 Gary was an Artist in Bloom Resident Fellow at BloomBars, a community arts space located in Columbia Heights, DC.
Gary maintains memberships with the Jazz Education Network (JEN) and the International Society for Improvising Musicians (ISIM).
At Levine
Gary joined the Levine faculty in the fall of 2008 and currently teaches The Maryland Jazz Band and Jazz Theory Online.
From 2013-2020 Gary was Jazz Program Chair at Levine, during which time he oversaw a dramatic expansion in Jazz classes and ensembles, founded Levine’s annual JazzFest, developed the curriculum for Jazz Theory Online, and presented numerous concerts and masterclasses with both faculty and guest artists.
From 2009-2020 Gary also served as Assistant to the Chair of the Guitar Department at Levine and took a key role in managing Guitar Dept events and developing curriculum for contemporary guitarists.
“My favorite aspect of being on faculty at Levine is getting to be part of a musical community full of diverse, inspiring and accomplished colleagues and students. My favorite parts of every year are the juries, recitals, jam sessions, and performances that bring us all together to celebrate learning and making music.”
Teaching Philosophy and Approach
“My core values as an educator are inclusion, excellence, and community. My goal with all my students is to instill a lifelong love of music and help them develop the skills to achieve their musical goals through a clear, rigorous, and fun learning process. Whatever their background or interests, I strive to give every student a strong foundation in technique, theory, and musicianship that will serve them throughout their musical life.”