Guitar Position Studies

Eduardo Mata was an internationally known conductor. He conducted a wide repertoire and was particularly recognized for twentieth century music, particularly of Latin American composers. He began studying guitar when he was about eight years old. In 1953, he enrolled in the National Conservatory of Music, studying with Rodolfo Halffter and Jose Moncayo. From 1960 to 1963, he was in the composition workshop of Carlos Chavez and Julián Orbón. After winning a Koussevitzky Fellowship, he traveled to Tanglewood where he continued his studies in composition under Gunther Schuller and in conducting from Max Rudolf and Erich Leinsdorf.

Steve Masakowski has long been regarded as one of the top Jazz artists from New Orleans. Born and raised in New Orleans, Steve has played guitar with most of the city’s greatest musicians including Alvin “Red” Tyler, Ellis Marsalis, Earl Turbinton, and James Black. He has also performed with Grammy Award winning artists Bobby McFerrin, Nicholas Payton, and Dianne Reeves at major festivals around the world. As a recording artist, he has released numerous CD’s including two on the prestigious Blue Note Records label. He has been an active member of, and composer for the award winning New Orleans Jazz group Astral Project. He has twice been voted "Best Guitarist", and won "Best Contemporary Jazz Group" three times by Gambit and Offbeat magazines in their annual reader's polls.

A native of Sofia, Bulgaria, Velinova has lived and performed in major US and Canadian cities. During her years in New York City, Velinova explored the avant-garde jazz music scene and formed the group `Ensemble Gergana.' The eclectic band released a CD of entirely improvised music showcasing Velinova's poetry, unique improvisational vocal skills and adventurous artistry. Velinova holds a Master's Degree in Jazz & Contemporary-Classical Voice Performance from the Longy School of Music in Boston, undergraduate studies in Vocal Jazz from the Musician's Institute in Los Angeles and a diploma in classical guitar from the National Music School in Bulgaria. In addition to her solo career she is well known for her entrepreneur work as a concert producer, vocal coach and vocal workshops facilitator. From 2006- 2013 Velinova led the vocal wing of the Jazz Department at the Victoria Conservatory of Music in Canada in the position of Head-Vocal Jazz Instructor and Vocal Jazz Ensemble Conductor.