Peter Mongaya
Guitar
Peter is one of Tampa Bay’s most in demand teachers and guitarists. A native of Denmark, he studied music at the Sankt Annae School and the Jazz Akademiet in Copenhagen. A graduate of The Players School 80 Week Music Program, Peter has also studied with Joe Pass, Mike Stern, Charlie Banacos and Fareed Haque.
Joe Porter
Bass
Joe Porter received his bachelor’s degree in Jazz performance and double bass from the University of South Florida. Joe toured with Maynard Ferguson’s band until he returned to Tampa in 2003. Joe is one of the area’s busiest bass players and brings academics and musical experience to his students.
Rob Silverman
Drums
Rob Silverman is the president of Autumn Hill Records, the worldwide leader in instrumental music. He is a drummer, recording artist, author and clinician. He wrote the best selling book “Music Marketing in the New Music Economy” as well as five drum instructional books for Mel Bay Publishing.Rob has sold eight mIllion songs and has over two billion streams to his credit. He has recorded music that has appeared in HBO’s “The Leftovers,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and many other TV and film productions. He is the drummer for Bach to the Future and the Eric Marienthal Band, and has recorded with Jeff Lorber, Randy Brecker, Steve Smith (Journey), Dweezil Zappa, John Patitucci, Jimmy Haslip, Jay Oliver, Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson), Dave Weckl and many others. Rob’s seminar focuses on taking advantage of all of the career opportunities that music has to offer such as teaching, performing, recording and selling your music in the digital age. Rob has a Bachelor’s Degree in music and communication from The University of Missouri St. Louis.
Mick Donner
Luthier
Mick has been building stringed instruments for 35 years, having worked for Washburn, Gibson, Peavey, Parker, and Dean guitars. Association with these companies has afforded him the opportunity to befriend and build instruments for some of the greatest players in the world. He is currently working as an Asian Trade Consultant for the Music Industry as well as maintaining a private repair business.
Elias Tona
Bass
Elias is one of Tampa Bay’s most in-demand teachers and bassist. A native of Venezuela, he studied music at the School of Jazz of Caracas. He is currently with Al DiMeola and has also played with Oskar Cartaya, Willie Colon, Jose Luis Rodriguez “El Puma”, Franco de Vita, Juanes and more.
Gumbi Ortiz
Latin Percussion
One of the most exciting Latin percussionists playing today!. Gumbi has been a member of guitarist’s Al DiMeola band for over 25 years. Gumbi’s classes combine stellar musical performance with street-wise playing and learning philosophy. His classes demonstrate rhythmic exercises that he uses and showcases thoughout his professional playing. Gumbi showcases through example.
Phil Magallanes
Guitar
Phil went on to tour and record with Arturo Sandoval, Blood, Sweat & Tears and Engelbert Humperdinck. Phil also composed for Spyro Gyra (“Planet J” on their album “In Modern Times”) and worked with with Debbie Gibson, Joel Rosenblatt, Rick Braun, Funk Filharmonik, Jeff Andrews, Guru, Lucky Peterson, Mario Cruz, Eric Alexander, Harvie Swartz, Dave Mann, Ernest Ranglin, Bruce Arnold, Teddy Kumpel, Butch Thomas, Richie Castellano, Gumbi Ortiz, Tony Janflone Jr, Paula Atherton, Gil Parris, Bobby Rondinelli, Terry Silverlight, Ed Calle, Mary Wilson and Lew Soloff, among many others.
Austin Vickrey
Horns
Austin is a saxophonist and music educator in the Tampa Bay Area. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Utah and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. He has performed and recorded with: the Nelson Riddle and Cab Calloway orchestras, Al Martino, Kenny Garrett, Conrad Herwig, Curtis Fuller, Joshua Redman, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Lou Rawls, The O’Jays, and Bootsy Collins. Austin performs throughout Florida and is one of the most in-demand saxophonists in the area.”