Grammy Award-Winning Guitarist Teaches Master Classes at SA

Students in Saint Andrew’s guitar program had a rare opportunity to receive instruction from Grammy Award-winning artist Jason Vieaux in the Dr. Albert Cohen Family Center for Entrepreneurial Studies auditorium in early December. 

Each student played their songs for Vieaux, who listened and took notes on tone, style, and sound. The students had several opportunities to interact with Vieaux, ask questions, and apply their newfound knowledge from the lesson to a final solo performance. At times, Vieaux also played with each student, in order to model changes to add polish to the students’ musical selections. 

Performing arts instructor Louis Martinez said he and his students are thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from Vieaux. 

“It is a special thing to have Jason Vieaux, a professional musician and teacher, and Grammy Award winner to work with the students in a master class setting,” said Martinez. “He helped the students develop concepts, techniques, and approaches on how to prepare music for performance. To have this kind of access to such a high-level musician is stunning and unforgettable.”

Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux, “among the elite of today's classical guitarists” (Gramophone), is described by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.” He recently made his debuts for Domaine-Forget Festival, Carmel Bach Festival, Wolf Trap, and made returns to San Francisco Performances, Caramoor, Ravinia, and Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.