GUITAR

CHAIR OF THE GUITAR DEPARTMENT

KEN BROWN, guitar and sitar faculty member, began studying classical guitar at the age of eleven and has studied in master classes and privately with many of the top classical guitarists of today. In addition to classical guitar, Ken has performed in a wide array of musical genres including both Jazz, and Rock, and in settings ranging from film scores, to musical theater. In 2009 Ken has appeared as a guest artist at Arizona Musikfest, and with Nascar’s Kyle Petty at the Reckless Kelley Celebrity Softball Jam, an event organized to help fund programs for exceptional children in Austin, TX. His compositions range in scope from classical to electronic, three of which were recently featured in a modern dance premier in New York City. Ken holds degrees in both music and psychology, and works in depth with students with autism, ADHD, Downs syndrome, and cerebral palsy. He is currently in the process of revising three guitar method books and interactive DVD’s, one of which is written specifically for exceptional children. In addition to guitar, Ken plays sitar, mandolin, pedal steel, and bass. He is an avid visual artist whose artwork was featured on the cover of Soundboard in the spring of 2009.

BRAD DICKERSON, guitar faculty, received his bachelors degree in classical guitar performance from Appalachian State University, cum laude, where he studied with Douglass James and Roger Cope. He has performed in master classes for artists such as Stephen Aaron and Elliot Frank. He has worked at the Music Academy of North Carolina since 2006 where he enjoys playing and teaching many styles such as classical, rock, blues, jazz, folk, bluegrass, and songwriting. His students have been recognized in statewide guitar competitions and have passed college auditions. In 2007 he received the Mary Elizabeth King Brown excellence in teaching award. As a performer he has appeared with the Greensboro Symphony, the Allamance Chorale, and his music has been featured on N.P.R. He performs regularly in the Piedmont area.

GREYSON LEYBOURNE graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2013 with a Bachelor of Music in Choral Education and a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition.

He is currently performing with various projects, including The Sweet Peas, The Hothouse Cucumbers, and Bekah and the Bekaroos. He also hosts a monthly traditional Irish music session at the Kernersville Brewing Company.

Greyson primarily plays fiddle, 5-string and tenor banjo, mandolin, guitar, and button accordion.

In addition to Irish, bluegrass, and old-time music, Greyson has a passion for choral music and serves as the choir director and accompanist at Bethel Presbyterian Church in McLeansville, NC.

MARK MAZZATENTA recently celebrated his 30th year of teaching at the University level. He is an active performer of many styles of guitar music from solo classical to jazz to electric fusion. After receiving his Master of Music degree from the Florida State University, he taught at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and at High Point University. He is also a composer who records as a soloist, with his twin brother (piano) in the Mazz Brothers Duo, and with his band Mazzjazz. In 2010 he won a Central Piedmont Regional Artists Hub Program grant. He is published in the American Music Teacher and his guitar arrangements are published by LudwigMasters. Find out more about Mark by visiting musicbymazz.com and Mark’s YouTube Channel!