Shannoon Ciaravella

Violin

Shannon has been studying and performing music for 28 years. She began studying when she was 5 and graduated with her bachelors of Music Performance from Cleveland State University in 1999. Upon returning to Atlanta, she immediately began teaching classical violin studies out of her home as well as at schools such as The Galloway School, The Lovett School, Sandy Springs Music, and now in Decatur with Decatur Guitar. Though she believes classical studies is a necessary basis for the mastering of the instrument, she has a profound passion for weaving the voice of the violin into other genres. Shannon founded and fronted her own Atlanta based rock band, Dynagroove. In addition to her teaching duties she currently performs with local rock bands, classical quartets, and as a soloist around Atlanta.

"I believe music is a vessel for self confidence, exploration, and communication. I have an insurmountable passion to introduce music to students that may not have anyone else in their lives to encourage them to explore the unknown, the less traveled. To encourage them to embrace their idealistic dreams and passions, that in fact, it is a gift."

Jeff Gardner

Acoustic, Electric Guitar and Mandolin: rock, country, songwriting, blues

Jeff has played guitar for over 21 years and has been a working musician in and around the Atlanta area since the mid 1990's. He's toured the country as a singer songwriter and lead guitarist for many well respected bands such as SunDown, South 70, Union Drag and has published music that can be regularly heard on popular cable TV shows. His career has led him to record in many well respected recording studios including some in Atlanta, Seattle and Nashville. Jeff's well balance musicianship allows him to play in a variety of styles including rock, country, folk and blues and is well versed on keyboards and mandolin as well. Originally from North Carolina, Jeff and his wife Tessa now reside in Atlanta where he fronts a popular Atlanta band, the Deadfields.

Derek McCoy

Electric & Acoustic Guitar: Jazz, Fusion, Rock, Blues

Derek McCoy has been playing guitar for 20 years, after falling in love with the instrument at the age of 11. He moved to Atlanta from North Carolina in 1999 to study at the Atlanta Institute of Music. Since graduating he has become an accomplished jazz guitarist and shared the stage with some of the best musicians Atlanta has to offer along with leading his own jazz trio. Although Derek specializes in jazz guitar, he studies and teaches rock, blues, funk and R&B among other styles.

Marc Miller

Electric & Acoustic Bass: Jazz, Classical, Flamenco, Rock

An Atlanta native, Marc Miller has always been surrounded by music. Marc grew up in a musical home, and recieved his Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media from Florida State University and his MM Double Bass Performance/Jazz emphasis from The University of Texas at Austin . Though his studies focused on jazz and classical playing, he also plays a variety of other styles including rock, salsa, tango, and flamenco. He has performed with Lizz Wright, Bob Reynolds, Jason Marsalis, and performs and records with many local jazz, world, and classical ensembles.

Eddie Minjarez

Acoustic and Electric Guitar:  Classical, Rock, Flamenco & Songwriting

Eddie is a guitarist whose dedication to his art has earned him a spot as a highly sought after classical guitarists in Atlanta. He holds a BM in classical guitar performance from Kennesaw State University where he studied with Mary Akerman and a continued his studies with Adam Holzman at The University of Texas at Austin earning a MM in classical guitar performance.

Eddie has taught guitar at Reinhardt College, Georgia Perimeter College, Maple Street Guitars as well as Emory University where his guitar courses for the extended learning center were in high demand.

In addition, he has performed in master classes with many of the guitar world’s finest musicians, including Roland Dyens, David Russell, Douglas Neidt, Ricardo Iznaola, Ricardo Cobo, Nigel North, Micheal Troster among others. Although Eddie’s primary interests are in classical guitar and songwriting,  he also plays and instructs rock, flamenco and blues guitar.