Creed Maggiora fondly recalls the pivotal moment when his father, Skip, asked him to play drums for the inaugural performance of the Stairway to Stardom program in 1981. This annual event...
Doug Hake was one of countless kids whose life was forever changed after watching the Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964. From that moment, Doug knew he wanted to pl...
Dom Di Sisto made a humorous observation years after opening his music store, Holden Hills Music, near Adelaide, Australia: most of his instructors were the same bandmates he had rocked o...
Cary Nasatir grew up in Chicago, surrounded by rhythm and the beat of his father’s drums, often visiting the iconic Frank’s Drum Shop. It was inevitable that young Cary would develop a lo...
Dorothy Morrison loves sharing her musical journey, one deeply rooted in faith and family. Raised in Oakland, California, her father, a pastor, and her mother, a missionary, nurtured Doro...
Jeff Peterson was born on the Island of Maui. He grew up on a ranch on the slopes of the Haleakala volcano where he was introduced to the rich heritage of Hawaiian music and guitar by his...
George Kahumoku Jr. lives on Maui with his wife Nancy, maintaining their 3-acre farm, growing fruit and vegetables, dry-land taro (for his famous home-made poi) and tending goats, chicken...
Bill Smith’s journey into recording engineering began at 16 when his home tapes sparked a relentless curiosity for the craft. After cutting his teeth at various New York studios, a key op...
Ellis Sorkin’s early exposure to music came through his family’s connection to Herb Alpert, but his own curiosity and drive launched his career. At 14, watching a recording session fueled...
Steve Genewick's journey into sound engineering was sparked by his childhood fascination with music and a desire to be part of the band without being on stage. His path led him to Cheroke...
Tommy Vicari’s career is a testament to the power of collaboration and passion for music. Prince's label, Warner Brothers, entrusted Tommy with producing the 17 year old's debut album, a ...
Allison Hargis was teaching middle school in the Poway Unified District when a student’s mother approached Allison about an opening for a band director in nearby Carlsbad. Allison learned...
Rocky Smolin was surrounded by music as a kid and gravitated toward the guitar during the Folk boom of the 1960s. As his career in software development grew, music was set aside for a whi...
Lloyd Gonzalez may not have picked up an instrument as a child, but his love for music, especially the soulful sound of the saxophone, has been with him for as long as he can remember. Dr...
Sharon Muyco’s mother purchased a piano for her when she was a child, and she played for many years. With an interest in singing, Sharon studied voice at the American Conservatory in Chic...
Friedbert Wissmann pursued studies in information technology at the Technical University of Dresden and composition at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden earning dipl...
Janet Rose’s musical journey has been as varied as it is compelling. She first explored the violin as a young child, but the saxophone quickly caught her heart in school, inspiring her to...
Harry Peacock’s stepfather was a professional jazz musician in San Diego who encouraged Harry and his brother to learn an instrument. For two years his stepfather became Harry’s first mus...
Colleen Foster grew up in a musical family with her father often playing the organ and piano. She played throughout school in the bands on clarinet and flute. She put playing music aside ...
Endre Granat prolonged the legacy of his former teacher and friend by writing The Heifetz Scale Book. The method book, published by Lauren Keiser, put down what Maestro Jascha Heifetz nev...
Scott Ray passion for music was sparked at an early age, when his mother gifted him his first guitar. When his father took him to buy a Gibson electric guitar and amp from David Platt Mus...
Aria Boyd grew up immersed in a world of music, with her mother and aunties all playing instruments that filled her life with melody. Inspired by their talent, Aria picked up the flute in...
Bryan Dempsen started played piano and guitar as a kid and trumpet in college. His career developed after school and he played less and less over the years until the pandemic gave him the...
Ron Baker has been playing the trombone since the 4th grade. He became an educator and put the instrument down for a few years but in retirement realized he missed playing. Ron is a proud...
Susan Burke started on the clarinet in the 5th grade and in her 20s she was given a bonus at her work so she made a purchase she always dreamed of, she bought a flute. She gravitated towa...
Emiko Araki is a passionate musician and a proud member of the New Horizons Band at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. Originally from Japan, Emiko’s early love for mu...
Carol Bonomo played piano as a child but stopped playing once she left home. However, she was interested in playing in a group setting in her retirement, enough to start cello instruction...
Kelsea Robson faced a devastating car accident temporarily putting her college education and career aspirations on hold, but her determination and passion for music never wavered. Kelsea ...
