Guitar Studies at Eastman

Eastman’s guitar program is a highly sought-after program made up of 18 majors (BM, MM, DMA) who study with Prof. Nicholas Goluses. His students have won major awards and competitions throughout the world including Darwin (Australia), Allentown Concerto Competition, Guitar Foundation of America, D’Addario, MTNA, Appalachian, Taxco (Mexico), Rantucci, Rosario, Stotsenburg, Paracho (Mexico), Brock (Canada) World Competition, Philadelphia Guitar Society, Lone Star Competition, Louisville Competition, Memphis Competition, Harvard Foote Prize, Hamilton, Belgium, Boston, Fulbright, CAPES (Brazil) and two Grammy Awards. In addition, his students hold numerous professorships throughout the US, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, England, Taiwan, and Germany. Dr. Goluses is in great demand for master classes at leading institutions throughout the world and is a Fulbright Professor.

Courses for Performance majors include:

  • History and Literature of the Guitar
  • Guitar Pedagogy
  • Fretboard Harmony
  • Guitar Chamber Music
  • Seminar in Guitar Studies
  • Weekly studio class

Guest Masterclasses have been given by Manuel Barrueco, David Russell, Scott Tennent, William Kanengeiser, Ricardo Cobo, Raphaella Smits, Eliot Fisk, Paul Galbriath, Sharon Isbin, David Tanenbaum, David Starobin, Jeff McFadden, Sergio and Odair Assad, Rene Izquerdo, and others.

Numerous Graduate Assistantships are available.

Teaching Philosophy

Prof. Goluses writes: “I believe in the development of the whole artist.  This requires a customized approach to teaching for each guitarist.  As a result, each of my students are unique and have a personal approach to artistry and virtuosity, with a signature sound.  My students have won competitions and professorships throughout the world. They have gone on to careers as performing and recording artists, as well as university professors. Each one is an original. It’s been my honor to help them reach the highest levels of virtuosity, as well and the goals they have for their careers.”

Selected Guitar Graduates from Nicholas Goluses’s Eastman studio

Matthew Ardizzone,  Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Eastman

Trevor Babb, Guitar Professor, Poughkeepsie University

Aaron Brock, Winner Allendaele Concerto Competition

Matthew Cochran,  Guitar Professor, Interlochen

Josinaldo Costa Fili, Guitar Professor Melbourne Australia

Brad Deroche, Guitar Professor and Chair of Music, Saginaw State University

Evan Drummond,  Guitar Professor, Buffalo State University

Andrew Flory, Vice-president, American Lute Society

Jonathan Fitzgerald, Guitar Professor, Western Australia Academy of the Performing Arts

Dieter Hennings, Guitar Professor, University of Kentucky

Zoe Johnstone, Director, Peabody Pre-college division

Petar Kodas, Associate Dean, Eastman Community Music School

Jay Kacherski, Guitar Professor, Del Mar College

Kenneth Kam, Guitar Professor, SUNY Brockport

Django Klump, Guitar Professor, Nazareth University

Maya Loncar, Guitar Professor and Orchestra leader, Lauden County School District

Ken Luk, President Rochester Classical Guitar Society, Professor SUNY Geneseo, Theory Professor, Eastman

Anton Machleder, Guitar Professor, Houghton University

Stephen Mattingly, Guitar Professor, Florida State University

Ken Meyer, Guitar Professor, Syracuse University

Daniel Nistico, Founder, The Creative Classical Guitarist Online

Jonathan Paget, Professor and Director of Music, Edith Cowan University and Western Australia Academy of the Performing Arts

Townsend Plant, Academic Dean, Peabody Institute

Alberto Rodriguez Ortiz, Guitar Professor, San Juan Conservatory

Eladio Scharron, Guitar Professor, University of Central Florida

Sungmin Shin, Guitar Professor, SUNY Buffalo

Matthew Slotkin, Guitar Professor, Bloomfield University

Timothy Shannon, Chair of Guitar Studies, Hochstein School

DJ Sparr, GRAMMY award, Naxos

Steve Thachuk, Guitar Professor and Chair, California State University

David Veslocki, President, Frameworks productions

Thomas Viloteau, winner, Guitar Foundation of America, Segovia, Tarrega competitions

Austin Wahl, Winner, Appalachian, Lone Star, Great Lakes, Indiana, Southern, Hamilton, Schubert Club Competitions