All instructors have had background checks.
Hollis Hahn, Guitar Instructor
Owner
Hollis Hahn is the owner and operator of The Ultimate School of Guitar. Hollis was Lead Guitarist for signed National act Jezebel's Church. She also played Lead Guitar in bands PornLab, Eden, Fatal Beauty, and Heiress. Basically self taught, Hollis then studied with David Shankle of Manowar who currently holds 3 Gold Albums. Her main style is Heavy Rock, but she loves playing the Blues. You might catch her on stage at her favorite club Buddy Guy's, where she has performed with various artists including Buddy Guy and Shamekia Copeland. She instructs all styles, levels, and ages. Her young students not only learn to read music, but also learn to express themselves thru little riffs and fun songs. When students get to play songs they like, they learn much faster and enjoy practicing. Hollis has been instructing at The Ultimate School of Guitar for over 20 years.
Sacha Mullin
Vocal Instructor, Piano Instructor
Sacha Mullin holds a Bachelor's of Music in Contemporary Vocal Performance from McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He has studied privately with luminaries like jazz singer Judi Donaghy, rap artist Dessa Darling, and composer Janika Vandervelde.
Sacha is experienced in instructing voice and piano students as young as 5 years old and has creative ways to keep students engaged. Sacha is competent in preparing students for auditions, building confidence and teaching essential technique. He concentrates on making his voice students smart singers by improving breath support, increasing resonance and power, and using music theory, among other fundamentals.
As a vocal performer, his tone and sensitive phrasing won him much acclaim in the Minneapolis scene, where he could be seen singing both solo and backup at the Dakota and the Artist's Quarter. He has sung with Hannibal Lokumbe, Bobby McFerrin and Patty Peterson, and his voice has been heard on CBS, MTV and NHK. He is currently working on a solo project.
Sacha has been instructing at The Ultimate School of Guitar for over 9 years.
Recordings:
Munificent Hymnals (Doug Smith) 2011
Mountain Sessions (various) 2010
Daybreak (Naomi Mann) 2009
Swing On! (Live) (The Wolverines Big Band) 2009
Downbeat Jazz Quintet (various) 2009
Bright Branching (Cathy Crescendo) 2008
Poison Control (DJ Thomas Ricard) 2007
Grandfunk, inc. (various) 2005-09
Accolades:
• Outstanding Soloist Award Eau Claire Jazz Festival 2009-10
• Founders Scholarship McNally Smith 2009
• Best Composition in Song Icelandic Arts Board 2007
• Japanese Media Arts Travel Perpich Center 2007
• Best Group International Animation Expo 2004
- Kyle Gilbertson
Beginner Voice and Ukelele
Kyle Gilbertson has been studying, teaching, and performing on the guitar for over 30 years. He has studied with the classical guitar masters Nicholas Goluses, Stephen Aron, and the composer Dusan Bogdanovic. In 2001, he received his BA in Classical Guitar Performance from Oberlin College. In 2009, he received his K-12 teaching certificate from Northeastern Illinois University, with an endorsement in instrumental music. From 2009 - 2016, he taught general music and band at Phoenix Military Academy, a high school in Chicago. As a band director, Kyle taught his students to play all the woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The band played at football games, marched in parades, performed in concerts, and went to competitions. In 2015, the band took 2nd place in the city-wide JROTC Drum and Bugle Competition. In the general music classes, he taught guitar, keyboard, bass, drum set, and voice. For many years, Kyle performed regularly around the Chicago area with blues singer Darby Tillis. Passionate about music, he enjoys sharing that passion with his students. Kyle been teaching at The Ultimate School of Guitar for over 9 years.
Classical Guitarist Kyle Gilbertson also plays for Weddings and Special Events.
Contact Ultimate School https://www.ultimateschoolofguitar.com/contact-usbuy.html
"Ojos Brujos" from Dos Temas Populares Cubanos by Leo Brouwerhttps://www.facebook.com/KyleGilbertsonClassicalGuitar/videos/284348348954284/
"When Day is Done", alla Django Reinhardt
https://www.facebook.com/KyleGilbertsonClassicalGuitar/videos/346988746117928/
“Let Her Go” Passenger by
https://www.facebook.com/KyleGilbertsonClassicalGuitar/videos/2225180781049504/
Rag #2, by Allan Jaffe
https://www.facebook.com/KyleGilbertsonClassicalGuitar/videos/264589717590855/
Ben Pavlik
Guitar Instructor, Piano Instructor and
French Horn Instructor
Ben graduated from Northeastern Illinios in
Music Education.
Ben specialization was in playing guitar and french horn. Learning jazz from seasoned big band players and ear training from avant garde classical composers expanded my palate quite a bit. My students range in age, skill, and styles of music. They describe me as engaging and patient, able to break down complex concepts into digestible pieces. I pride myself in allowing those I teach to follow their own unique curiosities rather than fit them into my own beliefs. Ben has been teaching for over 6 years. He is also a gigging musician in his band Big Fans. Ben is the newest member to The Ultimate School of Guitar.
• Acapella https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGspOAt4dAI
• Ben Pavlik - Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ben-pavlik/1385292443
Colton Dillow, Guitar Instructor
Colton received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Columbia College, Chicago IL. His Majored in Contemporary Urban and Popular Music, Minor in Music Business and Marketing . Colton has the drive to use his skills and knowledge to teach students how to better utilize the guitar to perform the music that they wish to perform. His main goals would not only be to make his students better guitar players, but to deepen their desire of all things musical. Improving the quality life of myself and others is what drives me. Colton is the newest member to The Ultimate School of Guitar.
• The Untold, Chicago, IL - Guitarist October 2018 to
present
• Heathers 101 Musical, JJ Pearce Theatre,
Richardson TX — Performer August 2016 to June 2017
Daniel Jonak
Guitar Instructor, Piano Instructor
Daniel received his Bachelor Degree in Music from Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA. Originating in Chicago, Daniel started playing in 5th grade through the instruction of Berklee alumni Matt Berger. Daniel has played with names such as Frank Catalano, Xazz, Cardinal Karma, etc. At the Music Institute of Chicago he studied under Victor Garcia and then during his time at Berklee College of Music he studied under Jack Pezanelli. He also studied at JamLab University in Vienna, Austria. Daniel is a performing musician and a multi-instrumentalist composer and producer with a background in genre-fusion, gypsy jazz guitar, and heavy metal. Daniel’s teaching style combines solfège and ear training with reading techniques to help students gain meaningful connections from the songs they play, and encourages everyone to develop their own unique musical voice. He has been teaching for over 6 years and specializes in Jazz Guitar. He is our newest member of the Ultimate School of Guitar.
Savino Izzi, Guitar Instructor
Savino Izzi is a graduate of GIT from Musicians Institute, Hollywood. Savino has been playing for 20 years and has a healthy interest in funk, blues, jazz and rock music. Students learn the importance of timing. "Good time means having good feel which leads to great rhythm playing." Other areas of development include technique, sight reading and improvisation. Songs of the students choosing are also analyzed and learned together during lessons. Savino currently plays with the Chicago rock band Seratonin Telegram. He has been instructing for The Ultimate School of Guitar for over 14 years.
Guitar Column by Savino Izzi - Axeology - Spring 2018
https://medium.com/@savizzimusic/axeology-w-sav-izzi-3ad812204d0b
