My Name is Ray, I am a classical/electric guitar player. I have been playing guitar for 11 years. I am currently a student at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music studying classical guitar under David Tanenbaum working towards a Bachelors of Music degree. I am available to perform solo classical guitar music at restaurants, cafes, galleries, weddings and other special events and provide private guitar lessons in all styles.
Contact: [email protected]
Ray's performances have taken him from the concert halls of San Francisco Conservatory of Music to the UC Davis Mondavi Center to the Crest Theater to Channel 10 Sacramento and Company to NPR's "Insight" and to the faculty concerts at National Guitar Workshop in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Connecticut. His concerts and performances have been well received by music professionals and audiences alike.
Ray's talents have earned him 1st place prizes in numerous instrumental competitions.
Including Folsom Live guitar competitions for 2 years in a row and "Reflections" in Musical Composition at the California State Level. Ray has also been selected as a finalist in the 2009 American String Teacher's Association instrumental competition.
My (partial) Resume and Reviews:
Finalist in American String Teachers Association solo competition California State Level.
Benefit concert "Jammies" at the Crest Theater and UC Davis Mondavi Center.
Summer Intern with the National Guitar Workshop, classroom teaching.
Master Classes and lessons with: Odair Assad, Lily Afshar, Paul Gilbert, Kenny Burrell, Mark Hanson, Charlie Hunter, Dave Martone and Martha Masters, Greg Howe, Jennifer Batten, Scott Henderson and Steve Stevens.
Recently, I was 1 of 5 national winners of the Steve Vai/Make a Noise Foundation full ride scholarship to attend the 2007 summer National Guitar Workshop.
2007 coach of the Skip's Music Stairway to Stardom Program.
1st place Guitar Center King of the Blues, store competition.
Featured on NPR's Insight with Jeffery Callison
I was the 1st place winner of the 2006 Folsom Live Great American Guitar Competition. On Sutter Street with Greg Rolie.
I was also the 2007 winner at the Folsom Live Great American Electric Guitar Competition.
2nd place at the acoustic version of the Folsom Live Great American Guitar Competition.
I received summer scholarships for 2 years to study at Berklee College of Music with world-renowned teachers such as Tim Miller, and shred master Joe Stump.
2nd place at 98 rock guitar competition.
Performed live on Channel 10 News (sac and co).
There is much more... please email me for full resume if you are interested in lessons or performances.
Featured articles from online.
" Above to my immediate right is a guest artist I brought for the final day, Ray Zhou, who dazzled them with a brilliant solo electric guitar performance over backing tracks after also playing a classical guitar solo selected for its expressiveness. After each tune we discussed the feelings they evoked, and it was clear the kids were getting more attuned to of the feeling side of music." - Mel Bay Guitar Sessions by Daniel Roest
"Classical guitarist Ray Zhou began his music studies at the age of 9, shortly after he moved to the United States from China. Last year, the versatile guitarist—his influences vary from Andrés Segovia and Al Di Meola to Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen—played in the Jammies Contemporary showcase, but this year, Ray will show off his classical skills. Ray is currently a music major at American River College and looking to transfer to a program at University of Southern California or the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He also teaches students at Roseville Guitar Works." - Sacramento News and Review
"For more than six years Ray has been a true six-string scholar, demonstrating his expertise in genres as diverse as classical, fusion, and rock. Besides participating in Skip's Music Stairway to Stardom, and Guitarmageddon, his talent has won him acclaim in a number of local and statewide competitions, along with a summer scholarship with the Berklee College of Music."
"For his thirteenth birthday, Ray was given an electric guitar, which marked the beginning of his love for rock. A mere four years later, his playing is reminiscent of virtuoso guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Whether he's performing his own compositions or "Flight of the Bumblebee" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, one thing is certain: This kid has mad skills." - Sacramento News and Review
