About Me
Official Biography of Scott SzerykWorld-Class GuitaristVocalist • Lyricist • InstructorNothing quite captures an audience’s attention and stirs their emotions as a memorable guitar riff. And no guitarist captures the heart of an audience quite like world-class guitarist Scott Szeryk. There’s a good reason why the London, Ontario, Canada-based artist stands out amongst the pack. Sure, his music brings listeners to a different dimension, thanks to its powerful, perfected sound which takes an audience on an all-encompassing journey of emotions. But Scott Szeryk plays guitar with the same passion as he lives his life: every chord comes alive as if it were Szeryk’s very last. He holds nothing back. He’s a musician’s musician.Music – especially guitar playing – dominates Scott Szeryk’s life like a Jimi Hendrix guitar solo took over a stage. In fact, Szeryk counts Hendrix, as well as Frank Zappa, Nicolo Paganini, John Coltrane, Eric Clapton, Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani, Rush and Van Halen as major influences on his art. Playing guitar truly is an art form for Szeryk. One listen to his dynamic sound, ranging from classical to rock – but definitely dominated by metal rock – and you quickly realize this is a world-class sound rarely heard anywhere."My strength is versatility – from Country, to Blues, R&B, Rock, Metal, Classical, Jazz – and also stems from my experience as a music producer, engineer, studio session player, and even hired gun for live performances," says Szeryk, who already has played over 1,000 live shows!A graduate of the world-renown Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, California, Scott Szeryk has worked his entire life to perfect his sound. When Hendrix played, you knew who was playing without even opening your eyes. The same goes for Szeryk. A Scott Szeryk solo is a perfect combination of technical perfection with Szeryk’s own personal stamp stemming from his positive outlook on life. With tools like these in his arsenal, it’s no surprise that he is more than ready to deliver his music to a world-wide audience.Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Scott Szeryk first picked up a guitar and fell in love with the instrument at age 9. He hasn’t put down a guitar since. He was classically trained before he reached age 10, and began playing professionally at the tender age of 16. It was the eclectic Zappa who first inspired him to play guitar, and crowd-pleasing Van Halen who supplied much more of his inspiration, but from the very first time Szeryk grabbed his guitar, it grabbed his soul. It is music, then, that has a firm grip on this talented musician."Music speaks to my spirit," says Szeryk. "When I am performing live, I am making a connection with my soul. I share this with my audience, as I become one with my guitar."In reality, Szeryk didn’t have to create his own sound: it already rested deep within him. Incredibly, Szeryk practiced on his guitar for 15 hours each day. It’s an unparalleled work ethic which still dominates his daily routine, as he commonly plays guitar 10 to 12 hours per day. A naturally-gifted musician with an insatiable appetite for improving upon his God-given talents, a young Szeryk would quite often put aside his electric axe to focus on acoustic. So, it should come as no surprise that during his youth, he dominated competitions at the Kiwanis Festival, and received his Royal Conservatory of Music – Grade 8 Classical Guitar diploma at 16. The rest, as they say, is history.Szeryk had already formed his own band – Black Ice – at age 15, relying both on his already professional musicianship plus his natural leadership qualities as he began booking his band on the local bar circuit. Upon high school graduation, it was off to the G.I.T. in L.A., where he impressed all who listened to him, including fellow guitarists Scott Henderson and Craig Turner.Szeryk returned to his home in London, Ontario with a new appreciation for music. This is a testament to his never-ending desire to perfect his artistic skills. Priding himself in his diversity, Szeryk played with groups including London rock group, Junk Culture, in the early 1990s and later, Vox. He has performed as part of musicals, recently playing with a 25-piece orchestra for the production of Jesus Christ Superstar. He often learns as many as 40 songs over a two-day course – part of his "hired gun" role – and shares the stage with respected performers including Pop/Rock/Country artist, Shelly Rastin, who has collaborated with the legendary Randy Bachman."(Szeryk’s) demo leans towards progressive instrumental rock, with solos emphasizing legato phrases, arpeggios, quick runs, complex harmonized lines, moody whammy-bar work, and creative octave usage." – Mike Varney, Guitar Player Magazine"This hot guitarist has all the tricks – he possesses monstrous playing techniques coupled with speed and dynamics that will leave most axe shedders in disarray." – Gavin Brix, Scene MagazineScott Szeryk’s unbridled yet carefully-charted devotion to music sees him wear numerous hats. He is a much sought-after vocalist and lyricist, as well as guitarist, bass player and keyboard player – both on stage and in the studio. He writes all of his own music, and leads his current group, Szeryk, which includes Sam Sheppard on drums, and Duncan Stan-Bass on guitar. Their new CD, SZERYK, was released independently in March 2007. Tunes like the Szeryk-penned, Toxic Reality, are already winning fans with fantastic lyrics and earth-shattering music. SZERYK follows Scott’s 1992 instrumental demo release, Shades of Freedom. And in 1998, as part of the group, Gravity Pharm, Szeryk was part of their self-titled CD release."Somewhere out there someone is practicing, and when you meet that person in head-to-head competition they will win." It’s an inspirational quote Szeryk offers to his myriad of students at his well-respected, Pro Guitar Instruction. He founded the music school in 1990, and today counts close to 150 students each week. Quite simply, Pro Guitar Instruction has been southwestern Ontario’s leading guitar instructor for close to two decades. Classical, Country, Blues, Rock, Metal – Szeryk teaches it all with the same passion he relies on during studio sessions, live performances or just practicing alone for hours daily.What’s next for this über-talented artist? Watch for his newest CD release in early 2008. Until then, watch the whole world discover his cornucopia of talent – as an instrumentalist, a vocalist, an engineer and a well-respected teacher. "I take pride in my tremendous work ethic. I am constantly expanding as a guitar player/musician and as a person," says Szeryk, whose goals include touring around the globe, growing his band into a 10-piece orchestra, and further building his guitar school into a world-class institution.When your dreams and work ethic are as big as Scott Szeryk’s, nothing is impossible.
