String Project instructor, guitar
Jake Giles is a classical guitarist and aspiring teacher from St. Louis, Missouri. He completed Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the University of Louisville with Dr. Stephen Mattingly, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in guitar performance at The University of Texas at Austin with professor Adam Holzman. Jake has performed across the country as a member of the Chimera Quartet, and as a soloist. He has participated in festivals such as the Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina, Domaine Forget in Quebec, and multiple GFA (Guitar Foundation of America) festivals. Jake has three years of private teaching experience with students of all ages. He was also a teaching assistant at the University of Louisville where he taught beginning guitar courses, secondary lessons, and coached small ensembles. He believes that as a teacher his most important task is to help a student learn how to practice—a skill that can be applied to all facets of life. He encourages creativity and collaboration in lessons. In his free time, Jake enjoys reading, writing, and composing.