Meet the
Teachers

Colin Campbell, Academic Tutoring/Guitar

BFA (York), B.Ed (York)

Colin Campbell is a multi instrumentalist and composer from Toronto. For over twenty years, he has played guitar and bass in Toronto and throughout Southern Ontario, with numerous artists in a diverse range of styles, including jazz, classical, funk, rock, bossa nova, samba, salsa, and soukous.

Colin is cofounder along with his wife, Guiomar, of Brazilian-style band, Parabolica and has also played with many musicians from Torontoʼs Brazilian community as well as visiting musicians from Brazil. He has also played with Rick Lazar and Samba Squad and can be heard playing guitar and cavaquinho (a Brazilian instrument related to the ukulele) on their self titled first CD.

Colin also recently performed a series of concerts and recorded with Toronto jazz musicians, Paul Neufeld, Barry Romberg, along with acclaimed New York jazz trombonist, Ray Anderson. He has performed in numerous ensembles large and small, with talented artists such as Bill McBirnie, Kevin Turcotte, Michael Occhipinti, Levon Ichkhanian, Amanda Martinez, Robert Michaels, and Mark Sepic and continues to freelance extensively in the Toronto area.

Josh Laing, Guitar

Honors B.F.A. Mus. (York), B.Ed (York - in Progress)

A veteran of the York University and Humber College Jazz programs Josh is a diverse and skilled player comfortable in Jazz, blues, pop/rock, reggae, electronic and experimental music. Having toured Canada and the U.S. with his electronic jazz fusion band, the Chameleon Project, and appeared in numerous recording sessions, Josh brings a wealth of real world experience to the table in the areas of technique, theory and composition.

With a highly developed ear and intricate knowledge of music history Josh imparts his students with a deep understanding of the music they are studying and the context from which it developed. Josh’s teaching methods are inclusive and flexible to accommodate students of all skill levels and learning styles.

Currently Josh is completing his bachelor of education at York University and continues to be active player and composer.

Musical influences: Grant Green, Grateful Dead, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Little Feat, Allman Brothers, Phish, Parliament, James Brown, Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, Wes Montgomery, Lou Donaldson, Donald Byrd, Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Jimmy Buffett, Isaac Hayes, Jeff Beck, Bill Evans, Eroll Garner, Marvin Gaye, Chic, Motown.

Favourite food: Shrimp Fajitas

Least favourite food: Any red meat

Favourite music: Jazz & Disco

Favourite song: Eyes of the World

Favourite movie: The Big Lebowski

Favouirite movie music: Soundtrack to Shaft

Favourite musical theatre/opera: Chicago

Best quote from your teacher: “Never play what you practice, play what you feel.”

Favourite quote: “What sounds good is good.” –Duke Ellington

Favourite book: “the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” –Tom Wolfe

Best thing about teaching at ABC: The professional environment

Juan-Carlos Luna, Guitar/Bass

M.Mus (UofT), ACP (UofT), B.Mus (Conservatorio de las Rosas)

Juan-Carlos started his musical studies in 1993 at CEDART (Center of Artistic Education). As he demonstrated great talent in Classical Guitar he was invited in 1995 to enter to Las Rosas Conservatory as a full time student with a full scholarship that he kept through out his whole career. During his undergraduate studies he was awarded with a scholarship given by TELMEX, a private telecommunications company, to students with high academic development. At this institution he studied guitar with Federico Bañuelos and with Victor Pellegrini until July 2002 when he finished his studies and was awarded with the highest degree in his graduation concert.

In 2002 he was the winner of the competition of the International Guitar Festival of Morelia; Virtuosismo Guitarrístico. In the next edition he was invited to participate as concert artist and has performed as soloist with the orchestra of the University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo in Morelia, and has given many concerts through out Mexico.

In 2006 he came to Canada to study Guitar with Jeffrey McFadden at the University of Toronto. He graduated from the Faculty of Music of the University of Toronto in the program Advanced Certificate in Performance in June 2007. In July of 2007 he was the winner of the silver medal in the Guitar Provincial Finals in London Ontario.

Juan-Carlos graduated from the Master degree program in Performance at the Faculty of Music of the University of Toronto in 2009.

Hobbies: Play video games, watch movies

Musical influences: My teachers; Victor Pellegrini, and Jeffrey McFadden

Favourite food: Chicken, Mexican food

Least favourite food: I just donʼt like Olives

Favourite music: Tomas Newman, Bach, Brahms, U2, etc...

Favourite song: En la Ciudad de la Furia by Soda Stereo

Favourite movie: What Dreams May Come, and Amores Perros

Favouirite movie music: The Illusionist; Phillip Glass

Favourite musical theatre/opera: Chicago

Best quote from your teacher: “Make yourself happy with music if you hope to make others even interested in listening”

Favourite book: Neverending Story

Best thing about teaching at ABC: The best thing is to develop a great friendship with my students!

Avi Shragge, Guitar/Bass

M.Mus (York), B.Mus (McGill), Mus.Dip (Humber)

Avi Shragge has been with ABC since 2008 teaching acoustic, electric, and bass guitar. He has achieved a M.Arts in Composition from York University, a B.Mus in Performance- Jazz Guitar from McGill University and a Diploma in Jazz Arranging/ Composition from Humber College. With performances in Toronto, Montreal and the United States as a solo and ensemble player, Avi has a wealth of experience, skill, professionalism and dedication to his craft. A diverse musician, Avi is well versed in the techniques and repertoire of many styles including jazz, traditional acoustic and pop/ rock, and has taught students of all levels and abilities these skills for over 10 years. His commitment to continuous learning, combined with diverse teaching experience makes him a valued member of the ABC Academy of Music faculty. In addition to teaching, Avi is working on scoring and composing original music for many different mediums as well as performing as a guitarist. He lives outside of Toronto with his wife and cat and far too many stringed instruments.

Hobbies: Commuting, (musical) Score reading

Musical influences: John Coltrane, Beethoven, Frank Zappa, Delta Blues

Favourite food: Bacon

Least favourite food: Candied Fruit (i.e. Fruitcake)

Favourite music: Beethovenʼs 6th and 7th Symphonies

Favourite song: A Day in the Life; The Beatles

Favourite movie: Citizen Kane, Old School

Favouirite movie music: Anything by Henry Mancini

Favourite musical theatre/opera: Chicago

Best quote from your teacher: “Relax...”

Favourite quote: “When the mode of the music changes, the walls of the city shake.” - Plato

Favourite book: Slaughterhouse Five

Best thing about teaching at ABC: Great Students, Great Staff!