Stephen Ellestad www.innervoicemusic.org

Overview Stephen Ellestad has been playing music for over 25 years, and teaching privately for more than ten. A multi-instrumentalist and self-described ‘theory geek,’ he has a passion for teaching, playing and performing traditional music.

Education Howard Community College, Columbia, MD – 1993-199 Music Theory and Guitar Performance University of Maryland, College Park, MD – 1995-1997 Music Theory and Composition Appalachian Bluegrass Academy, Catonsville, MD – 1994-1998 Bluegrass Guitar and Mandolin Madison Media Institute, Madison, WI – 2009-present Recording and Music Technology

Performance Experience Pinfold (electric bass) – Southern rock/jam band, Baltimore, MD – 1994-2001 Toured East Coast from upstate New York to Southern Florida & the Keys Barleycorn (acoustic flatpick guitar/) – Newgrass/americana group – 2002-2005 Toured throughout Midwest Opened for Trampled By Turtles, Cornmeal & The Spring Creek Bluegrass Band Solo (Guitar/Vocals & Piano/Vocals) – Singer/Songwriter - throughout Midwest & Colorado The Eugene Smiles Project (Vocals/Piano/Organ/Banjo/Mandolin/Ac Guitar) - Southern Rock/Alt-Country - 2005-2010 The Resonators (Ac & E Gtr/Banjo/Organ/Piano/Lead Vocals) - Roots Rock/Alt-Country - 2010-present Five Points Jazz Collective (String Bass/Piano/Bandleader) - Jazz - 2011-present

Teaching Experience Private Instructor: Bass & Guitar since 1996, Acoustic Gtr since 1999, Banjo, Mandolin & Piano since 2001.

Primary Focus: Traditional and hybrid styles of ac guitar, banjo and mandolin as well as jazz, blues, rock & country guitar, bass and piano.

Teaching Philosophy: Teaching style combines traditional repertoire and instrumental standards with ear training, theory and practical musicianship to develop the student’s ability to perform solo or in band and jam situations. He also explores the use of traditional instruments in non-traditional styles, such as rock, blues, and jazz. In addition to traditional roots music, Stephen also teaches music theory, songcraft and popular piano.

Mentors Bruce Casteel - (Peabody Conservatory) - Classical and Jazz Guitar Dr. Paul Scimonelli (Catholic University) - Electric, Fretless and Upright Bass Paul Wingo (US Army Jazz Band) Jazz Guitar Charles Roe (Appalachian Bluegrass) Bluegrass Guitar and Mandolin Jon Peik – "http://www.nobhillboys.com/"Nob Hill Boys (Banjo) Sims Delaney-Potthoff – "http://www.wail.com/"Harmonious Wail (Mandolin) Jim Erickson - Jazz Piano

Other Influences , Doc Watson & Norman Blake (Flatpick Guitar) Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Wes Montgomery (Jazz Guitar) James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, Donald 'Duck' Dunn, Charlie Haden (Bass) Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia , Warren Haynes, Chet Atkins, Danny Gatton, Albert Lee, Joe Maphis (Electric Gtr) , Ricky Skaggs, David Grisman (Mandolin) , Ralph Stanley, , , Bela Fleck (Banjo) Ray Charles, , Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, McCoy Tyner (Piano)

Awards With Pinfold: 1997 WHFS (Wash. DC) Merriweather Post Pavilion Battle of the Bands 1999 Lucky Strike National Battle of the Bands East Coast Regionals Winner

With The Eugene Smile Project 2011 Madison Area Music Awards nominee Best Country/Bluegrass Song “Tennessee Whiskey” - [as performer: piano, organ, acoustic guitar, mandolin]