Thom Alexander
Greg Allen
Dylan Bassett
Alonza Beardshear
Calvin Bennett
Bob Faris
Jessica Fortner
Matt Gertken
Diane Gillenwater
Mark Jamison
Tommy Johnson
Jim Krause

Allen Macfarlane
Eric Mardis
Kim Matchette
Paul Matthews
Jimmy Meade
Michael Paull
Charlie Rose
Leo Posche
John Thompson
Scott Tichenor
Bryon Wiley

Our founder, Thom Alexander, a lifelong touring musician has played guitar for nearly forty years and holds a Masters Degree in education. Thom has worked in the music and entertainment industry since 1974. He has worked and toured with members of The Beach Boys, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Joan Jett, The Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe and the Fish, John Lee Hooker, Blondie and The Police, as well as many others. His love of all styles of American music, and his commitment to passing on its history has led him down the path to creating this school. For the past nine years, Thom has taught guitar and bass in Lawrence.

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A Kansas City native, Greg Allen plays and teaches fiddle and guitar, and sings and writes music. His musical influences range from blues and jazz to country and folk. On fiddle, he knows the country, swing and jazz styles and is ingrained in the regional country/bluegrass scene. On guitar, Allen plays extensively, covering standards and debuting original music. A longtime fascination with blues and jazz once found Allen in Minneapolis and eventually New York City, playing gigs and honing his craft. It was during this time that he landed a job playing fiddle with the Dillards, of Andy Griffith fame, back at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

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Dylan Bassett is a composer, percussionist and teacher. He has been teaching for the past fifteen years and playing and composing for the past eighteen. He has written over fifty compositions for dance, theater, and multi-media, utilizing everything from ancient acoustic instruments to modern computer technology. Dylan has taught creative music making and percussion for Drury University, the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, home schooling groups and out of his home studio. He is currently performing with the West African percussion ensemble, Djembe Kaan and holds a BA in music for dance. Dylan believes that "Arts are an integral part of our society and by learning more about them we learn more about ourselves and the world around us." The Academy is proud to welcome Dylan to our family.

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Born in Oslo, Norway in the 1950's, the first music Alonzo Beardshear heard was classical played on the grand piano at his grandmother's house and the music of the marching bands of Norway. It was in Washington D.C. that Alonzo heard blues for the first time. Hooked on the soulful, sad sounds of Chicago and Mississippi blues, he sought out all the recordings he could and frequented the local clubs where the likes of Lowell George, Roy Buchanan and Danny Gatton were known to play. "These were just a few of the great players whom I had the pleasure of seeing (and stealing licks from)." While in Washington D.C., Bearshear built his skills with lessons from Sophocles Papas, Bill Harris and Rusty Young - each adding their own unique style of classical, jazz and blues/rock to his musical growth. Alonzo's musical experiences are nationwide. His influence on the Lawrence music scene over the last twenty years has been immense. His understanding of American folk instruments and his love for American roots music, as well as his vast experience as a guitar and bass teacher is a welcome addition to the Americana Music Academy.

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Calvin S. Bennett, a Kansas native, has traveled the world over and found himself playing music in places as varied as Holland, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Australia and Denmark. His styles are similarly wide-ranging from jazz to classical, rock and country. He has played with a myriad of local bands such as The HellCat Trio, Kirk Rundstrom Band, Satan's Jeweled Crown, Floyd the Barber, Creek Band Ghetto Boys, White Trash Express and Lou's Revenge. Calvin has also played with the KU Symphonic Orchestra as well as the Jazz Combo I and Big Band I. Currently living here in Lawrence and teaching string bass, we are proud to welcome Calvin to our AMA family.

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During the past few decades Bob has followed a career that has led him from regional bands to Las Vegas show groups, Branson Music Theaters, to appearances on TV's Hee Haw and WSM's Grand Ole Opry as Reba McEntire's fiddler. In 1991, Bob retired from an active music career to help his wife Michelle raise their four sons. Over the years, Bob's active involvement in the Northeast Kansas bluegrass scene as musician and teacher has encouraged his family's interest in their own musical development. In the last five years Bob, his wife Michelle and their sons have toured as the Faris Family Bluegrass Band. They have played every major Bluegrass festival in the country and have recently completed work on their first CD for Bell Buckle Records.

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Jessica Fortner, a lifelong resident of Lawrence, attended Kansas University and received a bachelor's degree in Music Therapy in 1999. During her years at KU, Mrs. Fortner did practicum work with adults with developmental and behavioral disabilities. Mrs. Fortner completed her music therapy internship with Fulton County Public Schools in Atlanta where she worked with children with special needs - Alzheimer's and dementia patients, children at the Kansas School for the Deaf and children with emotional trauma. Since completing her internship in 1999, Mrs. Fortner has worked as a board certified music therapist for the Lawrence Public School district, working primarily with children with autism.

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Born and raised in Hutchison, Kansas, Matt began playing the guitar at the ripe old age of ten. In high school his musical interests ranged from playing the bass in a jazz ensemble and pep band to forming a garage ska band. Soon his sights were set on the banjo, much to the chagrin of the music instructors who'd known him. He started his town's first "cow-donkey" band "as my foot got tapping and my grins got toothier." Matt was hooked. Despite his youth, Matt's been teaching guitar for a significant number of years while playing bluegrass, exploring Celtic music and majoring in English and American Studies at the University of Kansas.

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Diane Gillenwater's interest in music began as the child of piano playing parents who listened to all types of music around the house. Her first instrument of choice, at the age of 10, was the drums as she wanted to be just like Ringo Starr. But she was destined to play the violin and has played since grade school. She is also proficient in guitar, piano and viola. Diane joined the Topeka Youth Symphony in the 7th Grade and the Topeka Symphony in the 9th Grade. She has played for musicals and shows with the Topeka Civic Theater. She attended Washburn University on a Topeka Symphony Scholarship where she received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance in 1983. She took 2nd Place in the Kansas Fiddling & Picking Championships in 1995 and is the 2002 Kansas State Fiddle Champion. She has played with Mark O'Connor, the late John Hartford and her hero, Vassar Clements, as well as many others. She is the fiddle player for the bluegrass band, Pastense and has regularly played several local bluegrass festivals, as well as the American Music Festival in Silver Dollar City. She is very active with the Kansas Prairie Pickers Bluegrass Club and has taught several fiddle workshops.

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Born in New Jersey, Mark has spent his life surrounded by music. Whether it is opera, theater, classical or folk, Mark has enjoyed performance after performance. Having over a decade of operatic and classical training, Mark now spends his time in a Celtic folk band and teaching students to get the most out of their own, unique voice.

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Tommy Johnson grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, a city that influenced the development of big band, bebop and swing jazz music in the United States. At an early age, his parents recognized his love for music and encouraged him to select a musical instrument. He chose the trumpet. Tommy honed his remarkable skill throughout his school years, earning highest ratings in state competitions, holding the first chair in the city's All City Band and playing in local bands and high school and while attending the University of Kansas. Forming the Tommy Johnson "Experiment" in 1975 afforded him the opportunity to attract the attention of Paul Gray, who invited him to join a jazz and Dixie group, the Gaslight Gang, where Tommy toured and performed throughout the country for more than a decade. The Gaslight Gang also conducted jazz band and improvisation clinics for high school and college jazz enthusiasts and backed such musicians as Jay McShann, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, Cab Calloway and performed alongside Buddy Rich and Dizzy Gillespie. After completing a doctorate in music education at KU, Johnson became part of the Vista Orchestra, which performed in Kansas City until the 1980's. Tommy performs regularly with several groups in the area (the "Experiment" and the Free State Jazz Quartet to name a few), and "stays busy" working as a behavioral consultant to disabled adults, although he tells people that performing music in his real job.

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Jim Krause, which rhymes with drowsy, moved to Kansas to attend Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas in the fall of 1971. He earned his degree in voice in May 1975. His senior recital consisted of traditional folk songs and original songs. A multi-instrumentalist, Jim has played old-time banjo in such groups as the Euphoria Stringband and the 97th Regimental Stringband. He has been playing banjo for over twenty years, specializing in the clawhammer style taking Third place in the Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships in 1989 and 1991.

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For more than two decades, Allen Macfarlane has been playing the lap and hammered dulcimers, and has been teaching others to play and share in the joy of the music produced by these instruments ever since. Though largely self-taught, Allen continues to make others aware of the potential of the lap dulcimer by stressing music theory and its application in arranging music for the dulcimer. His teaching experience is vast and varied, having taught classes at community arts centers, community colleges, music festivals, dulcimer clubs and other venues throughout the Midwest. We at the Academy are delighted to have Allen Macfarlane in our family and proud to offer his classes to you.

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Eric Mardis is the banjo player for the speed-grass juggernaut known as Split Lip Rayfield. SLP has released three records with Chicago's Bloodshot Records and has toured the US extensively. In addition to banjo, he is an accomplished guitarist, covering everything from Swing to Twang to Shred - and all the colors in between. Eric is/was in many local bands including Floyd the Barber, The Hearers, Creek Band Ghetto Boys, Scroat Belly, and Contortion Horse. The long list of artists he ahs opened for includes such notables as the Del McCoury Band, Albert Lee, Hank Williams III, Reverend Horton Heat, Bad Livers, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Jesus Lizard, Tony Furtado, Leftover Salmon and BR549.

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Kim Matchette is a graduate of KU who has taught private piano lessons for many years. Specializing in the instruction of beginning to intermediate students, Ms. Matchette uses the combined methods of technique, theory, sight-reading, ear-training, improvisation and composition. As a private instructor, Ms. Matchette promotes the importance of teacher/student rapport in order to ensure each individual a positive and progressive learning experience. Ms. Matchette also emphasizes the significance of maintaining an environment where the student is given a "voice" and therefore, has a vested interest in his/her own musical growth and development.

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Paul Matthews is one of the finest seasoned professional drummers based out of the Midwest. He is also an accomplished multi-percussionist, singer and recording engineer. A Lawrence native, Paul received a musical scholarship and studied at the University of Kansas. He has been a fixture of the local music scene for over twenty years. Having very eclectic musical tastes has given Paul a wide variety of experiences. He has played in many different bands of various styles including rock, funk, blues, reggae, ska, calypso, rockabilly, zydeco, classical and country. Paul has been a member of many notable bands such as Caribe, Redhammer, Random Aztech, Baghdad Jones and Salty Iguana to name a few, and has had the privilege of opening for many great artists including the Neville Brothers, Little Feat, Rick Derringer, Camper Van Beethoven, Soul Asylum, the Dixie Dregs, Adrian Belew, Otis Day, BR549 - the list goes on and on. These days you can find Paul playing with Billy Eberling and the Late for Dinner Band, and now rounding out the fine roster of instructors here at eh Americana Music Academy.

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Jimmy Meade grew up in Chicago and the blues got him when he was a teen. The gift of a Little Walter record changed his life forever. Finding his way to the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Jimmy studied harmonica with Joe Filisko and eventually began sneaking into blues clubs, playing and listening to blues harmonicats like Little Mack Simmons and Sugar Blue. Eventually finding a new home in Lawrence, Jimmy was able to meet a myriad of students of folk and blues to play with and learn from, including Lawrence blues legend, Lee McBee. For the last four years Jimmy ahs moved between Chicago and Lawrence, holding his own with bluesmen such as Sugar Blue and John Primer in Chicago and John Paul Drum and Lee McBee in Kansas City. When he's not teaching harmonica here at the Academy, you can find Jimmy playing with The Two Dollar Shoe Revival Story and the Platt Valley Jug Stompers.

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Michael Paull was born and raised in Ft. Collins, Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. He moved to Lawrence in 1993 ("I thought I'd go see what the horizon looked like.") where he has lived ever since. In January of 2003 he became a staff teacher at the Americana Music Academy and keyboard player in a number of musical groups promoting awareness of the school's community outreach programs. He teaches all skill levels on piano, incorporating early jazz, classical (including Ives and Copeland), folk blues, country, rock n' roll and any creative mixture of these styles for composition and improvisation. Michael performs his own works frequently and coordinates other performers for benefits and various local music events.

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Charlie Rose has been a ubiquitous part of the Lawrence music scene for the last four years, living here as a student since transferring here from Webster University in St. Louis. At Webster, he spent his freshmen year as a jazz guitar performance major. After graduation from KU, Charlie will devote himself full time to music. Charlie plays a variety of musical instruments and styles focusing on the f=guitar, mandolin, banjo, and bass in the bluegrass, jazz and rock idioms. He has played mandolin for four years, guitar for twelve, bass and banjo for three. Charlie plays in Lawrence frequently with his bluegrass band, The Two Dollar Shoe Revival Story, and with various jazz groups on the weekends at Wa and the 8th Street Taproom.

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Leo Posche has been fixing broken (and not broken) things ever since he can remember, so it was only natural that when he started playing stringed instruments he also started tinkering with them. Leo built his first banjo in 1980 striving for a better sound than available off the shelf. The search for excellence in tone and playability has resulted in an enjoyable career repairing a variety of instruments for over twenty years. Leo works at home in his new repair shop just north of Lawrence where he is always ready for a new challenge.

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John Thompson has been playing the accordion for thirty-four years. He studied at the Marsh Accordion Studio from 1968 until 1978 when he came to the University of Kansas to study tuba with Scott Watson. His love for the accordion (and at the request of local accordion master Arch Jamison), soon found John and his wife Corrie establishing the Kaw Valley Accordion Club here in Lawrence. When not heading this dedicated club or teaching here at the Academy, you can find John playing with the Don Lipovac Accordion Orchestra in Kansas City as well as performing solo and with other enthusiasts in the Lawrence area. We at the AMA are proud to add John Thompson to our roster of incredible instructors.

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Scott Tichenor was already a seasoned guitarist in 1977 when he first picked up the mandolin. After that experience, he never put the mandolin down. A mainstay in the Lawrence and Kansas City acoustic music scene, Scott is co-author of Mel Bay's Deluxe Chord Encyclopedia and host of the internet's popular Mandolin Café. He was a founding member of Last Kansas Exit, winner of the 1985 National Bluegrass Band Contest and has toured extensively as a representative of the Kansas Arts Commission and Mid-America Arts Alliance. With 25 years of mandolin experience and a background in education, Scott looks forward to sharing his knowledge of the world's finest musical instrument (his opinion!) with the students of Americana Music Academy.

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Bryon Wiley has been part of the Lawrence music scene for the past 14 years. He plays guitar on American old time fiddle tunes but mostly plays Swedish traditional dance music on fiddle. He studied in Sweden at Malungs Folkhogskola and has attended workshops in the States. He also dabbles around on other instruments such as the Norwegian langeleik and Hardanger fiddle. Bryon is a national and international resource for Norwegian and Swedish music and dance. He served as president of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America for five years and continues to be active in the organization.

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