Alejandro Urzagaste has been a part of the etc. staff for two years as a guitar instructor. Teaching the fundamentals of music including reading, rhythm and sound he likes to focus on the strengths along with the interests of a student. Alejandro studied at Northern Illinois University with Fareed Haque and Roosevelt University with John McClean.

He currently resides in Evanston and is on staff at North Shore Guitar Academy and the Ravinia Lawndale Family Music School. He has been a clinician and guest artist at Arts West/Fresco academy and has taught through the Thelonious Monk Institute, Gallery 37 and Ravinia Jazz Mentors. In 2015 he was featured with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra for their performance of the Charles Mingus classic “the Black Saint and the Sinner Lady,” alongside soloists Rodney Whitaker on bass and John Wojociechowski on alto saxophone. Alejandro performs regularly with his own group and with Shara Maxwell and Juli Wood. You can find him at the local venues or online at www.auguitar.com. Alejandro has a simple teaching philosophy that centers on learning being rewarding and music being social.

“I like the universal perception of music.”