MMMA: Guitar Faculty

Andrew Bayardi | Guitar

Andrew is an experienced and versatile guitar instructor who is well versed in various music genres. Born and raised in West Virginia, Andrew grew up listening to Country and Rock n' Roll music. As he was developing his love and skills for the guitar at a young age, he also studied classical and jazz music along the way. After earning his Bachelor of Music Degree in Guitar Performance from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, he has been an active educator and performer in the recent years. He is currently the lead guitarist in an indie rock band, "The Honors", that appears in festivals and venues throughout the Northeast. It is his belief that the main goal for learning an instrument ... + Moreis to have fun and to explore one's own path to making music. With his upbeat personality and positive attitude, Andrew always how to make learning and music fun for his students.

Brandon Kelley | Guitar

Originally from Bucksport, ME, with the inspiration from his father, Brandon began playing the guitar at the young age of 7. After his early years of exploration, Brandon’s musical talents and hard work landed him at the University of Maine at Augusta where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in music majoring in Contemporary and Popular music. Over the years, Brandon has studied with some of the most in-demand teachers in the New England area. As a versatile performer, Brandon has been active in various groups playing a wide range of music styles spanning from Jazz, Blues to Rock and Pop throughout New England. Through his teaching, Brandon prioritizes helping each of his students achieve their ... + Moreown goals and aims to foster a deeper love and understanding of music.

Wesley Kolenda | Guitar

Wesley Kolenda is a Guitarist, Vocalist, Songwriter and a Music Producer from Stow, Massachusetts. At a young age, Wesley was first introduced to music from listening to recordings by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen and Fleetwood Mac. Wesley immediately fell in love with Rock music and picked up the Guitar soon after. Eventually, his talents and aspiration led him to the prestigious Berklee College of Music where he earned his Bachelor Degree of Music majoring in Independent Recording and Production. As a multi-talented musician, Wesley has performed at the Providence Bruins Stadium and released several solo projects such as the album titled “Stow” in recent years. As a teacher, ... + Morewhile valuing patience and encouragements, Wesley aims to discover and foster students’ love and passion for music and to provide them a solid foundation and skills so that they can enjoy music for the rest of their lives.

Chris Poon | Guitar Program Director

Christopher Poon is an experienced teacher who has taught private students and was a faculty member of the Institute of Vocational Education in Hong Kong, where he was a lecturer for the music technology program. Chris graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor Degree in Music, double-majoring in Guitar Performance and Contemporary Writing & Production. Jazz Guitar has been his main focus in the recent years, but he enjoys playing other styles of music on the guitar as well, such as Pop, Rock, Latin, and Folk. Chris has developed his own curriculum-based, goals-driven and progressive guitar course utilizing renowned teaching materials from the Berklee College of Music and Musician ... + MoreInstitute that covers both guitar playing and music theory.

Evie Segal | Guitar

Evie Segal is a talented composer and guitarist hailing from New Milford, Connecticut. Her musical journey began with a deep appreciation for Rock and Jazz, which inspired her to pursue a career in music. Evie graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition, where she also led a jazz fusion band that performs and records actively locally. As a teacher, Evie’s teaching philosophy centers on gentleness and patience while recognizing the unique needs and passions of each student. She strives to nurture their love for music by helping them grow both technically and creatively.

Christopher Sweeney | Guitar

Chris Sweeney grew up in Morris, Illinois and started playing guitar and saxophone at the age of 10. He continued throughout high school playing in concert, jazz and rock groups as well as teaching lessons at Brandalino's School of Music in Morris, IL. Intending on pursuing a career in music, Chris accepted a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. Chris currently teaches elementary general music in Middleboro Public Schools at the Memorial Early Childhood Center. He continues to perform in various genres including jazz, rock, musical theatre as well as solo classical repertoire. Chris encourages all students ... + Moreto reach their full potential. He meets students at their level and uses familiar materials and techniques to help his students' progression.

Andrew Xu | Guitar

Originally from Shanghai, China, Andrew Xu is a gifted and versatile guitarist, composer, and educator. He graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Degree in Music, majoring in Jazz Composition and Music Production. Influenced by the greats such as Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Wes Montgomery, Andrew started playing guitar at the young age of 12 and has since performed/recorded in all different styles of music including Blues, Rock and Jazz to name a few. Besides performing, Andrew has also kept himself busy writing music for various bands and groups. As a teacher, Andrew focuses on building strong fundamentals while encouraging creativity, tailoring lessons ... + Moreto each student’s interests. Through his lessons, he aims to foster confidence, musical individuality and a lifelong love for the guitar and music.