Guitar, Musicianship
Group Lessons
Starting in the Fall of 2024, Brad Conroy will be the Guitar Department Chair at the Music Institute of Chicago.
Brad has served on the guitar faculty at MIC since 2011 and currently teaches at MIC’s Lake Forest and Winnetka campuses. Brad has also taught Guitar and Ukulele Summer Camps at MIC and a ukulele class representing MIC at a local elementary school.
Brad is a versatile guitarist, performer, and educator who specializes in the art and scholarship of the classical guitar. Brad performs from a diverse repertoire which begins at the Renaissance and goes through to the 21st century, often including his own compositions, improvisations, and new works which have been dedicated to him. Brad has given concerts across the United States and abroad, with appearances that include Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, the International Guitar Festival in Brno, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, Newport Beach, California, and Dublin, Ireland to name a few. His music has been heard on WFMT Chicago, and he has given concerts for the Chicago Historical Society, the Chicago Classical Guitar Society, the Czech Guitar Society, The Schweiker House, as well as a private concert for Caroline Kennedy and her entourage.
Brad finished his B.M. at Northeastern Illinois University (cum laude) with a degree in Classical Guitar Performance where he studied with 19th century scholar Dr. Brian Torosian and furthered his music studies with a M.M. in Classical Guitar Performance at The Chicago College of Performing Arts, the music conservatory at Roosevelt University where he studied with world renowned guitarists Denis Azabagic and Sergio Assad.
B.M. Northeastern Illinois University (Cum Laude)
M.M. Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
Brad’s teaching method is centered around classical guitar technique, but also stresses the importance of improvisation, jazz, modern music, and creativity. He works to help students develop a relaxed technique, disciplined approach, while also giving them the tools that they will need to grow on their own as both a musician and human being.
My interests outside of music are running, skateboarding and snowboarding, and being outdoors.
My favorite composers are Fernando Sor, Domenico Scarlatti, and Isaac Albeniz.
Why study music: It is the ultimate art that incorporates physical, aural, and visual aspects.