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Sonora Mentors

Learn from the musicians
behind the music you love.

Sonora's faculty are world-class musicians who've toured globally, played on Grammy-winning records, and worked with iconic artists. You'll learn directly from the musicians behind the music you love with daily 1-to-1 Mentorship.

Sonora Mentors
How Mentorship Works

Join the Sonora Core Program

Join a structured path with 100s of lessons and live weekly classes. Our platform is designed to accelerate your growth and give you proven tools to reach your goals faster.

Get Assigned a World-Class Mentor

Based on your goals and playing style, we match you with a professional mentor who has real-world touring and recording experience. They become your dedicated guide throughout the program.

Receive Daily 1-to-1 Mentorship

Ask questions anytime and get feedback when you need it. No more waiting for the next lesson, your mentor is available to guide your progress every step of the way.

Make Incredible Progress, at speed

Unlock new levels of playing in weeks, not years. With expert guidance, proven methods, and focused practice, you'll see results faster than you ever thought possible.

Our Mentors

Meet the Sonora Full-time mentors...

What sets Sonora apart is access. Our full-time mentors are touring artists, session players, and educators who bring real-world expertise to every lesson. Training you won't find anywhere else.

Arianna Powell

Arianna Powell

Touring and Session Guitarist (currently w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

Currently touring worldwide with Olivia Rodrigo. Has played with Halsey, Nick Jonas, Black Eyed Peas, and performed on SNL. Featured in Guitar Player magazine's "50 Sensational Female Guitarists."

Full-Time Mentor
Jamey Arent

Jamey Arent

Session/touring guitarist and educator

LA-based guitarist described by Guitar Player Magazine as "a stunning player straddling blues, jazz, and rock." Has performed with Frankie Valli, Smokey Robinson, and Nigel Hall.

Full-Time Mentor
Ross Martin

Ross Martin

Bluegrass & Acoustic Guitar

Genre-crossing guitarist blending bluegrass, jazz, country, and folk. Toured with Matt Flinner, Jacob Jolliff, Grant Gordy, and more. Acclaimed educator at workshops and music camps nationwide.

Full-Time Mentor
Brian Green

Brian Green

Session Guitarist, Songwriter, and Producer

LA-based session guitarist who has performed with John Legend, Michael Buble, and Andrew Bird. House guitarist for Dancing With the Stars. Emphasizes rhythm, form and harmony in his teaching.

Full-Time Mentor
Pritesh Walia

Pritesh Walia

Jazz guitarist, composer and educator

Virtuoso jazz guitarist from New Delhi with degrees from Musicians Institute, Berklee, and NEC. Nominated for "Best Jazz Artist of the Year" at the Boston Music Awards. Endorsed by Collings Guitars.

Full-Time Mentor
Robb Cappelletto

Robb Cappelletto

Composer, Clinician & Session Player

Toronto-based guitarist and York University faculty member. Mentor to Grammy-winning students including Billy Strings. Stresses learning music by ear and fretboard visualization.

Full-Time Mentor
Curt Henderson

Curt Henderson

Guitarist, Producer, and Educator

Nashville-based guitarist, producer, and educator. Curt has collaborated with Fender, D'Angelico, PRS Guitars, and Walrus Audio, and is deeply committed to helping guitarists reach their full potential.

Full-Time Mentor
Francois Chanvallon

Francois Chanvallon

Guitarist and Educator

Paris-born guitarist with degrees from Berklee and Manhattan School of Music. Has worked with Chris Cheek, Gary Burton, and Kurt Elling. Expertise spans jazz, rock, pop, metal, and funk.

Full-Time Mentor
Greg Fleischut

Greg Fleischut

Multi-instrumentalist rooted in Bluegrass, Americana, and Jazz

Versatile multi-instrumentalist specializing in bluegrass and jazz. Has performed at Red Rocks, Outside Lands, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. USC Thornton and CalArts graduate.

Full-Time Mentor
Trevor Giancola

Trevor Giancola

Instructor, Bandleader, Composer, Sideman

Named one of Canada's Best Jazz Musicians Under 35 by the CBC. Has shared the stage with Seamus Blake, John Abercrombie, and Donny McCaslin. Music Faculty at Humber College.

Full-Time Mentor
Zakk Jones

Zakk Jones

Improviser at Heart, Mentor by Calling

Ohio-based guitarist and Coordinator of Guitar Studies at Truman State University. 2024 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award recipient. Has performed with Maria Schneider and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra.

Full-Time Mentor
Matt Sickels

Matt Sickels

Composer / Arranger / Performer

Versatile guitarist with nearly 30 years of experience, bridging jazz, fusion, and pop. Featured at the International Musicians Summit alongside Tom Quayle, Mark Lettieri, and Isaiah Sharkey.

Full-Time Mentor
Michael Agranovich

Michael Agranovich

Guitarist and Educator

Guitarist with 25 years of experience spanning jazz, blues, folk, pop, and rock. His teaching blends real-world playing experience with a strong foundation in theory.

Full-Time Mentor
Michael Wynar

Michael Wynar

Guitarist and Educator

Prominent Bay Area musician who has toured with Grammy-winner Jody Watley and collaborated with George Clinton and Narada Michael Walden. Performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Full-Time Mentor
Carter Arrington

Carter Arrington

International Educator, Studio Musician, and Performer

Austin-based guitarist known for his work with Arthur Brown, Eric Johnson, and Alejandro Escovedo. DownBeat award-winner who has performed at Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals.

Full-Time Mentor
Joseph Piilonen

Joseph Piilonen

Touring Guitarist and Educator

Toronto-based session guitarist who has performed with Andy Kim, Tanika Charles, and Classic Albums Live. Prioritizes musical fundamentals and individualized learning paths.

Full-Time Mentor
Ronan Delisle

Ronan Delisle

Session Guitarist and Educator

LA-based guitarist, songwriter, and producer whose work blends jazz, songcraft, and experimental textures. Has studied with Julian Lage, George Garzone, and other renowned musicians.

Full-Time Mentor
Guest Lecturers

Real-world experience from the World's Leading Guitarists.

Sonora's guest mentors — from Grammy winners to world-touring artists — regularly lead live online classes and in-person events, offering students direct mentorship and insight into today's music industry.

Madison Cunningham

Madison Cunningham

Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist. Best Folk Album 2023 for Revealer. Has collaborated with Andrew Bird, Mumford & Sons, and Lucy Dacus.

Guest Lecturer
Josh Smith

Josh Smith

Guitarist and singer-songwriter

Blues guitar virtuoso and Joe Bonamassa's musical director and producer. Guitar World top 30 blues guitarists. Owner of Flat V Studios in LA.

Guest Lecturer
Becca Stevens

Becca Stevens

Grammy-Nominated Singer-Songwriter and Guitarist

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and guitarist blending jazz, chamber pop, indie rock, and folk. Has collaborated with David Crosby, Jacob Collier, and Snarky Puppy. Classical guitar training at NC School of the Arts.

Guest Lecturer
Greg Koch

Greg Koch

Guitarist and clinician

Milwaukee blues/rock guitarist and WAMI Hall of Famer. Fender's top 10 unsung guitarists. Clinician with tens of millions of video views. Guitar World top 15 guitar teacher.

Guest Lecturer
Jack Ruch

Jack Ruch

Jazz, Blues, and Soul Guitarist

Nashville-based jazz, blues, and soul guitarist known for his brilliant tone and soulful phrasing. Influences include B.B. King, Ray Charles, and Oscar Peterson. Admired by Kirk Fletcher and Guthrie Trapp.

Guest Lecturer
Guthrie Trapp

Guthrie Trapp

Nashville Session Guitarist and Educator

One of Nashville's preeminent session guitarists. Has performed with Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, and Jerry Douglas. Popular educator with 70K+ YouTube subscribers. TrueFire and ArtistWorks instructor.

Guest Lecturer
Adam Levy

Adam Levy

Session Guitarist and Educator

Session guitarist for Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, Vulfpeck, and Ani DiFranco. Played the iconic solo on "Give Me One Reason." Member of Norah Jones' Handsome Band on her Grammy-winning debut.

Guest Lecturer
Andy Wood

Andy Wood

Nashville Session Guitarist and Clinician

Award-winning Nashville session guitarist and clinician. Guitar Center Guitarmageddon national champion. Known for his genre-blurring style spanning rock, bluegrass, country, and jazz.

Guest Lecturer
Kirk Fletcher

Kirk Fletcher

Blues guitarist

Four-time Blues Music Award nominee. Former lead guitarist of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Key collaborator with Joe Bonamassa on Billboard No. 1 live albums.

Guest Lecturer
Tim Lerch

Tim Lerch

Jazz and Blues Guitarist, Emmy Award-Winning Composer

Emmy Award-winning composer and world-renowned jazz/blues guitarist. Member of Pearl Django. Has studied with Ted Greene, Joe Pass, and Lenny Breau. Author of three bestselling guitar books.

Guest Lecturer
Jamie Drake

Jamie Drake

Singer-Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist

LA-based folk/indie artist with 25M+ Spotify streams. Has collaborated with Moby, Jim James, Nickel Creek, and Wilco. Album featured on Wilco's "Favorite Albums of 2019" list.

Guest Lecturer
Rotem Sivan

Rotem Sivan

Jazz Guitarist and Composer

NYC-based jazz guitarist and composer from Jerusalem. Down Beat 4.5-star review. Performs regularly at Smalls, Birdland, and Blue Note. Has played with Peter Bernstein and Ari Hoenig.

Guest Lecturer
Cecil Alexander

Cecil Alexander

Jazz Guitarist, Composer, and Educator

Former Berklee faculty member. Winner of Lee Ritenour Six String Theory Competition. Signed to Kurt Rosenwinkel's Heartcore Records. Touring with Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah.

Guest Lecturer
Seth Rosenbloom

Seth Rosenbloom

Blues Guitarist and Singer

Blues guitarist hailed by The Boston Globe as "a searing blues-rock guitarist." Has sat in with Joe Bonamassa and Eric Johnson. Berklee scholarship recipient. ArtistWorks instructor.

Guest Lecturer
Noel Johnston

Noel Johnston

Jazz Guitarist and Educator

Jazz guitar faculty at University of North Texas. USC and UNT graduate. Has performed with Kenny Wheeler, Gary Willis, and Lucky Peterson. DownBeat award-winning educator.

Guest Lecturer
Drew Taubenfeld

Drew Taubenfeld

Musical Director and Multi-Instrumentalist

Musical director for Kacey Musgraves, Selena Gomez, Leon Bridges, and Lil Nas X. Berklee graduate. Multi-instrumentalist covering guitar, pedal steel, banjo, and dobro.

Guest Lecturer
Steve Cardenas

Steve Cardenas

Jazz Guitarist and Educator

NYC jazz guitarist since 1995. Member of Paul Motian Electric Bebop Band and Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra. The New School faculty. Co-author of The Thelonious Monk Fakebook.

Guest Lecturer
Rob Compa

Rob Compa

Progressive Jam and Fusion Guitarist

Berklee-trained guitarist known for his work with progressive jam band Dopapod. Has performed at Red Rocks, Bonnaroo, and Summer Camp. Blends rock shredding with jazz, gypsy, and country influences.

Guest Lecturer
Emil Werstler

Emil Werstler

Metal and Gypsy Jazz Guitarist

Nashville-based guitarist known for metal (Dååth, Chimaira) and gypsy jazz. Atlanta Institute of Music graduate. PRS Guitars artist. Billboard-charting albums with both bands.

Guest Lecturer
John Schroeder

John Schroeder

Session Guitarist and Producer

LA session guitarist and USC Thornton graduate. House band guitarist on Dancing with the Stars. Toured with Frankie Valli. Nephew of Russ Freeman (The Rippingtons).

Guest Lecturer
Marcel Camargo

Marcel Camargo

Guitarist, Composer, and Arranger

Brazilian guitarist who worked with Michael Bublé for 10+ years. Music director for Gretchen Parlato's Grammy-nominated album. UCLA ethnomusicology grad who studied with Kenny Burrell.

Guest Lecturer