ABOUT RICH SEVERSON
Originally from the L.A. area, Rich Severson has been playing professionally and teaching guitar for over thirty years. His education includes years of college and private instruction with a variety teachers including Mitch Holder, Ted Greene, Joe Pass, Charlie Shoemake to name a few. He feels education is a continuing process, there's always more to learn. Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Ted Greene and Larry Carleton have all influenced his playing.

Rich wrote three books for a major publisher Dale Zdenek/ Belwin Mills/Columbia providing him the opportunity to work with other great artist/authors like Tommy Tedesco, Joe Diario and Ted Greene. After teaching at GIT/Musicians Institute, in Hollywood, CA, for three years he developed and published his own home study guitar school type curriculum available on his website www.GuitarCollege.com which has helped over ten thousand students worldwide improve their playing.

Rich has won honorable mentions and awards in song writing competitions and served as president of the Ventura County Producers and Song Writers Guild. Touring for three years with "Dick Clarks Good Old Rock and Roll Show" he had the opportunity to perform with Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Little Anthony and many other great, old time rock and rollers.  When moving his family the Fresno area he taught guitar and directed the jazz band at Fresno Pacific University for two years.

Being a well-rounded player, Rich is comfortable playing a variety of styles including jazz (his favorite), blues, rock, fusion, country and solo fingerstyle. He performs at local venues in a number of different scenarios; as a solo guitarist, with his jazz trio or quartet or smooth jazz quintet and also with an eleven piece little big band

For over fifteen years Rich has been playing guitar in church, serving as the musical director and guitarist at Northside Christian Church in Fresno, CA since 2003. Rich is committed to raising the level of musicianship in the Christian church today so he travels throughout the U.S. and Canada instructing and playing at variety of Christian worship conferences, workshops and seminars. Rich is also endorsed by Hofner Guitars which takes him around the country to guitar shows, workshops and clinics. He also hosts an annual Guitar College Jazz Workshop in the Yosemite area.

Rich has taught at the following Worship Conferences during the years indicated:
International Worship Institute, 2000-7  
Christian Guitar and Bass Conferences, 2001-7
Christian Musician Summit, 2004-7
Break Forth, Canada, 2005-6
Inspiration Technologies, East and West 2005 
Unite in Worship, Canada 2006  
Purpose Driven, 2007
Worship Leader Magazine, 2007