Guitar Faculty

Daniel Cullen - Guitar
Daniel Cullen received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Delaware, where he minored in classical guitar studies.  Daniel also studied jazz and rock at the Berklee College of Music. He specializes in rock, jazz, funk, and classical.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Daniel has been living and performing in the Philadelphia area for more than 12 years. He has taught guitar privately and at other Philadelphia-area schools.  Daniel has been in numerous bands throughout the years, and his most recent band, the Hokkaido Concern, released three albums and toured the country extensively. His current project is called Chiaki. 

Ben Geise - Guitar, Electric Bass

Nate Finan - Guitar

Nate is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, with a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Composition.

Equally adept on piano and guitar, Nate was a finalist in the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Competition in 2003.  Nate is versed in multiple musical styles including jazz, blues, pop, and rock.   Nate performs in rock, jazz and soul groups throughout the east coast.  He has also composed music featured in TV commercials and films.
 

Stu Gollin - Guitar
Stu is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston with a diploma in Film Scoring and Guitar Performance.  Prior to attending Berklee, Stu trained with famed Philadelphia jazz guitar teachers Joe Federico and Dennis Sandole.

Stu is an accomplished teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience.  He is fluent jazz, rock, funk, classical, fusion, and heavy metal. His compositions have been featured in movies such as Waitress and on MTV’s Viva La Bam and Homewrecker. Stu’s band Halfway to Gone performs regularly in the Tri-State Area and has performed at the Philadelphia Race Track and The Trocadero in Philadelphia, the Majestic Theater in Detroit, and CBGB’s and The Ritz Theater in New York.

Ernesto "Jun" Ibasco - Guitar, Bass

Jun’s musical career began in the Philippines and Japan touring intensively and working as a recording session artist.  Jun was trained in guitar at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.   He specializes in fusion, rock, R&B, pop jazz, funk, and metal.

Dan Kauffman - Guitar, Piano

Dan Kauffman is a graduate of the Millersville University School of Music. Dan started playing guitar and piano at 14.  After attending Millersville University and living in Olympia Washington for a few years, Dan returned to his native east-coast roots to further his career.

 
Fluent in most types of music including Rock, Funk, Jazz, Folk, Americana, and Classical, Dan continues to play in Philadelphia's most prominent live venues such as  World Cafe Live, Grape St., Puck, and many upscale bars and restaurants while teaching a 4-day week at MTC.  Former Philadelphia 76'er, Charles Barkley, after hearing a rendition of James Taylor's "Country Road", remarked that Dan is his "brother from another mother". Dan continues to write, record, and perform in the Philadelphia area.

Mark Mullen - Guitar
Mark Mullen began his training at Settlement Music School in Philadelphia where he studied Classical and Jazz guitar, and is currently completing his Bachelors Degree in Classical Guitar Performance at West Chester University. Mark also studied Classical Piano, Theory, and Composition at West Chester with professor Glenn Lyons.

Over the years, Mark has been performing with various groups and styles including Lucid Dream (progressive rock), Brannigan's Law (indie), and Pet Cemetery (electronica). In addition, he regularly performs classical repertoire in the form of guitar solo, duo, and trios around the PA area. Mark also has extensive training in the Alexander Technique For Musicians from renowned teacher, Dr. Robert Bedford.

Vahe Sarkissian - Guitar

Vahe Sarkissian is a graduate of the University of the Arts with a Bachelor's degree in Guitar Performance and a Master's degree in Music Education. 

Vahe has performed nationally with numerous groups including most recently the Philadelphia-based fusion group T.S.U., who has been featured in the Philly Weekly, the Metro, and Guitar World Magazine.  Vahe's musical background and performance credibility spans various styles including rock, jazz, middle-eastern/world, funk, fusion, and other contemporary styles. 

Prior to Music Training Center, Vahe taught at schools and Universities in the greater Philadelphia region including the General George A. McCall School, Bensalem High School, Girard College, and Holy Family University.  Vahe was a recipient of the 2004 Fender Outstanding Guitar Achievement Award.

Dave Tronieri - Guitar

Dave Tronieri is a graduate of the Temple University School of Music, with a bachelor's degree in Jazz Guitar Studies. Prior to earning his degree at Temple, Dave performed for over 10 years as a guitarist in Rock, Acoustic, and Metal bands.

Dave currently fronts the award-winning band Blues/Rock Albino Red, which performs throughout the New Jersey Shore areas and was featured in the February 2007 edition of At the Shore - Atlantic City Press (click here for article).  Dave performs on weekends at weddings, parties, and clubs as part of an acoustic guitar duo.  He has taught at several music schools in the Philadelphia area, and is great at teaching students of all ages.