ABOUT US

Dave Uhrich

Background and Education:

Dave Uhrich, born in Chicago, began his musical journey at the age of 11 and later earned a degree from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Following his studies, Dave joined the faculty of several Illinois colleges, including Roosevelt University, Elmhurst College, and Chicago State University.

Teaching and Clinics:

Dave has extensive experience teaching at the college level and regularly conducts instructional clinics across all 50 states and internationally in countries like Germany, England, and Austria. He has also been a guest seminar instructor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California.

Awards and Recognition:

Dave has won the 'Chicago’s Hottest Guitarist' competition five times, received a ‘Radio Top Ten’ Award, and was nominated for an 'American Jazz Masters Fellowship' by the National Endowment for the Arts. Classic Rock Magazine (April 2007) ranked Dave at number 31 in their list of ‘100 Wildest Guitar Heroes’.

Professional Work:

An accomplished writer, composer, and performer, Dave has worked in motion pictures and television and has done commercial studio work for major companies such as McDonald’s, Nintendo, BASF, Coors, Kellogg's, Mazda, and Pontiac. His compositions have been performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Endorsements and Performances:

Dave is a long-time product endorser and has served as a product specialist for Ibanez Guitars. He also endorses Laney Amplifiers, Seymour Duncan, and Rocktron and has extensively toured and performed worldwide.

Discography and Studio Work:

Dave has released three critically acclaimed solo CDs and currently owns and operates a recording studio in the Chicago area, where he actively produces bands. He believes that production should be transparent and that technology should never mask passion, emphasizing that genuine emotion cannot be 'fixed in the mix.'

Noteworthy Quotes:

  • “Joe Satriani and Steve Morse have got nothing on this guy” – Buzz Morison, 'Guitar for the Practicing Musician'
  • “#31 – Dave Uhrich – ‘100 Wildest Guitar Heroes” -Classic Rock Magazine (April 2007)
  • “Dave Uhrich – Four Stars – Legendary” – 'Sound Check', Germany
  • “An accomplished and astonishingly versatile player” – Bill Milkowski, 'Guitar World'
  • “Uhrich is an outstanding technician with first-rate phrasing and vibrato” – 'Guitar Player Magazine'


Lorrie Kountz

Background and Philosophy:

Lorrie Kountz is devoted to writing, recording, teaching, and performing music. She began playing guitar at the age of 8 and studied with world-renowned classical guitar teacher and performer, Jack Cecchini, who mentored under Andres Segovia. She began giving private music lessons at age 16, later opened her own teaching studio in Chicago, and has 30 years of experience teaching many genres, including rock, metal, alternative, industrial, classical, and blues.

Performance and Recording:

A virtuoso in both guitar and piano, Lorrie has toured the United States, Canada, and Mexico, sharing the stage with U2, Scorpions, Ramones, Cramps, and New York Dolls. She has written and recorded twelve internationally distributed CDs/Vinyl with her projects Bitch, Surrendur Dorothi, Rash, and Whatismu, highlighting several genres, including Rock, Industrial, and Alternative. Lorrie has appeared on television and radio specials, including NBC, ABC, FOX, WGN, and WTTW's 'Wild Chicago' feature.

Media and Publications:

Lorrie has been highlighted in major publications such as Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, The Reader, Illinois Entertainer, and has been featured multiple times in Guitar Player Magazine. Most recently, Lorrie has performed and recorded with Paul Barker (Ministry, REVCO) in his project Lead Into Gold.

Teaching Approach:

Lorrie's teaching is influenced by her study of Buddhism, which she integrates into her music instruction. She finds her greatest happiness in the pursuit of communicating without words through music. Lorrie embraces a 'beginner's mind,' always open to learning new things from old concepts. Whether students are interested in performing live, picking up a new hobby, joining a band, or entering a talent show, Lorrie has the experience to help them achieve their goals.

Creative Process:

Lorrie loves experimenting with new rhythms, melodies, time signatures, sounds, and instruments. She encourages her students to write their first songs, guiding them through choosing the right chords, orchestrating instruments, and recording in the studio.

Noteworthy Quotes:

  • “Lorrie’s recordings include her onstage guitar solos and other showcases for a variety of flashy licks, fast picking, highly skilled whammy workouts and blues licks, all couched in a commercial rock context. An incredible talent!” - Guitar Player Magazine
  • "The Talented Kountz pole-vaults between pop-metal normalcy and near-atonal craziness.” - Daily Herald
  • “Kountz rips fiery leads on her guitar and has been a key player on the music scene for decades." - Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Lorrie Kountz is a talented lead guitarist running wrangled string leads and what sounds like folding the neck on her guitar." - Illinois Entertainer
  • “An incredible and very powerful performer!” - Chicago Tribune