History

Nick Stoubis was born April 2, 1972 in Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada to Greek-immigrant parents Chris and Iris Stoubis. He lived in Melville during his childhood until moving to the neighboring city of Yorkton in 1981, where he lived throughout his teens. He began playing the guitar in 1984 at the age of twelve years old and from this point forward never strayed away from his passion for music.

 

From day one of playing the guitar, Nick practiced fervently, often playing ten hours a day. He quickly developed proficiency on the instrument and put it to use in starting several rock bands throughout junior high school. Towards the end of junior high and into high school, Nick and his friends formed a group called 52nd Street that quickly became very active as a performing group. All throughout his high school years, 52nd Street performed everywhere possible and developed a very loyal following in the province of Saskatchewan. The group often served as support for well known Canadian recording artists such as: Nazareth, Bachman-Turner-Overdrive (B.T.O.), Trooper, Prism, Barney Bental, Lee Aaron, Doug and the Slugs, Helix, Fist, Queen City Kids. It was during this time that Nick established music as a life-long endeavor.

 

Upon graduating high school in 1990, 52nd Street embarked on a western Canadian tour that was besieged with adventures and mishaps. The band did not endure and disbanded soon after at the beginning of 1991. At this point Nick traveled Europe and spent several months in Greece reacquainting himself with the music and culture. It was then that Nick decided that he needed to be surrounded by a more challenging environment if he was going to continue to grow musically. This prompted him to move to Hollywood, CA in 1992 to attend the Musicians Institute (GIT).

 

Nick flourished in the environment at the M.I. and soaked up all the new sounds and influences he was being exposed to. This greatly expanded his musical palette and offered him many new ideas about different types of music. He excelled academically and was nominated for the “Fender Outstanding Graduate” and the “Starfield Most Improved Student” awards, winning the later. He graduated with honors in the class of 1993.

 

It was at Musicians Institute where Nick met a number of teachers that influenced his decision to stay in Los Angeles and attend the University of Southern California. Nick then began his relationship with USC in the fall of 1993. USC provided a very strong background for Nick in jazz and classical music. Over the duration of his studies, Nick has had the fortune to study with many of Los Angeles’ greatest guitarists, including jazz master Joe Diorio. While at USC, Nick continued with his very impressive academic career, being honored many times for his scholarly efforts. Notable honors including outstanding undergraduate student, outstanding graduate student and many university wide and departmental awards.

Prior to graduating with his bachelor of music degree in 1997, Nick was offered a position to head the non-major guitar program at the university during his last semester of his undergraduate degree. After graduation, he continued with his studies at USC as a full teaching assistant and enrolled in the graduate studio/jazz guitar program. While continuing his studies, Nick continued to teach extensively and successfully lead the non-major program at SC. Under his direction, the program gained great popularity and grew to unprecedented size.

 

Nick graduated with his master of music degree in 2000 and was once again honored by being awarded the outstanding graduate award for the Thornton School of Music. After graduate school, he then continued to hold the same position as the non-major guitar program coordinator, being promoted to full-time senior lecturer, which he continues to this date.

 

Along with teaching at USC, Nick also teaches at the Musicians Institute where he went to school over ten years earlier. Distinguishing himself as a capable teacher, Nick has also served as a consultant on the WB television show, “A Family Affair.” He coached staring actress Caitlin Wachs for her role on the sitcom. His teaching has helped him become an effective author, coauthoring a beginning instructional book and also being a featured author for a new online guitar website. Alongside with teaching and writing, Nick has also served as a transcriber for Line6 at the inception of their guitar port product. Besides these activities, Nick has been an active performer and composer.

 

Nick has found himself in a variety of different musical settings and has as of late focused energy in playing and composing for the bouzouki, which he started experimenting with during graduate school. This has lead to the release of the solo album, “MOSAIC: The Music of Greece” on Aegis Infinity Records. Nick can also be heard playing the bouzouki on the 2001 Arkadia release, “Seismos” and also on singer/songwriter Eleni Kelakos' 2004 release "Where I Come From."

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EDUCATION

 

1997-2000           

University of Southern California               

Los Angeles, CA

Major: Studio/Jazz Guitar

Degree: M.M., Master of Music                                    

Outstanding Graduate

 

1993-1997           

University of Southern California                               

Los Angeles, CA

Major: Studio/Jazz Guitar

Degree: B.M., Bachelor of Music                                 

Graduated Summa Cum Laude, Outstanding Graduate

 

1992-1993           

Musicians Institute

Hollywood, CA

Guitar Institute of Technology

Certificate: Professional Guitar                                                

Graduated with honors, Nominee Outstanding Graduate

 

 

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS

 

1993-2000 University of Southern California

-"Outstanding Graduate" for the USC School of Music, Graduate Class of 2000 - (Spring, 2000)

-"Graduate/Professional Award - Outstanding Student Recognition" - (Spring, 1999)

-"Studio Guitar Departmental Ensemble Award" - (Spring, 1998)

-"Outstanding Graduate" for the USC School of Music, Undergraduate Class of 1997 - (Spring, 1997)

-"Studio Guitar Departmental Award" - (Spring, 1997)

-"Pi Kappa Lambda Award" - (Spring, 1997)

-"Outstanding Academic Achievement Award" - Office of International Students and Scholars. Recognition for attaining one of the three highest undergraduate GPA's for all USC international students - (Undergraduate: Spring, 1997 and Graduate: Spring, 1999)

-Honored by Pi Kappa Lambda for attaining highest GPA for entire USC School of Music through junior year, and then again through senior year - (Spring, 1996 and Spring, 1997)

-Dean's List for entire undergraduate and graduate studies

 

1992-1993 Musicians Institute

-Maintained 99.7 GPA (on a 100 scale), graduated with honors

-Accumulated 475.5 performance credits, required amount 12

-Starfield America "Most Improved Student" award winner

-Nominee for Fender "Outstanding Graduate" award (one of three nominees)

 

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

 

-"Teaching Assistant" - USC Thornton School of Music - (1997-1999)

-"Bishop's Scholarship" - presented by the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Toronto, Canada. Awarded for academic excellence, integrity of character and service to church and community. - (1995-1996 and 1996-1997)

-"Ann and Gordon Getty Music Foundation Scholarship" - USC - (1996-1997)

-"Abe Somer Endowed Music Scholarship" - USC (1995-1996)

-"Merit Scholarship" - USC School of Music - (1993-94 and 1994-1995)

 

 

HONOR SOCIETIES/ORGANIZATIONS

 

-Faculty Fellow, USC - 2002-2003: The program unites the Faculty Fellow with a Resident Advisor (RA) and his/her residents.  This enables Faculty Fellows to engage in students' lives in the most meaningful manner as a member of the community.  The Faculty Fellow's role ranges from mentor to academic advisor, and is important in the development of an academic residential community.

-Club Hellas, Faculty Advisor - 2002-2004: The purpose of Club Hellas is to unite all Hellenic and Philhellenic students, faulty, and professors. The organization promotes Hellenism on campus through academic, cultural, and social events and discussions that will primarily cater to students of the University of Southern California.

-Professional Musicians Local 47, AFM, 2003-2004

-ASCAP both as writer and publisher (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), 2002

-Sound Exchange member as an Artist and Copyright Owner, 2004

-Golden Key National Honor Society - member since 1996

-Phi Kappa Phi - member since 1996

-Pi Kappa Lambda - member since 1996

 

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

 

June, 2002 - to present:

Senior Instructor - Degree Program, Musicians Institute

This appointment at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California is in addition to the full-time teaching status at the University of Southern California.

 

January, 1997 - to present:

Full-Time Lecturer and Program Coordinator of the USC Non-Major Guitar Program - Studio/Jazz Guitar Department,

University of Southern California

As director of the Non-Major Guitar Program it is Nick's responsibility to oversee all aspects of the management of the program.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Recruitment, retention and advisement of all non-major guitar students; Develop curriculum for courses; Coordinate teaching assignments for the instructors (lecturers, faculty and all Studio and Classical guitar teaching assistants), hiring additional staff if necessary; Meet with DMA and MM Teaching Assistants on an on-going basis for preparation and evaluation; Facilitate departmental meetings and teaching assistant training sessions required by the Thornton School of Music and the Studio Guitar department; Procure rooms for classes and coordinate schedules; Submit load sheets for instructors; Facilitate final grading; Advertisement of all non-major and minor program courses; Classroom teaching; Development of new courses if needed.

COORDINATION OF CLASSES INCLUDE:

MPGU 120a: Beginning Pop/Rock Guitar

MPGU 120b: Beginning Pop/Rock Guitar

MPGU 120c: Beginning Pop/Rock Guitar

MPGU 120d: Beginning Pop/Rock Guitar

MPGU 121: Intensive Beginning/Pop Rock Guitar

MPGU 125: Beginning Fingerstyle/Chord Guitar

MPGU 126: Easy Fingerstyle Beatles

MPGU 300x: Individual Instruction (for both Studio and Classical Guitar Departments)

MUEN 226/426: Guitar Ensemble for Non-Majors

And all new classes and ensembles available to minors

 

July, 2001

Transcriber and Engraver, Line6

Contributing transcriptions and engraving work for Line6's Guitar Port product.

 

June, 2000

Faculty, National Guitar Workshop  

 

August, 1997 - May, 1999

Teaching Assistant, University of Southern California (Studio/Jazz Guitar Department)

 

1999 (summer)

Assistant to VP of Promotions, Bud Harner, The Verve Music Group

Duties included promotion of album singles to radio and compiling radio airplay statistic reports.

 

Fall, 1996:

Teaching Assistant, Manual Arts High School (Los Angeles, CA)

Teaching English as a second language.

 

1988 - to present:

Private Teaching Studio

Extensive private instruction experience with all ages and levels. Including students at USC, Nick has taught well over a thousand students over the last ten years.

 

 

TEACHING AWARDS and ACCOLADES

 

April 16, 2002

Leadership Award, University of Southern California - Studio Guitar Department

In recognition of distinguished scholarship, leadership, participation and service to the life of the Thornton School of Music, Studio/Jazz Guitar Department.

 

USC Professors Ranking Website.

University of Southern California - http://www.senatecourseguide.com

Mission Statement: To provide a service for students to evaluate their past and present professors at the University of Southern California, thus allowing them to make more educated decisions on their coursework selections while simultaneously offering a source of feedback for faculty and their departments. 

Nick often finds his way to the top ten lists in this website.

 

 

PERFORMING EXPERIENCE

 

STUDENT ENSEMBLES:

1997 - 1999: USC performing ensemble "Superaxe"

Notable performances:

Shelly Berg, Bruce Forman, Carl Verheyen, arrangements performed by ensemble with artists such as Scott Henderson and Mike Miller.

Other performances include:

IAJE Convention (Anaheim, 1999), MTNA Convention (Los Angeles, 1999), Fullerton Jazz Festival (Spring, 1998 -2nd Place Winners and Spring, 1999 -2nd Place Winners; Receiving a "Special Citation for Outstanding Musicianship, Student Arranger"), USC Spectrum Annual Jazz Festival (1998, 1999), Performances and Master classes: Pasadena City College (Spring, 1998 and Spring, 1999), and Studio Guitar Departmental Performances.

 

PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLES:

1986 - 1990: "52nd Street"

1990- present: Freelance Performing:

Performances and idioms include: jazz solo, duo, trio and quartet performances, pit bands, musical theater (Quilters, Jesus Christ Superstar), big bands, Greek music on bouzouki and other doubles.

2001: "Arkadia," featured soloist, playing bouzouki and guitar on their 2001 release entitled "Seismos."

2002: "Alejandra Guzman," performed with Alejandra Guzman at Dodger Stadium (08/03/02) at the Veranazo, El Concierto 2002. Billed as the largest Latin music festival ever performed in the history of Los Angeles.

2003: Featured on an "Eleni Kelakos" cd on bouzouki.

2003: Aegis Infinity Release as a solo artist, "Mosaic: The Music of Greece."

 

 

AS AN AUTHOR

 

Schmunk, Rick and Nick Stoubis. Guitar For Students: A Method For The Private and Classroom Student, Kendall/Hunt Publishing

 

As a featured author for a new guitar online website to be launched in 2004.

 

 

VOLUNTEER WORK AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

 

Member of USC's "Emerging Leader Program" - (1993-1994)

Volunteer work with the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital, working with twelve-year-old cancer patient - (1994)

Volunteer work with USC's JEP (Joint Educational Program) - (1996)