Tad Derek O'Brien

Tad Derek O'Brien is a classical guitarist, arranger and composer.  He began guitar studies at age 13 with guitarist Tom Lewis.  During high school at Ursuline Academy he studied piano and theory with Diana Roberts.  After graduating from UA in 2001 Tad began his formal classical guitar studies with Karl Scroggin at Springfield College in Illinois.  There he concentrated on Renaissance and Baroque guitar.  He also studied piano, theory, and composition with Jim Harris.  Tad graduated from SCI in 2003 with an A.A. degree.  Illinois State University is where Tad would spend his next 5 years.  He earned the Mary Jo Brown scholarship to study classical guitar.  His primary teacher was Filipino guitarist and GFA prizewinner Angelo Favis.  While at ISU Tad performed many solo recitals and a plethora of chamber music.  He performed in masterclasses for University of Southern California faculty and Los Angeles Guitar Quartet members William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant, Roosevelt University’s Denis Azabagic, and Oberlin Conservatory’s Stephen Aron to name a few.  While at ISU Tad taught the beginning and intermediate guitar classes to college students, coached guitar majors in ensemble groups, taught a junior high guitar class at the Thomas Metcalf School, and community members at the Community School of the Arts.  He graduated from ISU with a B.M. degree in 2006 and an M.M. degree in 2009. After graduation Tad would spend some time in Minneapolis where he was an active performer and continued his studies with University of Minnesota faculty member James Flegel.  In 2012 Tad returned to Illinois to compose and record.  His debut album “Guitarland!” which consists of 15 original solo guitar compositions was released in October 2015 and is available worldwide.  Tad enjoys nature, stand-up comedy, and sports.  He also throws darts (poorly), plays shuffleboard (better), shoots pool (badly) and plays foosball (quite good). He currently lives in Springfield, Illinois USA Earth.