The NJGO is an elite ensemble of classical guitarists of various backgrounds, from amateurs to professional guitarists and teachers. The NJGO is active during the Fall and Spring semester sessions each year. Our mission is to provide a space for personal expression, expand the artistic experience, and foster community by empowering people to create, perform, respond, and connect to all things GUITAR!
Jayson Martinez
Conductor
Jayson Martinez is recognized as the first guitar major student in the history of the prestigious Arts High School in Newark NJ, the nation's first high school for the visual and performing arts. Now, as Director of Guitar Studies at his alma mater, Mr. Martinez has garnered countless educational awards, including winner of the Teacher of the Year Award in 2018-19 and nominee for the GRAMMY Music Educator’s Award. His students are continuously invited to perform in several prestigious venues across the country. This includes performing for Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in Washington DC, NAfME All-National Festivals, and opening for Grammy Award duo Rodrigo y Gabriela.
As a student, Jayson attended New Jersey City University, studying under Dr. Ana María Rosado, and earned degrees in Music Education (B.A.), Music Performance (M.Mus.), and Educational Supervision and Administration (M.EdLd.). He was a featured soloist who performed for many renowned classical guitarists, including Roland Dyens and William Kanengiser.
Currently, Mr. Martinez serves as the New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) Chairman for Guitar Education, Director of the NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensemble, and National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Eastern Division Representative for the Council of Guitar Education. Mr. Martinez is also the Guitar Studies Adjunct Professor at Kean University.
An established classical guitarist, Mr. Martinez served as the concertmaster for the renowned New York City Classical Guitar Orchestra for over a decade. He is featured in podcasts for Bill Swick’s “Guitarists in the Classoom” series and for TopMusic.co.
In 2021, Maestro Jayson Martinez founded the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra (NJGO), where he also serves as conductor. In 2022, the NJGO was featured in NYC Merkin Hall, performing with the United States Guitar Orchestra.
Staying true to his roots, he is the owner of Tremolo Music Studio in Clifton NJ, where he teaches music education to aspiring musicians of all ages.
Musicians
Andrew Jaworski
Andrew is a professional teacher, musician, recording engineer, and producer. He graduated from The Hartt School in 2008 with a degree in Music Production and Technology, and has been working for various studios and production companies ever since. In 2008, Andrew started his own music company, Sites and Sounds Productions LLC, that specializes in mobile recording and CD duplication for middle- and high-school music concerts. As a performing classical and rock guitarist, he also teaches lessons and works part-time as a high-school marching band faculty member.
At Montclair State University, Andrew earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in order to help cultivate a deep respect and love for sound and music. Andrew is section leader two in the NJGO.
Cem Yigit
Cem has been playing guitar with passion since the mid-1980s, developing a deep appreciation for both classical and flamenco styles through years of solo practice. His musical interests extend beyond performance into the mathematics of music, including computer-aided harmonization and eastern musical tonal systems. Cem especially enjoys adapting eastern folk music to classical guitar, blending tradition with innovation.
He is excited to join the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra (NJGO) this season as a section one member.
Chris Joseph
Christopher Joseph is a classical guitarist based out of Brooklyn New York. He has studied with Francisco Roldan at NJCU as well as taken lessons from Dr. Ana Maria Rosado and Dr. Joao Luiz Rezende Lopes. He himself has and still plays for special events such as luncheons, weddings and churches. He was a member of Orpheus Guitar Trio and Quintero Paisano. With the former he has had a Carnegie debut with multiple departments from NJCU and the latter he has recorded some music for Guitar Quintet.
Chris is also the founder and owner of ECGNentertainment which is media project meant to propel the emerging classical guitarists into the professional music world. Chris is an avid tik-tokker who is constantly sharing music and new things he is learning and when away from music you can find him hanging with friends, playing chess or pool either locally or in online forums. He is a very down to earth and upbeat person who simply wants classical guitar to be even more recognized than it was yesterday.
Christopher Perez
Chris is a New Jersey native and a classical guitarist, who has been playing guitar since the age of 16. He began playing classical guitar after discovering and falling in love with the music of Francisco Tárrega. He is also passionate about studying the works of Heitor Villa-Lobos, Agustín Barrios, and Frederic Chopin. He is honored to be playing for section one of the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra.
Chris is also a certified civil trial attorney and a partner and co-founder of a vibrant law practice. Chris is an alumni of Rutgers University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Doctorate in Law. Chris is happily married and the proud father of three beautiful children.
Crystal Gaynor
Crystal Gaynor, singer/songwriter, acoustic and classical guitarist and a self proclaimed “Late in Life Student of the 6 Stings”.As a vocalist, Crystal has recorded and performed background vocals with George Clinton /Parliament Funkadelic, Paul Schaffer of the David Lettermen Show, and many others. While serving in the United StateAir Force, Crystal performed with the USAF touring performance ensemble,“Tops in Blue.” While living in Detroit, by day Crystal worked for BMG Distribution, one of the music industries largest music distributors. And by night, as a vocalist, Crystal recorded and performed on the Techno House and Rock Music circuit with various Detroit artists.
Wanting to become a self accompanied vocalist, in 2018, Crystal began her guitar journey, with a local street busker. Wanting to explore the guitar more, in 2020, Crystal enrolled in the on-line guitar program, at Berklee College of Music and received her certificate in Advance Guitar in 2022. Soon after, Crystal became an active student at the Classical Guitar Corner Academy (CGCA) and Tony’s Acoustic Challenge (TAC).
Diego Gallardo
Diego is a graduate of the Kean Conservatory of Music, holding a B.A. in Music Education, and has been a high school music teacher since 2010. His students have gone on to study at schools such as University of the Arts, Mason Gross School of Music, William Paterson University, Kean University, Montclair State University, New England Conservatory, as well as becoming well regarded area musicians. He has performed at such venues as NJPAC, Merkin Hall, Carnegie Hall, and many others. He serves as a section two guitarist for the NJGO.
Dr. Loren Fortna
Educator, performer, and composer Dr. Loren C. Fortna has performed from New Jersey to Vancouver, British Columbia as a soloist, accompanist, ensemble member, and conductor. He holds a B.A. in Music Theoretical Studies, a M.M., an A.D., and a D.M.A in Classical Guitar Performance. He earned these degrees under the tutelage of several esteemed guitarists, including Dennis Cinelli, Stephen Aron, and Julian Gray.
A New Jersey Music Educator since 2001, Loren was recognized as the District Teacher of the Year for the 2008-2009 school year in the Springfield Public School District. He was an adjunct professor and faculty advisor at Montclair State University from 2009 - 2014 and is currently the vocal music teacher at the Dionne Warwick Institute in East Orange, NJ. Loren facilitated numerous presentations on a range of topics such as music performance anxiety, music-rich writing activities, and techniques on composing for guitar. He also adjudicates for several state music education organizations.
Dr. John Asmuth
New Jersey native Dr. John Asmuth is an amateur player who picked up the classical guitar at twelve years old, taking private lessons for a time with Alice Artzt and recently with Phil Circle. He enjoys performing not only as a soloist and with Section 3 of NJGO, but also composing and transcribing music.John holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Rutgers University, and currently works as a software engineer in Big Tech (TM). He lives in Verona, NJ with his wife, Stephanie, and two boys, Trent and Gavin.
Dr. Martin Brounstein
Dr. Martin Brounstein is the Board President of Montclair Early Music. He is a retired attorney specializing in international regulatory compliance with pharmaceutical manufacturing and clinical research regulations. Martin has been playing guitar since the mid 1950s, and has been continuously teaching jazz, pop and classical guitar for several decades. As a member of the New Jersey, New York and Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Societies, he has been instrumental in providing free recitals to communities throughout the tri-state area.
Dr. Brounstein received a Ph.D. in British Renaissance literature while simultaneously earning his Juris Doctor. Further, he holds several high black belts in three different martial arts disciplines and provides free classes in women's self defense. Martin is currently on the board of directors and regularly featured in the Bloomfield Mandolin Orchestra and plays in the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra in section three.
Dr. Steve Sabet
Dr. Steven Sabet is a music teacher at the Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy where he teaches guitar and music technology. He is also adjunct professor at Kean University and has taught at Rutgers where he received a Doctorate in Music Education. His doctoral research was published by the Journal of Popular Music Education. Sabet’s guitar work can be heard on several studio albums on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify. He studied guitar at The Hartt School and Florida State University before becoming a teacher and performer. Dr. Sabet serves as concertmaster for the NJGO.
Janette Beham
Janette Beham, a classical guitarist with the New York City Guitar Orchestra since 2016, performed at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in the Centennial Celebration of the Aaron Shearer Foundation in 2019 conducted by Jayson Sagebiel; she also played with the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra in 2024 conducted by Jayson Martinez.
She performed with the New York City Guitar Orchestra for the New Focus Recording, "Spectra: New Music for Guitar Orchestra," released in 2024, which includes How Slowly, All of a Sudden by composer and former touring Nine Inch Nails guitarist Joshua Eustis, in which she plays Guitar 2.
Janette models for Terrifier franchise composer and former Marilyn Manson guitarist Paul Wiley on sensoryrecordings.com; she is currently studying with João Luiz.
Jeff Wilt
Jeff Wilt has played guitar since the early 1960’s when his uncle (an organist) took note of his interest in Channel 13’s presentations of classical guitar legend Andres Segovia’s “Masterclass” television series and purchased Jeff’s first guitar. His parents finally relented and engaged a teacher in the mid-60’s after listening to Jeff banging on a guitar he couldn’t even tune for two years! His early studies tended toward jazz. He lost interest as the jazz became progressively more…well, progressive! After not playing during college, Jeff returned to guitar around 1980 and taught himself classical guitar. As an adult, Jeff has relied on direction provided by a small army of accomplished classical guitarist friends, as well as classes with international concert guitarists at the annual convention of the Guitar Foundation of America.
Now retired from the life insurance industry where he was in regional sales management for 35 years, Jeff plays in the New York City Guitar Orchestra and in several small ensembles with friends in addition to performing with the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra. He is on the Board of Directors of the New York City Classical Guitar Society. He is married to Lori Wilt with three adult children, Michala, Carmine and Kathleen. Jeff is also a lifelong motorcyclist and enjoys daily walks with Holly, the Golden Retriever. He is section leader three of the NJGO.
Jo Lucev
During high school, Jo had the incredible opportunity to be part of the guitar ensemble program at Franklin High School. Under the direction of Patrick Callahan, Jo quickly developing a passion for guitar. This experience not only deepened Jo’s love for guitar and music, but also inspired Jo to pursue a degree in music education. Jo is thrilled to continue a musical journey in college and aims to combine a passion for guitar with a dedication to teaching and inspiring future musicians.
Jonathan Cruz
Jonathan has been teaching since 2003. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays and performs Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano, and Ukulele. Jonathan has attended The Berklee College of Music for sessions, Rutgers for Music Theory and Composition, William Paterson for Music Education and Jazz Performance. He has worked with The Jazz Institute receiving an award for excellence, and studied at NJPAC for Jazz, also honoring him with an award.
Jordyn Gallagher
Jordyn Gallagher first started playing playing guitar at the age of 8. Jordyn went on to study classical guitar at The College of New Jersey, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education, specializing in classical guitar, and a secondary focus on clarinet. Since then, Jordyn has been teaching in the Metuchen school district in New Jersey. Presently, she serves as the director of the 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade orchestras, as well as taking on the roles of kindergarten general music teacher and guitar instructor.
Patrick Callahan
Patrick Callahan has been involved as a coach and adjudicator for NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensemble since its inception and is excited to be performing with NJGO this season as a section four member. Patrick is a passionate educator and has run the classical guitar program at Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ for close to a decade. In addition to performing with the NJGO, he is an active performer for pit orchestras for musical theatre.
Rick Florio
Rick is an amateur classical guitarist and is a member of the NJ Classical Guitar Society. He plays in various small ensembles in addition to the NJGO, where he serves as a section one player. Rick is a project manger working in the pharmaceutical industry space. He resides with his wife Joann in Hillsborough and recently became grandparents for the second time.
Ryan Bagg
Ryan is a music teacher at a public school in Queens where he incorporates guitar, ukulele, and modern band in the 5th through 8th grade curriculum. Currently Ryan is taking a sabbatical from teaching to study classical guitar performance at Hunter College.
Ryan started playing guitar at 13 and played in some bands and orchestras through the years. In 2014, Ryan met his life and songwriting partner, Teresa, at a ukulele meetup. Ryan and Teresa now have two children and a family YouTube channel called Paper Bagg Band where they share their music for kids.
Sandy Meltzer
Sandy Meltzer began her career as a French Horn player. By the age of 12 she was already a member of the Westchester Philharmonic and the Westchester Symphony. She went on to study at Manhattan School of Music where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and subsequently taught in the pre-college division there for 12 years. During this time, she was an active freelancer in the New York metropolitan area performing in groups such as the Julius Grossman Orchestra, American Chamber Opera Company, the National Orchestral Association and the Village Chamber Orchestra as well as numerous regional theater companies, occasional subbing on Broadway and one national tour. She was also a featured soloist with the Village Chamber Orchestra and the Bloomingdale House of Music Chamber Orchestra.
By her late-30’s, she decided she was ready for a career change and decided to go back to school to become a teacher. Most of her teaching career was spent at the Academies @ Englewood, a program connected with Dwight Morrow High School. While there, she was able to grow creatively and directed every group on campus, from Concert Band and Chorus to Jazz Band and an award-winning A Cappella group as well as directing the annual school musical. She also implemented a guitar program, finally being able to reach the students who otherwise were not involved with music on campus. She is a self-taught classical guitarist and was happy to share this passion with her students.
Since retiring from teaching in 2021, she has taken the opportunity to hone her skills as a classical guitarist. She joined 2 groups in this capacity, the NJGO as well as the Montclair Early Music Society where she was recently appointed Assistant Music Director. She feels it is a true privilege to perform with the extremely talented members of the NJGO as a member of section four.
Sara Overholt
Sara Overholt, Ph.D., classical guitarist and music theorist, holds degrees from Yale University (student of Ben Verdery), UC, Santa Barbara, and CSU, Chico (Richard Savino). Additional doctoral work done at the Sorbonne, Paris on a Mellon grant, and at the University of Cologne, Germany as a Fulbright Scholar. Mostly through performing Dr. Overholt has travelled to over 80 countries and is the founder of the classical guitar program at Hunter College, CUNY in Manhattan, where she is a professor of classical guitar performance, coaches chamber music, and is the undergraduate advisor to the music minor program. Dr. Overholt's sole authored book, "Stockhausen's Musical Shapes: How a Master Composer Moves Sound" is internationally available, and she is a returning teacher for the renowned annual New York Guitar Seminar.
Thomas Crown
Guitarist Thomas Crown stating playing classical Guitar in 2017. Joined the Classical Guitar Corner Academy in June of 2023 and is currently enrolled. Thomas has also written pieces for the classical guitar, and is part of the Classical Guitar Society of New York’s and New Jersey Guitar Orchestra.
