By creating a lush soundscape to elevate and stimulate your mind state, Aaron Squirrel has been dazzling auediences with his guitar wizardry for nearly 10 years.
Born in Norman,Oklahoma, Aug. 3, 1988 Squirrel has quickly established himself as one of the most talented and original artists in the state of Oklahoma. With a last name that often leaves people scratching their heads, Squirrel's last name can be traced back to his Native American roots.
Squirrel describes himself as a solo artist, band leader and as a jack of all trades sideman.
In Aug. 2011 Squirrel traveled to L.A to do some session work with Producer Dante Jones (Kelly Clarkson) & Grammy- Award winning Producer Brian Kennedy (Rhianna, Chris Brown, Rascal Flatts, etc) Squirrel is making frequent trips to L.A and is hoping to move sometime 2012 and establish himself as a producer & session guitarist.
Squirrel & Friends (Indie Rock/ Fusion) Since 2005 Squirrel & Friends have opened up for Grammy award winners Eric Johnson, Derek Trucks, Joe Bonamassa, Johnny A. & David Ryan Harris (John Mayer)
Squirrel describes the sound as a "dynamic, experimental, funky, rock band that engages audiences with intricate musicianship, high energy, and ethereal soundscapes" leaving audiences in the stratosphere.
Squirrel is also attending The Academy of Contemporary Music at The University Of Centrel Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) in downtown Oklahoma City, where in May 2011 he graduated with an Associates Degree in Guitar perfomance.
At ACM@UCO Squirrel studied under many industry professionals such as:
Scott Booker: School President and "he created Hellfire Enterprises, Ltd, an artist management company and continues to work with the three-time Grammy Award winning Flaming Lips today."
Chris Hicks:
Chris has appeared on: Jay Leno's Tonite Show, Dave Letterman, Rosie O'Donell, A&E "Live By Request" two CBS Reba Special's the ACM Awards,and the CMA Awards. Chris was recorded on Reba's Grammy nominated single with Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood, "On My Own", and Kenny Rogers 2002 release.
Chris has also performed live with Sara Evans, Brooks and Dunn and jazz trumpet great Chet Baker. "
ACM@UCO welcomes our Coordinator of Academic Operations for Performance, Mitch Bell, musician, composer, educator, and producer.
Mitch Bell
voted collegiate musician of the year by the Oklahoma Music Educator's Association.
Upon graduation, Mitch began to develop a career as a side-man playing locally and nationally with various independent artists. He performed in the off-Broadway production of “Hairspray” with former Bowie drummer Alan Childs. He also recorded extensively as a session guitarist and has recorded on numerous albums and commercial tracks for clients such as Ozarka, Six Flags, Chesapeake Energy, and St. Anthony Hospital.
In 2008, he co-formed Dimension Entertainment, an agency that provides live music entertainment for local venues and corporate clientele.
When Mitch is not on stage, he spends time producing and recording artists in his home studio. At ACM@UCO, Mitch oversees the Performance program. When asked what his favorite thing is about working for ACM@UCO, Mitch said: “Having the opportunity to work with an amazingly talented and diverse group of professionals and watching the students benefit from their experience.”
Matt Stansberry: Perfomance Production Professor
"Over the past few years Matt has been ambitiously touring and getting his music in front of eager ears. In 2008, Matt and his band toured Japan for sold out crowds in Tokyo, Hitachi and Kyoto. The following year Matt toured Irleand and England on a Europe acoustic tour entitled, "Let the Peasants Be Kings". Prior to his international tour dates, Matt played across the U.S. in a wide variety of venues including the King King Hollywood (Hollywood, CA), the legendary South by Southwest Music Festival (Austin, TX), DFest - Oklahoma's premier music festival (Tulsa, OK), Hard Rock Cafe (Dallas, TX) and numerous concerts and showcases across the Midwest, which includes Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri. Matt's "Love Struck" was featured in an episode of The Real World XXIII."
Michael Trepagnier: Adavanced Audio Production Professor
"In Astoria, Queens, recording home to artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Will Stratton. In 2006, Michael began working as Assistant Engineer at Philip Glass’ studio, The Looking Glass, in downtown Manhattan. At The Looking Glass, he worked with engineers and producers such as Brian Deck, Gil Norton, James Brown, Rick Ocasek, Tony Visconti, Claudius Mittendorfer, Hector Castillo, Mario McNulty and Markus Dravs. He worked on movies, soundtracks and albums by artists such as Coldplay, Brazilian Girls, Motion City Soundtrack, Robyn Hitchcock and Phillip Glass." Trepagnier engineered, mixed, and mastered Sounds of URban Life's single "Winner"
Travis Linville: Guitar Professor
"Travis Linville is a guitarist, singer/songwriter from small town Chickasha, OK. Linville has performed 200 shows per year for the last 12 years all over the US, Canada and Europe as a solo artist, band leader and as a jack of all trades sideman. Years of paying dues as an underage guitar slinger paid off when linville formed the Burtschi Brothers in 2000. The hip, alt country, jazz/jam, quartet quickly became an Oklahoma favorite and put Travis on the map among Oklahoma's finest guitarists. Since 2006 Linville has been taking his solo show all across the U.S. and overseas wowing audiances with his fingerstyle guitar work and his soulful songwriting. The music seems to come out effortlessly. The songs are clever and thoughtful. The spirit is undeniable. Linville currently resides in Norman, Ok and is performing all the time. Recently shows have found Travis rocking with a gritty electric duo featuring electric dobro/guitar with drummer Chris Foreman. When he's not out singing songs Travis is producing records at his DirtyBird recording studio for talented musicians from all over the region."
