Brief
Biography
Out
of rock guitar beginnings, Jeffry Hamilton Steele developed into
a solo recitalist on the classical guitar -- his principal
teachers being Phillip de Fremery and David Starobin. While
residing in Boston (1978-90), he worked with singers and
contemporary chamber ensembles (Griffin
Ensemble, Tanglewood's Fromm Festival, Peter Sellars Productions,
Dinosaur Annex),
at the same time composing and transcribing many works for his
own flute-viola-guitar trio Primary
Colors.
In the early 80s he produced a number of topical chamber pieces
-- involving slides and dramatic readings -- which he brought to
the public in a series of Central America benefit concerts.
Inspired by trips to Nicaragua (1984-5), he formed Por
la Paz
to bring further topical pieces to schools and colleges. In the
1990s, he began teaching music in K-12 classrooms and performed
his "50 Ways to Play Guitar" show for many schools
around New England. He holds a Masters in Composition from New England
Conservatory in Boston. He has led music for worship at a number of churches, colleges,
for pastoral retreats and ecumenical gatherings. His composition
credits include television, film, theater and dance productions
-- and he is remembered out East for his collaborations with
choreographer Carl Thomsen.
He has six CDs out and Mel Bay has published two of his pieces in their Master
Anthology of New Classic Guitar Solos.
In
2009, Steele moved from Gloucester, MA -- city of his birth -- to
Tacoma, WA, where he continues to compose new works for the guitar and
serve as a music minister. He teaches guitar weekends at The Music & Art Institute in
University Place, WA. He recently added a career as a Mental Health
Therapist and Chemical Dependency Professional, having received a second
masters from St Martin's U. He is married to Monica Steele, also a
musician, and has two step sons. |