Our Teachers

Rob Watson

Rob Watson is a classical guitarist from Oakland, California. He began his guitar studies at age 8, and has a BM in guitar performance from UC Santa Cruz under Mesut Ozgen, and a MM from Yale School of Music with Benjamin Verdery. Rob has performed in masterclasses for David Russell, Roland Dyens, David Tanenbaum, and William Kanengiser, and studied privately with Marc Teicholz. He has performed in Maui, New Haven, Berkeley, and Santa Cruz.
Performances include the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, performing works of John Dowland with noted tenor Brian Staufenbiel, and in duo with Marc Teicholz at the 50th anniversary of the College Preparatory School in Oakland, CA.
Rob has been teaching privately since 2003. From 2006-2009 Rob apprenticed with Frank Longay at the Longay Conservatory of Guitar.
Rob is known as a player of technical ability, deep tone, and musicality. As a teacher, he is extremely devoted to his students, professional, enthusiastic, and focused. He loves the guitar deeply, and is a lifelong devotee to the art of teaching. Rob is trained through Book 4 of the Suzuki Method for Guitar.

Patrick O’Connell

Patrick O’Connell began his formal musical training at the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University as a merit scholarship recipient. As an undergraduate, he studied with legendary guitarist Manuel Barrueco and guitar department chair Ray Chester. After earning his Bachelor’s degree, he continued his studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, also on merit scholarship, working closely with internationally acclaimed guitarists David Tanenbaum, Dusan Bogdanovic, and Marc Teicholz.

While a student at the San Francisco Conservatory, Patrick launched his professional career with a solo debut at Carnegie Hall in 2005. He completed his Master’s degree in Guitar Performance the following year and soon after joined the San Francisco Guitar Quartet. The ensemble’s 2010 album, Chasing Light, features newly commissioned works alongside Patrick’s own arrangements.

In 2013, Patrick collaborated with the ensemble Melody of China to record an album that blended classical guitar with traditional Chinese instruments. The project featured original works by Gang Situ, Executive Director of Chinese Cultural Productions in San Francisco and a distinguished composer from Shanghai, the recording was praised for its innovation and artistry.

In 2021, he recorded an album dedicated exclusively to the music of celebrated composer Konstantin Vassiliev with duo partner Yuri Liberzon for the Naxos label. The recording was produced in collaboration with Grammy Award winning audio engineer Norbert Kraft. Patrick has performed extensively across the United States as well as internationally, appearing at major festivals and concert series. Notable performances include appearances at the La Guitarra California Festival (San Luis Obispo), the Legion of Honor (San Francisco), Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts (Davis, California), Dresdner Gitarrenfest (Germany), Second Sundays Classical Guitar Concert Series (New York City), Monadnock Music Festival (New Hampshire), San Francisco Jazz Festival, and the Festival of Contemporary Music (San Francisco).

Jes Burges

Jes Burgess has dedicated teaching students since 2006, at first juggling an exciting performance career, but later a full-time mission to keep new and returning musicians excited to play cello. Beginning students start with good habits from day one, and the first priority is being comfortable with their new instrument, and building confidence through patience, good technique, and empowerment through playing.

Jes also takes pride in helping students with prior experiences or former players who wish to return after so many years. She enjoys helping students break bad habits and find good practice routines. The most rewarding part of teaching for Jes Burgess is knowing her students take pride in their hard work and find their own appreciation in both music and cello studies.

Primarily a cellist, Jes teaches students the heritage of being a cellist, as its an exceptional club to be part of that impacts your life forever. Students learn proper care, how to establish excellent tone, and how to implement their own artistry though this beautiful medium.

Lessons are held at Jes’ studio in Sunnyvale or online.