Guitarist John Sutherland was described in the Atlanta Journal Constitution as the “Dean of Guitarists.” He studied with Andrés Segovia, Christopher Parkening, John Marlow, José Tomás, and Evangelos Assimakopolous. Since starting the guitar program at the University of Georgia in 1971, Mr. Sutherland has been responsible for initiating numerous guitar programs in the state, including those at Georgia State University, DeKalb College, and Columbus College, and has been involved in the planning of a state-wide guitar curriculum for Georgia public schools. He has served as adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States.

John has taught with Christopher Parkening in master classes at Montana State University, and Parkening selected Sutherland’s transcriptions for his Angel recording of Simple Gifts. Mr. Parkening calls Mr. Sutherland “one of the finest teachers in the United States.” His students have been prize winners in the National Federation of Music Clubs Competition, Music Teachers National Association, and the American String Teachers Association. Three of the twelve students at the final Segovia Master Class studied with John Sutherland at the University of Georgia.