Mike Christiansen

Mike Christiansen is Professor Emeritus in the Music Department at Utah State University. Mike founded the guitar program at USU and was Director of Guitar Studies at USU for 39 years. His past awards include Professor of The Year at Utah State University, ASTA (American String Teachers Association) Utah Chapter Outstanding Collegiate Educator of the Year Award, a U.S. Carnegie Professor of the Year, and USU Caine College of the Arts Professor of the Year. Mike has been a TED speaker and is a renowned guitar educator. He has taught workshops at many schools throughout the country. He is a frequent clinician for guitarists and classroom guitar instructors at various conferences, including MEA conferences, the Midwest conference, and the JEN (Jazz Educators Network) conference. He has authored/co-authored over 40 books and appears in hundreds of instruction videos. He averages over 130 performances annually as a soloist, with the group Mirage, and the Lightwood Duo. He has performed with many artists including Jack Petersen, Glen Frey (the Eagles), Joe Diorio, Sid Jacobs, Jose Posadas, Tommy Emmanuel, Johnny Hilland, Natalie Cole, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Sutton Foster, Take Six and The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.