ALYS STEPHENS CENTER TEACHING ARTIST PROFILE:

Carlos Pino

Local jazz guitarist, composer, and educator Carlos Pino is the ASC Teaching Artist leading our Robert Redus School of Guitar Project. The project was born out of a vision from friends and family of the late Robert Clark Redus IV to spread his gift of music. During this year-long program, six students will have the opportunity to study guitar and through a commitment to lessons, practice, responsibility, and volunteerism the students can actually earn a guitar of their own at the end of the school year.

Carlos Pino is a graduate of the University of Alabama (B.A.) and Rutgers University (M.M. in Jazz Studies). While in college, Carlos studied guitar under Brian Lutterbie, Tom Wolfe and then Vic Juris. He also studied briefly with Jack Wilkins, Paul Bollenbach, and Ralph Bowen. Carlos Pino has shared the stage with artists such as Ellis Marsalis, Claudio Roditi, Oteil Burbridge, Col. Bruce Hampton, and Bill Kruetzmann. He has performed all over the United States, Japan, and Colombia. Carlos presently performs solo guitar in many Birmingham venues and is a sideman in several groups, ranging from big band jazz, spoken word improv, to rock and bluegrass. Currently, Carlos performs regularly with The Exhibit(s) , the Sharrif Simmons Ensemble and The Nite Flight Big Band.

Carlos also spends a lot of time in musical theatre. He has worked with Red Mountain Musical Theater, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival Theater (West Side Story, Man of La Mancha, Godspell and Honky Tonk Angels). Carlos has also performed with the Rubicon Theater Company in Ventura, California (Man of La Mancha). Some of his other performance credits include Cats, Grease, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Batboy, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Beehive, Always Patsy Cline, Almost Heaven, and Doo-Wop. Carlos is in demand as a guitarist because of his versatility in various musical styles.

In addition to performing, Carlos has been teaching guitar lessons privately for over a decade working with students from a wide range of ages and experience. He is presently adjunct faculty (jazz guitar) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has been involved in teaching jazz guitar at music camps over the years and recently conducted a week long jazz guitar camp at the University of Caldas, in Manizales, Colombia.
Enhancing lives through creative and artistic experiences is the primary goal of our arts education program. Fulfilling this goal wouldn’t be possible without our amazing Teaching Artists!

Thank you, Carlos!