Kurt Reed: Owner/Director
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Banjo
Bachelor of Music Classical Guitar Performance, University of Akron
Kurt Reed is the Owner and Director of the Fairlawn and Hudson Schools of Music. He began his journey into music at the age of 9, taking private guitar lessons at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He then began taking lessons privately with Stephen Aron at Oberlin College. When the time came to choose a college, Reed decided to continue his studies with Aron at the University of Akron. Reed is a proud graduate of the Guzzetta School of Music, having earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance. During his time at the University of Akron, Reed was the President of the Guitar Club and became the first undergraduate to give a full chamber music recital, for fun, in between his required solo programs. He also earned a coveted Stroud competition prize at the James Stroud All-Ohio Classical Guitar Competition.
Upon graduation, Reed decided to remain in the Akron area and worked at various local music schools before opening his own school in 2007. His first school, Jam Session Music School, was located in Kent, Ohio and focused on the creation of a rock program. His students have been in the finals of the Tri-C High School Rock-Off nearly every year since he began his rock program, some students even winning the entire competition. In 2011, Reed opened the Fairlawn School of Music to serve students from the West Side of Akron. In between the opening of his two schools, Reed was also the guitar instructor at Archbishop Hoban High School from 2009-2011.
In 2012, Reed decided to relocate and rebrand his Kent business to Hudson, which is now the Hudson School of Music. His schools offer a private lesson experience that is supportive and unique, encouraging students at all levels to perform. Reed also uses his businesses to support the greater community. His schools host an annual “Rock for a Good Cause” concert which, to date, has raised thousands of dollars for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. The concert encourages student bands to learn about the work of the Foodbank and share what they have learned during their performance. His schools are also a sponsor of the Foodbank’s Virtual Idol competition. In addition to his support of the Foodbank, Kurt participates in the Grapes and Gourmet Guys benefit for GriefCare Place each year and is a volunteer with the Highland Square Neighborhood Association’s Porch Rokr planning committee. His schools provide support to various other local organizations, including the Akron Dog Park and Relay for Life to name a few.
Reed was recognized by the Akron Area Arts Alliance as the Outstanding Artist in Music at the Arts Alive! Awards in 2013 for his contributions to the community and to the local music scene.
The community can regularly see Reed out performing with one of his five music projects (Verve Daddy, Lithium, Rusted Development, Favorite Mistake and Triple Threat). When he is not performing on his own, Reed is out supporting the many projects of his faculty from the Fairlawn and Hudson Schools of Music.