About
About Thomas Shugar
Thomas started playing guitar in 1985. His initial interest was classic rock and blues. Since then he has ventured through various music genres and bands. In March of 1997, he decided to take his guitar playing to the next level, which has led him into the vast world of classical guitar.
Thomas has been teaching guitar lessons professionally since 1999.
Thomas Shugar has Studied with:
Joseph Mixon
Director of Guitar Studies at Lebanon Valley College
Michael Wall
Student of the World Renowned Composer and Performer- Jorge Morel
Joseph Mayes
Director of Guitar Studies at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.
Mayes has toured half of Europe and the United States, performing at Wigmore Hall in London, and also at Carnegie Recital Hall in New York back in 1981. Joseph Mayes was a former Student of the Legendary Guitar Virtuoso -Andrès Segovia.
Behdad Moghaddasi
Former Director of Guitar Studies at Teran University and Music Conservatory in Teran, Iran.
Behdad headlined as the final performer at the Cannington International Guitar Festival in Sommerset, the United Kingdom. Voted Number One Regional Performer by Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society for 2002.
Thomas Shugar's Soundcloud
Career Highlights & Timeline
Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society 2003
Thomas made his debut as the Headlining Performer for Recital One on April 13, 2003.
Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society 2004
Lectured on Villa-Lobos Etude #6, & Etude #10, under the direction of Behdad Moghaddassi.
Performed ‘Mazurka Choros’ by Heitor Villa-Lobos at the Evening Recital.
Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society 2005
Lectured on Bach’s Allemande, Bourree, and Gigue (from Lute Suite No.1) under the direction of Behdad Moghaddassi.
Rosemont Collage
Performed for The Iranian Cultural Society for the ‘Iranian and World Music’ presentation under the direction of Behdad Moghaddassi.
Reading
Performed for Basketball Celebrity Donyell Marshall at The Abraham Lincoln Hotel, for processional music.
Movies
Composed “Dannys Evil Toybox” as the main theme for the movie “You Let Him In”
Where It All Started
Tom’s childhood best friend- Jerry Lulevitch, and his friend Mike Neiman and introduced the Electric guitar to Tom, when he was about 16 years old.
The Rise of Oracle
I formed the Band “Oracle”, with Mike Neiman, on guitar and bass, and James Moyer, on Drums. This was my first basement band. We started out by working out a couple of cover songs and then started writing originals.
The Anxiety Era
I formed the band called “Anxiety”, with Mike Neiman on Guitar, Robert Runyan, on Bass Guitar and Tim Godbolt, on drums.
We played covers and originals and performed locally, and throughout PA. Tim Goldbolt was replaced by Tom Stonfelt.
Solo Sessions
Started delving into writing songs and recording them on a Yamaha MT3X 4 Track recorder, alone.
Airwaves & Acclaim
16 Tracks, One Vision
Bought a Fostex 16 track reel to reel, had it all rebuilt, and started writing songs again, alone. As a solo artist I had airplay on the Stewart Brodian Show out of Allentown on W88.5 FM. Stewart was on Ricci Lake and the Howard Stern Show, and was cast in two low budget horror movies.
He played two of my musical compositions- “Rhapsody” and for his Halloween show he played “The creeping witches of the Black Hills”, an orchestrated composition that sounded like a 1950’s horror film soundtrack.
I also had some airplay on several collage stations, local and abroad.
Sharpening the Craft
Still wrote songs. Learned more about music theory, and orchestration ideas with the keyboard.
Refined Strings
Took a break from writing songs and started studying classical guitar with Joseph Mixon, Director of Guitar Studies at Lebanon Valley College. Played at some big venues such as “Mayfair” in Allentown, and “Racial Unity Day” in Harrisburg, at City Island.
I began teaching guitar lessons full-time at the Community School of Music and The Arts in Reading, PA. and Guitar Villa in Bethlehem, PA.
Mastery in Motion
Studied under Behdad Moghadassi, Michael Wall and Joseph Mayes.
I headlined the first recital at the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society’s Annual Guitar Festival. The next twp years after that I performed and lectured on the music of J.S. Bach and Heitor Villa’ Lobos.s
Home Studio Revival
Took a break from lessons, and created a recording studio on my 3rd floor, bought a Tascam D3200, a digital 32 track recorder. Started writing songs again, alone, and re-recording some old ones over. I continued to work on my classical guitar studies, and I started learning some Jazz Theory here and there.
Teaching, Tunes & Airwaves
I began teaching lessons at Thomas Shugar Guitar Studio and continue to do so.
I continued working on classical guitar and some jazz studies. I returned to study with Joe Mixon for some jazz theory.
I co-wrote a jingle for Grover Silcox, John DeBella’s morning sidekick on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I had radio airplay on the John DeBella show, April, May and June on WMGK (Magic 102.9 FM). The John DeBella show is based out of Philadelphia and is broadcast on Internet Radio throughout the world.
Grover Silcox comes on at 8:00am on Thursdays so tune in, you might hear it. (They don’t play it every week.)
Currently, I have a jingle I wrote for Volkswagen on the table.
Consistent Growth
I still studied classical and jazz music theory. I continued writing, composing and recording Songs.
I took part in the Cat Diamond studio project, and wrote lead guitar for my own original compositions as well as a studio artist’s compositions.
I continued teaching lessons at Thomas Shugar Guitar Studio.
Ongoing Journey
I currently teach private guitar lessons.
I continue to study classical and jazz music theory.
I continue to perform classical guitar music for weddings, private and corporate parties, art shows, open house events and gatherings of all kinds.
Pandemic Pause
When the Covid-19 Pandemic hit, EVERYTHING came to an end. There were NO students, and NO performances. So, I got back into writing, composing, and recording music. I switched over from my old Korg D3200 Hard disc recorder into Computer based Recording.
Started Teaching again, and tried different Recording Studio layouts. I wasn’t happy with any of them. I started to rethink my old set up, and started to plan out a new studio.
Studio Upgrade
I disassembled my old recording studio, and purchased a new producer’s desk, and built new racks, to hold more equipment. I also bought Class ‘A’ Preamps and Compressors, and totally Rewired the Studio , from the ground up, with six patchbays, to have all of the wires organized. I’m getting ‘settled in’ with learning the new recording studio equipment.
The BIG 25
I celebrated 25 years, of teaching professionally! I’m VERY grateful! THANK YOU! Also, I’m getting the new recording studio equipment fine-tuned, and I am working with producing a handful of local artists, and I have opened up my new studio, for all of my guitar students. I am teaching recording classes, on learning arrangement, production, and mixes.
Scoring the Screen – Composed the Main Theme for "You Let Him In"
Thomas Shugar composed the main title theme for the independent horror film You Let Him In. The haunting track, titled “Danny’s Evil Toybox,” set the tone for the movie’s eerie atmosphere and marked his debut in film scoring. The composition blends dark orchestration with unsettling melodies, showcasing Thomas’s ability to bring cinematic storytelling to life through music.