Council Members


Christopher Perez (2024-2026), Past Chair
Director of Guitar Studies
Freedom High School
Orlando, Florida

Patrick Callahan (2025-2026), Eastern Division Representative
Guitar Teacher
Franklin High School
Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Jared Waln (2025-2027), North Central Division Representative
Director of Guitar Education
Southwest High School, University of St. Thomas
Richfield Minnesota

Jared Tanner (2024-2026), Northwest Division Representative
Band and Guitar Teacher
Liberty High School, Issaquah School District
Renton, Washington

Rob Pethel (2025-2027), Southern Division Representative
Music Educator, Audio/Video Educator, Lead Technology Teacher
Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta, Georgia

Gwen Marie Lerch (2024-2026), Southwestern Division Representative
Director of Guitar
Santa Fe Public Schools, Capital High School & Ortiz Middle School
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Darin Au (2025-2027), Western Division Representative
Academy Faculty
Punahou School
Honolulu, Hawaii

Michael Klein (2025-2026), Member-At-Large Representative
Guitar Teacher
Green Valley High School
Henderson, Nevada

Michael McCallie (2025-2026), Member-at-Large Representative
Director of Guitar Programs
The McCallie School
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Ricardo Paz (2025-2026), Member-at-Large Representative
Guitar Instructor at Riverside Arts Academy and Teaching Assistant at UCR
Riverside Arts Academy & University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California

