The Beatles, Frank Puzzullo, Billy Joel, Sting, Yellowjackets, Fernando Sodre, Dave Brubeck, Vince Guaraldi, Satie and Gregg Miner, Beethoven, Bach, Elvis Costello, Michael Hedges, Paul McCartney, Richard Tee, Chick Corea, Bela Fleck, Lyle Lovett, Stephen Bennett, John Doan, Miles Davis, Kenny Kirkland, Bob James, Dan Fogelberg, John Denver, Charlie Parker, James Brown, Paul Simon, John Williams, Danny Elfman, Howard Shore, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Anoushka Shankar, Tomas Mach, Sly Rabbits, Brad Huddleston, Crowded House, Neil Finn, Squeeze, The Muppet Show band, Al di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucía, Hall & Oats, Christopher Cross, Scott Joplin, Sasa Jurman, Loreena McKinnett, Howard Levy, Floyd Cramer, Fred Carlson and Stephen Sedgwick.
Brad Hoyt is a composer, pianist and harp guitarist who has performed and recorded frequently around the world. Brad graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelors degree in Telecommunications and an associate’s degree in Jazz/Commercial Music. Part of his studies included classical guitar lessons and private piano lessons with renowned jazz pianist Frank Puzzulo. Also while attending Ball State , he preformed with the school’s big bands, small jazz groups and with his own rhythm and blues band. After graduation, he moved to New York City and made his living by performing regularly as a solo pianist and ensemble musician. While living there, he arranged for chorus and orchestra an original composition for an off-Broadway singing group. Recently, Brad has performed and recorded extensively in Europe during a three-year period while living Prague , Czech Republic.
Brad is currently arranging new music on his 30 string harp guitar, the arpa viola capira and is recording tracks for a music CD featuring piano and harp guitar for the record label "Harp Guitar Music" (www.harpguitarmusic.com). Some selections where performed at the 5th International Harp Guitar Gathering ( http://www.harpguitars.net/hgg/hgg5/hgg5.htm ).
Brad has also written approximately 4.8 hours of original music in 24 different genres over the past two years for the company Pinnacle Systems. On weekdays, Brad is a Yamaha employee that supports Steinberg recording software and virtual instruments.
For those interested in the design and construction of Brad's harp guitar, you can read his informative articles on the subject at these links:
Hey Brad, very nice to meet you last week in Portland, and thanks for your beautiful playing! Looking forward to seeing you in Virginia next year. All the best from Jason
I love your pianoplaying...beautifull and touching...Im happy to get some harpguitarfile from you...I think I told you, I made some Guitar Harp with a luthier...I have a little video, if you give me your email I send it to you!
Its so great to meet people who play touching music...my best greetings, Harald
Yep Brad, its official, you are a harp guitarist now, tho its not techinically a harp "guitar" being a viola capria, ill give you the benefit of the doubt. Heh, kidding, I can't wait to play it at HGG6 (if i can pry it from your hands sometime), I envy the happiness i see in your eyes, i love that feeling of first holding your perfect instrument, don't you? After going through that website i am astonished at the work steve put into that thing, it looks absolutely amazing, I'm sure it sounds even better! That key tuner is clever.
I just registered today with doolin, I don't think we'll be staying at the motel since we have a few friends in the area to stay with, but we'll definitely hang out there when we can. Now my only worry is that this year will be taken over by the super-treble string enthusiasts, i won't have Bennet to back me up! I may get taken over to the dark side or would it be the light side since its lighter strings? I wish you happy and productive practicing with your new harp! See you in October.
Hello from Scotland... I can thoroughly recommend getting a nyckelharpa as long as you don't mind being completely unable to function for a while due to being able to do nothing but play it!! cheers ruth :-)
Hi Brad, thanks for finding me, I'm enjoying your music, glad to see you got some inspiration from my country. I miss it from time to time, but I do get to visit too. Enjoy Prague, it's always great to come back!
so great to meet you...your music is really touching and beautiful...love to know people who are inspired by harpguitars :-) please write me how you feel with your new harpguitar from Stephen...maybe you like to send me a sound file...please listen to "behind the snow" on my page, its played with a harp treblestring I created :)
Brad Hoyt! how are things? its great to see you on myspace man! looks good, songs sound great! have you seen my new forum on HGs.net? building another HG for Davy, check it out! love to hear your feedback!
