John Mery has been teaching at Portland Community College’s Sylvania Campus since 1999. Since moving from Arizona to head the music program at Sylvania John has worked closely with transfer institutions to create a music curriculum that allows PCC students to seamlessly transfer to four-year universities, music conservatories and colleges. John’s students have gone on to complete undergraduate degree, master degrees, and doctorate degrees in music. His PCC students have successfully transferred to many music programs within the state, the region, and to many prominent national institutions including The Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York, Syracuse University, The Berkelee College of Music in Boston, Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle, California State University at Northridge, The New England Music Conservatory, , Full Sail University in Florida, Texas Christian University, Reed College, University of Portland, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University and Portland State University.
John is a critically acclaimed guitarist and recording artist who has released many recordings as a soloist and with his groups the Oregon Guitar Quartet and Tango Pacifico. He is an active member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Guitar Foundation of America. John is an active performer who has recently performed at the NW Guitar Festival, The Loudon County Guitar Festival in Virginia, The Guitar Foundation of America Festival in Fullerton California, and with Chamber Music Northwest. Regionally he has performed as soloist with the Oregon Symphony, and with the Portland Opera, and Third Angle New Music Ensemble. In 2013 and 2014 John toured Costa Rica as a featured performer with the Credomatic Music Festival.
John primarily teaches music theory, chamber ensemble and music history courses at PCC. He holds a Master of Music Degree from the University of Arizona where he attended on scholarship and worked as a graduate teaching assistant. John also is on the music faculty of Lewis and Clark College.
Sylvania Music Program Student Recitals