Steve Lester

Steve Lester has fused a large variety of musical passions and influences into an instrumental guitar approach uniquely satisfying and entertaining. As a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Army bands he has also shared his talents around the world from Russia to Korea. His early lessons were in jazz from John Lilley who later gained international renown as a member of the popular Philadelphia-based group The Hooters. He also studied with Washington D.C. rockabilly legend Danny Gatton, jazz great Joe Pass, and classical virtuoso Christopher Parkening. Prior to joining the Army he worked as a full time bluegrass musician, after which he earned a B.A. in classical guitar performance from Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md. He retired from the Army in 2007 after spending the previous year deployed to Afghanistan. Among the dignitaries for whom he has performed in intimate settings include Secretary of the Army John McHugh, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. A performance of his music may include a sampling of Bach, Handel, Villa-Lobos, Duke Ellington, Chet Atkins, the Beatles and many more. He now lives in Lake Placid, NY.

Lake Placid, NY