Office location: Music, D-2Biography
2006 marks the inaugural year of Greg McLaughlin as the new instrumental music program director. He takes over for retiring faculty member, Bill Carmody. An alumnus of Sierra College’s music program (A.A., 1978) McLaughlin also holds degrees (BM, 1983, MA, 1994) in flute performance from CSU-Sacramento. He has been on the faculty for 15 years, serving primarily as the director of Jazz Studies at Sierra College, instructing many groups including both the jazz ensemble and the award-winning vocal group, the Sierra Jazz Voices. He has also taught courses in jazz history and jazz improvisation, and has conducted the wind symphony.
As a dedicated educator, Greg has been a private instructor in the Sacramento area since 1976. Currently, he and his wife, Nancie, own and operate McLaughlin Studios, a highly regarded music education facility located in Loomis, CA. Greg currently teaches flute, saxophone and piano at McLaughlin Studios, in addition to directing jazz and flute ensembles. He is also the director of the South Placer Youth Symphony.
Greg also has been an active woodwind performer, freelancing throughout the Sacramento region for the past thirty years. Versed in both classical and popular styles, McLaughlin has performed with many diverse ensembles. A brief sampling of his performing credentials include: The Foothill Theater Company Orchestra; Nevada County Concert Band; Sacramento Master Singers Orchestra; Camellia Symphony Orchestra; Briefcase Blues Band; Sierra Arts Music Festival organizer and performer.
From 1994-2004, Greg was a member of the popular jazz ensemble, “Swing City”, making festival appearances at the Victoria, B.C. Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival, and was a perennial favorite at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. Currently, he is the flutist with the Ivan Najera Latin Ensemble, and plays regularly with local guitarist Greg Perkins. He is a founding member of the latin group “Atiempo”, and was the creator and producer of the group, “Greg’s Daughter.”
In addition to his demanding performing schedule, McLaughlin has also clocked many hours in the recording studio, and can be heard on albums such as: Greg’s Daughter, “Walkin’ to D.C.” (SPAA Records, 2003); Swing City! "Get Outta Town! (A Sharp Music Co., 2002); Christine Bonner, "Sand Castles" (Rainbow Music Co., 1998) & "Companeros" (2002).