Success Stories

Stefano Verderi (GIT '95)
Jan 01, 2005

After graduating from GIT in September, 1995, Stefano Verderi returned to Italy and played in a variety of different bands before joining with a singer-composer friend to form LE VIBRAZIONI. In early 2003, the band signed with BMG/Ricordi and put out their first single, “Dedicato A Te”, which jumped to Number One on every Italian chart and stayed there for 12 weeks, selling over 80,000 copies to date. The success of that single led to a six-month tour with over 80 concerts, followed by the first full CD, Le Vibrazioni, displaying the band’s 60’s/70’s Led Zeppelin-style rock influences. This past summer, they were declared Best New Act at the Italian pop festival Festivalbar as well as Best New Act and Best Band at the Italian Music Awards, and they have since been nominated as Best Italian Act at the recent MTV Europe Music Awards. The album is currently in the 4th chart position, has sold over 150.000 copies (a large hit for the Italian market) and a DVD is on the way.
Recently, Stefano shared some thoughts on his MI experience. “I was 20 when I came to MI and it was the first time I did something that really changed my life. I found myself in such a professional environment that it really helped me to decide that I was going to be a professional musician. I had the chance to play with great guitarists, both teachers and students. MI really opened my mind to many different music worlds, and I could focus my attention on styles of music such as funk and blues that really influenced my way of playing. MI gave me so much material to work on that I'm still practicing that stuff. The MI experience really gave me positive vibrations! ROCK 'N' ROLL ALWAYS!”
To learn more about Stefano and Le Vibrazioni, check out their website (www.levibrazioni.it) or their fan club site at www.vibrateam.it

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“More and more of the auditions I’m having for recording artists are turning out to be MI class reunions. The graduates of MI have been dominating the new, young music scene in LA”.

- Barry Squire
  Music Industry Talent Coordinator
  MI Hiring Hall Manager



MI alumni are working on stage, in the studio and behind the scenes around the world, with new stories arriving nearly every day. A sample of former MI students who have achieved industry recognition also includes:




Alessandro Cortini
Nine Inch Nails

Kalen Chase
Korn

Dave Kushner
Velvet Revolver

Rafael Moreira
Pink, Christina Aguilera,
Rock Star: Supernova

Mike Ward
Wallflowers, School of Fish

Kevin Hastings
Liz Phair

Pete Griffin
Hanson

Rivers Cuomo, Brian Bell,
Scott Shriner
Weezer

Curt Bisquera
Elton John, Mick Jagger,
Bonnie Raitt

Pete Anderson
guitarist, producer

Paul Gilbert
Mr.Big, Racer X

Norman Brown
recording artist

Scott Henderson
recording artist

Oscar Cartaya
Jennifer Lopez, Spyro Gyra

Alex Al
Tupac Shakur, Stevie Wonder

Keb’ Mo’
recording artist

Fred Clark
Chaka Khan, Ray Charles,
Stevie Wonder

Dave Weiner
Steve Vai

Jennifer Batten
recording artist, Jeff Beck,
Michael Jackson

Toss Panos
Steve Vai, Mike Landau,
Robben Ford

Frank Gambale
recording artist, Chick Corea

Kevin Dukes
Don Henley, Boz Scaggs,
Jackson Browne

Chad Smith,
John Frusciante
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Clayton Gibb, Les Falconer
Keb’ Mo’

John Shanks
Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt

Allen Hinds
Randy Crawford, Natalie Cole,
Crusaders

Jeff Buckley
recording artist

Scott Travis
Judas Priest

Ray Luzier
Korn, STP, Army of Anyone,
David Lee Roth

Matt Laug
Alanis Morissette, Slash

Ash Sood
Sarah McLachlan

Joacim Cans
Hammerfall

Leah Andreone
recording artist

Irene Gutierrez (DJ Irene)
DJ/producer/remixer/recording artist

T.J. Guger
Göla

Valerie Vega
Zomba/JIVE recording artist (France)

Ernest Tibbs
Alan Holdsworth, Natalie Cole

Toshi Hiketa
David Lee Roth

Travis Johnson
Dickies, TSOL

Jimmy Herring
Allman Brothers, The Other Ones,
ARU, Widespread Panic

Josh Sklair
Etta James, Jeffrey Osborne

Dan Caron
Clifton Chenier, Charles Brown

Jimmy Scott
Little Milton, Solomon Burke

Steve Kerscznic
Tom Jones

Brian Allen
Virgil Donati, Greg Adams

Meja
recording artist

Jesse Gress
music editor, Guitar Player Magazine

Sarah Hudson
recording artist
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