Sven Rainey

Education

DMA, The Hartt School

Graduate Performance Diploma, Peabody/Johns Hopkins University

MA, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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Guitarist Sven Rainey is becoming known for expressive playing and dynamic programming in performances as well as a strong commitment toward collaborations, scholarship, and excellence in teaching. Sven is a DMA graduate from the Hartt School with the doctoral essay titled "The Solo Guitar Sonatas of Manuel Ponce: the Influences of Nationalism, Impressionism, and Neoclassicism.” As a student he received the Augustine Strings performance scholarship and studied with teacher and author Richard Provost. He received his Suzuki training at the Hartt School from David Madsen. Sven also holds a Graduate Performance Diploma from Peabody/Johns Hopkins University studying with pedagogue and concert artist Julian Gray, and Masters degree from UNLV studying with concert artist Ricardo Cobo.

Sven has performed as a soloist at Hartt School’s “Evening with Guitar” concert series, the Connecticut Guitar Festival, the River’s School Guitar Festival, and the West Hartford Shakespeare Festival. As a collaborative guitarist, he has played and recorded guitar duets with fellow Hartt graduate Catherine O’Kelly; in the guitar orchestras for the Leo Brouwer 80th Birthday Celebration at the Hartt School; and “Concierto de los Angeles” by Shingo Fujii with William Kanengiser, soloist, in the Peabody Guitar Orchestra. Most recently, Sven has contributed to virtual orchestra productions, including: “Scient, Safe and Sane” by Sergio Assad, “Relampiños” by Adam del Monte, and “La Morenita” as part of the Connecticut Guitar Festival, for which he served as Educational Director. In 2021, Sven directed and edited a virtual orchestra production of “Ode to Joy” which involved submissions from over 200 students in an arrangement of the chorale from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

As a registered Suzuki teacher, Sven is proud to join the Hartt School Community Division. At his previous teaching appointments his students have won performance opportunities at Honors recitals, Concerto and Aria Competitions, and he has directed a guitar ensemble spotlight performance in 2015 at Carnegie Hall.

Teaching Philosophy

I felt a sense of homecoming when I began my Suzuki training ten years ago as it reminded me of my time as a Suzuki violin student as a child. The Suzuki method creates a supportive and relationship-centered environment for music education that involves teamwork and connection among the student, family, and teacher. Suzuki music education works hand-in-hand with what Dr. Suzuki called the larger goal of “talent education,” which is the affirmation of the potential of all students for learning and achievement. The cultivation of positive life lessons, character development, and peer connections are all part of the long-term Suzuki pathway. I feel grateful to have been a part of the Suzuki Method as both a student and now a teacher. I believe that I am living part of my life mission in working with students and their families in this positive and supportive way.