Our main goal is not only to share our love for the guitar with others, but to ensure our students enjoy the learning process and are having fun from week to week.
Micah Wetzel
Micah Wetzel is the owner of Amari Studios. He grew up in Rochester, MN and attended college at SDSU, studying music and business. A majority of his time is spent teaching at Amari Studios, where he sees over 60 students a week. Along with teaching at Amari Studios, Micah currently teaches part time at Augustana University as an adjunct guitar instructor.
In addition to teaching, Micah is an active musician performing around the area both as a solo artist and with his band, Goodroad. As a band, they have shared the stage for national artists such as Florida Georgia Line, Jon Pardi, Heart, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tyler Farr, Cheap Trick, Sister Hazel, and more. They have been fortunate enough to make #1 Local Best Band 10 out of the last 11 years. Check out the shows page to see where Micah or the band will be playing next.
Thomas Merritt is currently a student at O’Gorman and will be finishing up his senior year next Fall. He is very active with music and guitar at his school. He plays guitar in BOTH Jazz 1 and Jazz 2 of the OG Jazz Band. He also plays guitar in the Pep Band. In addition to the school related bands, he is also currently a part of All State Jazz Band with the guitar and was previously part of All State with the Trombone. He has won multiple awards for best improvised guitar solo at a handful of different OG jazz competitions. He leads and plays guitar in a small jazz combo that plays gigs out around town. He often plays in weekly Jazz Jam Nights at R Wine Bar, where the focus is on sight reading charts and improvisation in a full band setting. He is proficient at both treble and bass clef. Aside from all of the jazz, he loves playing popular songs, guitar solos, fingerpicking and has been recording his own original music. He plays bass guitar and drums, as well!
Thomas was also employed through Bishop O Gorman Catholic Schools where he helped with after school care and worked with kids on a weekly basis.