Eli Toombs
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Guitarist and composer Eli Toombs plays a wide range of repertoire, from the baroque to contemporary periods. He showcases works by J.S. Bach, Francisco Tárrega, Bill Evans, Ralph Towner, and Andrew York, as well as his own compositions. As evidenced from the large scope of his repertoire, Eli enjoys playing and blending the influences of many genres, most notably those of the classical, jazz, and rock idioms. It is not uncommon to hear classical techniques in his jazz arrangements, or rich jazz harmonies in his rock or classical compositions. Because of this, his music is always fresh and enjoyable. Eli has enjoyed sharing his music in a wide variety of situations and venues. He has casually played for friends, people walking on the street, in bars, on grungy stages, and in concert halls. He has performed with the Treasure Valley Community College Concert Choir, Jazz Choir, and Jazz Band.
At Southern Oregon University, he participated in the Concert Choir and Jazz Ensemble. Most recently he has given a successful senior recital in the SOU Music Recital Hall. It is no doubt that Eli’s blending of musical styles comes in part because of the philosophical foundations he gained from the “Be the Change” program. The “Be the Change” program emphasizes the acceptance of diversity in an effort to make educational environments more safe and comfortable for students from all backgrounds. It is also through this program that he has undergone rigorous self-examination and learned interpersonal and leadership skills. Thanks to these strong foundations, Eli has chosen to pursue a career helping others through music therapy. His musical journey began at Ontario High School, where he received several awards for his dedicated service to the music program and graduated with honors.
It continued at Treasure Valley Community College where he studied with Edward Wheeler, eventually receiving an award of accomplishment for “All-Around Musician” and graduating with an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in music. From there he transferred to Southern Oregon University where he studied with jazz guitarist Ed Dunsavage and composer Mark E. Jacobs. There he earned an award for his performance in the Spring 2015 Brass and Strings continuation exam and received a Bachelor of Science in music. He currently plans to move to Eugene to further enhance his musical and performance skills before enrolling in the Music Therapy program at Marylhurst University.
