Guitar, Bass, Piano
Jazz, Singer Songwriter, Rock, Latin
Julia Mendiolea has been teaching and performing music professionally for 14 years, and is honored to join the community at Old Town School of Folk Music. She offers lessons in guitar, bass, piano, and music theory through a spectrum of genres including jazz, folk, rock, pop, and classical.
Julia creates a supportive and stimulating learning environment that nurtures creativity, confidence, and critical thinking. She designs personalized lesson plans by blending various pedagogical approaches, tailoring her methods to students’ unique musical aspirations and backgrounds. Julia believes that honoring each student’s individual voice ensures their educational journey is both meaningful and expansive.
Julia has built a versatile music career as a guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist for several projects. She currently tours nationally and internationally with Y La Bamba and has been a member of the latin/indie/experimental band since 2019. She has shared stages with a range of artists including DeVotchKa, Lee Fields, Dave Devine, Ingrid Michaelson, Elle King, and as fate would have it, Weird Al. Highlight performances and sessions include the Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, NPR Tiny Desk, SXSW, KEXP, and KCRW. Julia is currently recording her debut album, alchemizing influences of experimental, space age pop, and folk genres into her composition and songwriting.
Along with her career in performing and private instruction, Julia spent nearly a decade working closely with modular synthesizers and effects pedals through their design, manufacturing, and repair. She is passionate about the infinite possibilities of sound and loves sharing this realm with others through collaboration and teaching. In 2016, she built a recurring workshop for Girls Rock titled “Pedal Prowess” that introduced students to the creative possibilities of utilizing electronics and effects pedals.
Julia Mendiolea earned her B.S. in Jazz Guitar and B.S. in Recording Arts from the University of Colorado Denver in 2013.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Recording Arts & Bachelor of Science in Guitar Performance, University of Colorado Denver
Started at the Old Town School in August of 2024
