Christopher Parkening Guitar Program Alumnus Garrett Podgorski to Tour with Maroon 5
Beginning October 2025, Seaver College alumnus Garrett Podgorski (’24) will open for Grammy-winning pop-rock band Maroon 5 on their national LOVE IS LIKE tour.
Podgorski was selected to support singer Claire Rosinkranz, who is opening for Maroon 5, on the electric guitar and keyboard due to his technical proficiencies in both classical and contemporary guitar styles—skills that he refined through Seaver College’s music program as a protégé of Christopher Parkening, distinguished professor of music and chair in classical guitar.
“I knew I wanted to be a professional musician as soon as I picked up a guitar,” says Podgorski. “It was always my first choice to study music and guitar performance at Seaver with Professor Parkening.”
Throughout his undergraduate studies Podgorski was involved in the Classical Guitar with Christopher Parkening program. Parkening notably elevated classical guitar playing to the academic setting when he started the University of Southern California’s guitar department at just 19 years old. After a four-year hiatus from concert tours and recording sessions at the age of 30, Parkening returned to the public eye, committing his music to glorifying Christ. His extensive career includes innumerable international performances, 26 albums, and two Grammy nominations and was deemed “the leading guitar virtuoso of our day” by The Washington Post.
Parkening program cohort: Podgorski (bottom left), Parkening (center)
Parkening first recognized Podgorski’s musical aptitude in 2017 while listening to the student’s first album, Limitless, which Podgorski released while was still in high school. In turn, Parkening invited Podgorski to attend the Christopher Parkening Master Class at Pepperdine University. According to Podgorski this exposure to the University's music program and academic environment informed his wholehearted decision to attend as an undergraduate in 2020.
“Garrett Podgorski was one of the finest students I’ve had the privilege to teach,” says Parkening. “He took studying at Pepperdine University very seriously, and kept up a rigorous practice routine throughout his time here. Garrett has always played with so much musicality, making him an exceptional artist. It was a pleasure watching him grow as a musician, and I look forward to seeing his bright future ahead.”
As a Seaver student Podgorski advanced his musicianship through Parkening’s dynamic curriculum of music theory and history, private lessons, ensemble participation, and solo performance opportunities. However, Podgoski considers the most valuable aspect of his education to be what extended beyond just technical musicianship. During mentorship sessions Parkening extended real-world advice to his students about navigating the music industry, which prepared Podgorski for his upcoming music releases.
Throughout college Podgorski released two classical albums, Villa-Lobos: 5 Preludes and The Pacific Duo: A Debut, as well as two metal instrumental singles, “Overarching” and “Turning Point.” Podgorski’s band, Byrdhouse, additionally debuted an album titled Figure It Out in May 2023.
A typical weekend during Podgorski’s childhood involved busking as a street musician along the busy roads of downtown Burbank. Propping open his guitar case, Podgorski played under the fervid rays of the Californian sun while his friends drove by hollering his name, wondering why he spent his leisure time devoted to a single instrument: the guitar.
“In my childhood I had to sacrifice a lot to get to the place where I am now. I took it very seriously to devote myself to a level of musical proficiency which I am still striving for,” says Podgorski. “Busking downtown gave me great exposure and performing experience.”
Podgorski performing
Soon Podgorski surpassed the streets, and by age 11 he was a contracted artist for notable guitar brands such as Fender Guitars and Gibson Guitars while performing guitar solos on stage to the thousands. Podgorski won the “Gohar and Ovanes Andriassian Young Classical Guitarist Competition” in both 2018 and 2019. Podgorski placed 3rd in the “Parkening International Young Guitar Competition” in 2019.
Pepperdine’s Hub for Spiritual Life introduced Podgorski to the Well Collective, a community of worship artists that connects musicians with nearby churches, where he spent weekends playing for local congregations as a student. Now Podgorski remains lead guitarist for Calvary Church of Pacific Palisades.
As Podgorski prepares for Maroon 5’s national tour, he emphasizes the necessity for musicians to live balanced lives. For him this includes many of the same activities he initiated as a student such as surfing, hiking along the coast of Malibu, and attending concerts in the Los Angeles area to support other musicians.
“Often musicians think that locking yourself in a room to practice for 10 hours a day is how you’re going to find success, and in my opinion, that's not true,” explains Podgorski. “As a musician you need to get yourself out there and socialize. This is done through collaborating with artists but also by being in community. As an artist you need to be a healthy human being in this universe, which I was able to be at Pepperdine.”