Brandon Vallejo
Bassist. Teacher. Engineer.
Brandon Vallejo is a bass player, music teacher, and audio engineer with over 20 years of experience. He has played and toured around the country with professional death metal bands Vale of Pnath, Virvum, and Perihelion, as well as performing at music festivals such as Floyd Fest with Frenchie & the Holy Gems. He also has experience performing both jazz and classical music, each on upright and electric bass. His jazz background includes playing electric bass in the Duquesne Jazz Workshop as well as sitting in on local jam sessions with musicians such as Roger Humphries and George Heid III. His classical experience comes from playing in the bass section of the Duquesne Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed under the direction of Maestro Honeck, the Musical Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. While attending Duquesne University, Brandon had both upright and electric bass lessons under distinguished bassists Paul Thompson, Brian Stahurski, and Jeff Mangone.
Brandon is a versatile bassist and teacher who specializes in technical playing while emphasizing the importance of fundamentals and serving the song. His teaching focuses on developing technique, music theory, creating an effective practice routine, and the importance of the "why" rather than just the "how". Having private students over the years and now teaching at School of Rock in Wexford, PA and Castle Shannon, PA, Brandon has been able to teach both individual lessons on guitar and bass as well as directing performance groups who then play local venues.
Brandon has extensive experience working with kids and adults alike and expresses a joy for teaching that can only come from loving what you do.
Beginning with an interest in the recording process in high school, Brandon started out as a self-taught engineer, tracking his own music before working with Baltimore local band Apath, to record and mix his very first record for a client. Eventually, he would decide to attend Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA for Music Technology and Sound Recording, where he was able to formally refine his skills under the direction of skilled and decorated engineers such as Jesse Naus, Thomas Kikta, Jay Dudt, and Hollis Greathouse. This led him to tracking and mixing sessions of various styles for other students and local performers while gaining a greater understanding of the recording fundamentals.
As a member of the Duquesne chapter of the Audio Engineering Society (AES), he was able to attend both the NAMM convention and multiple AES conferences in New York City, where he became acquainted with former Solid State Logic US CEO, Piers Plaskitt.
Brandon is ready to work with you to make your songs heard!