John Auker

John Auker began studying music at the age of ten, starting on violin and moving to guitar two years later. His parents enrolled him in guitar lessons at age 12, and they luckily found a great teacher from the start. They stuck with his first instructor, Shawn Bradshaw for six years. At first, Mr. Bradshaw guided John through his favorite songs by Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Eric Clapton, Nirvana, Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan. After a couple years the lessons got tougher, challenging John to expand his knowledge of scales, chord shapes, music theory and improvisation, ultimately priming him for study at the collegiate level.

As his passion for music developed throughout his teens, John found opportunities to play guitar with his middle school orchestra, his high school jazz band, indoor drumline, and church worship bands, where he was additionally called upon to play bass. In 2001, Auker continued his musical training with Stan Smith and Karl Wohlwend at the Capital University Conservatory of Music. The years spent with Stan and Karl at Capital made John into a complete, professional and mature musician. Shortly before graduating Cum Laude with a B.M. in Jazz Studies/Contemporary Guitar performance in 2005, he received outstanding recognition from the Elmhurst Jazz Festival for his performance with the Capital University Big Band.

In the summer of 2009, John auditioned for the role of George Harrison in Hard Day’s Night, landing the job just in time to play his debut show in November that year. In addition to his role as George in Hard Day’s Night, he remains an active participant in the Columbus local music community, playing and recording with various groups. Auker has previously played with Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Stan Smith and Nova Madrugada, Steve Houghton, and Grammy nominated singers, Jeff Anderson and Sarah Kelly. He has appeared with Hard Day’s Night on ABC’s News 8 Daybreak in Dallas, TX.

John serves regularly at Grove City Nazarene, Vineyard Columbus, and Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, three of the largest congregations in the Columbus area. Auker has done studio work for Jeff Anderson’s In the Shadow, and Sinclair Broadcast Group’s jingle “Good Day Columbus.” Most recently, John contributed all of the electric guitar parts on Noelle Shearer's 2013 release, Speak to Me.

Aside from discovering and listening to new and inspiring music, John enjoys music-related projects such as refinishing/repairing guitars, songwriting and recording. He also enjoys spending quiet time around the house with his wife, Megan and physical activity-exercising, riding bikes or playing on the playground with his daughter, Nora.

Offering private instruction for guitar, ukulele, bass and mandolin, Auker maintains a full teaching schedule at Music & Arts Center in Worthington, OH, and the Guitar House Workshop in Upper Arlington, OH. John is happy to join the JamPlay team and hopes that he can help others find joy in creativity as they continue their musical journey.

John Auker began studying music at the age of ten, starting on violin and moving to guitar two years later. His parents enrolled him in guitar lessons at age 12, and they luckily found a great teacher from the start. They stuck with his first instructor, Shawn Bradshaw for six years. At first, Mr. Bradshaw guided John through his favorite songs by Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Eric Clapton, Nirvana, Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan. After a couple years the lessons got tougher, challenging John to expand his knowledge of scales, chord shapes, music theory and improvisation, ultimately priming him for study at the collegiate level.

As his passion for music developed throughout his teens, John found opportunities to play guitar with his middle school orchestra, his high school jazz band, indoor drumline, and church worship bands, where he was additionally called upon to play bass. In 2001, Auker continued his musical training with Stan Smith and Karl Wohlwend at the Capital University Conservatory of Music. The years spent with Stan and Karl at Capital made John into a complete, professional and mature musician. Shortly before graduating Cum Laude with a B.M. in Jazz Studies/Contemporary Guitar performance in 2005, he received outstanding recognition from the Elmhurst Jazz Festival for his performance with the Capital University Big Band.

In the summer of 2009, John auditioned for the role of George Harrison in Hard Day’s Night, landing the job just in time to play his debut show in November that year. In addition to his role as George in Hard Day’s Night, he remains an active participant in the Columbus local music community, playing and recording with various groups. Auker has previously played with Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Stan Smith and Nova Madrugada, Steve Houghton, and Grammy nominated singers, Jeff Anderson and Sarah Kelly. He has appeared with Hard Day’s Night on ABC’s News 8 Daybreak in Dallas, TX.

John serves regularly at Grove City Nazarene, Vineyard Columbus, and Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, three of the largest congregations in the Columbus area. Auker has done studio work for Jeff Anderson’s In the Shadow, and Sinclair Broadcast Group’s jingle “Good Day Columbus.” Most recently, John contributed all of the electric guitar parts on Noelle Shearer's 2013 release, Speak to Me.

Aside from discovering and listening to new and inspiring music, John enjoys music-related projects such as refinishing/repairing guitars, songwriting and recording. He also enjoys spending quiet time around the house with his wife, Megan and physical activity-exercising, riding bikes or playing on the playground with his daughter, Nora.

Offering private instruction for guitar, ukulele, bass and mandolin, Auker maintains a full teaching schedule at Music & Arts Center in Worthington, OH, and the Guitar House Workshop in Upper Arlington, OH. John is happy to join the JamPlay team and hopes that he can help others find joy in creativity as they continue their musical journey.