A graduate of Andrew Hill High School in 1981, Gus earned his BA in Jazz performance from San Jose State University in 1989 and his MA in jazz composition from Washington State University in 2001. He is currently the director of Jazz Studies at West Valley College in Saratoga, California. Prior to his current appointment, Gus was a full time faculty member at Washington State University teaching bass, rock history, music education, electronic music and vocal jazz ensemble. While on the faculty at Washington State, he performed throughout the northwest with Crosscurrent and Jazz Northwest. Gus is an active adjudicator/ clinician and has worked for the Gene Harris Jazz Festival, the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival, the Cuesta College Jazz Festival, the Kelowna B.C, Jazz Festival, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, and the Diablo Valley College Jazz Festival. As a bassist Gus has performed with Beach Blanket Babylon, Princess Cruises, Jazz Northwest, Theaterworks, Kings Entertainment, Sylvia Cuenca, The Mod Squad and many others. Walrus Music Inc., and Sound Music Publications publish his original compositions and arrangements.