Beginnings

Luke Brouillette was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana (pronounced "NAK-uh-tush") in 1957.

He began his formal music instruction as a cello student through a school string program  at age ten and began private lessons at age eleven with Mr. Richard Rose, then Assistant Professor of Music and cello instructor at NSU. In 1971 at age thirteen he was accepted as a performer in The Natchitoches/Northwestern Symphony Orchestra and continued with them through his High School years. As a cellist, Luke won numerous awards at music fairs, and was chosen to participate in the Louisiana “Governor’s Honors” orchestras as well as Louisiana All-State Orchestras.

In addition to studying cello, starting around age sixteen Luke developed an interest in guitar and popular music and began forming and performing in popular music bands with his local peers.

Boston Years

At age twenty he enrolled at Berklee College of Music, studying guitar with Steve Carter, Charles Chapman, Jim Kelly, and Larry Baione. He graduated in 1980 with a Diploma in Professional Music with guitar as his major instrument. From there, he worked in the original music scene in the Boston area as a guitarist/singer/songwriter and as a leader and sideman doing professional live and recording studio performances.

Around 1991 he stopped playing in bands to study classical guitar for a little while with Robert Ward. At the same time he began teaching in a music store in Plymouth, MA on Saturdays, organizing guitar playing knowledge into lessons for students.

Homeward Bound

Brouillette returned to Natchitoches in 1993. In 1994 he was asked to join the NSU CAPA faculty as an adjunct guitar instructor. He currently offers private guitar instruction at the university for Major and Minor Study and accepts students at any level of proficiency. Lessons focus on jazz and popular playing styles supported with methods and materials from the Berklee College of Music as well as his own materials.

In addition to university teaching, while in Natchitoches Luke has worked as a professional performer in popular music dance bands and jazz combos, as well as participating in NSU Theater productions, NSU Jazz Orchestra (as member and as guest soloist) and NSU Faculty and Student Recitals.