Sylvan Music Staff

Albert Markasky

Sylvan Music's humble beginnings started with Al in a small shop in downtown Santa Cruz. Since then, he has built over 20 acoustic guitars and repaired & restored thousands of instruments. Come on in and he'll give you a Buckeye hello.

Mike Sparber

Mike is a lover & admirer of all stringed instruments, especially the old ones.  When he's not busy greasing the wheels of Sylvan, he can be found playing with his trusty dog, Ernie, or seeing live music around the Bay Area.

David Robin

David Robin got his start in 1960's Chicago rock n' roll scene and has built up an impressive, lengthy musical resume in the years since. After all these years, his love of the guitar is as strong as ever.

Kevin Bongard

This local boy has been in the music biz for more than 15 years and has a passion for instruments (usually the four-stringed kind) that is matched only by his love for vehicles (the two-wheeled kind).

McCoy Tyler

Growing up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, McCoy became involved in the local music community at an early age. He can often be found performing throughout the bay area, promoting his original music: www.mccoytylermusic.com

Max Lee

This East Coast transplant landed in Santa Cruz after extensive training as a percussionist.  He's since branched out to stringed instruments, and his upbeat attitude is welcomed by customers and coworkers alike.