Pathways: Jonathan Wilson ’84 – Crafting a New Instrument and Legacy

South Kent School alumnus Jonathan Wilson ’84 has charted an extraordinary journey from the Hillside to the forefront of musical innovation. Renowned for inventing the GuitarViol, a modern hybrid of the guitar and viola da gamba, Jonathan’s work bridges centuries of musical tradition with cutting-edge artistry. He will share his story and insights on the upcoming Pathways Alumni Panel alongside Dillon Duncan ’04 and Rich Brande ’88.

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A Passion for Music and Innovation

Jonathan’s relationship with music spans more than four decades, with 30 years dedicated to realizing his vision for a modern Arpeggione—a bowed guitar first conceived by Johan Staufer in 1823. In 1993, he collaborated to create an early version of the instrument but found it lacking the versatility he desired. By 2002, out of personal frustration, Jonathan built the first “TogaMan” prototype to meet his performance needs.

The response was immediate and overwhelming. Without even a dedicated website, Jonathan’s MP3 artist page drew inquiries, and by the end of that year, the first official TogaMan GuitarViol was commissioned. Demand grew so quickly that GuitarViols Inc. developed a lengthy waitlist, primarily comprised of Film and TV composers.

A Soundtrack to Modern Media

The GuitarViol has since become a go-to instrument for some of the world’s most notable composers. Its evocative tones, combining the resonance of a bowed instrument with the familiarity of a guitar, lend themselves beautifully to cinematic soundscapes. In 2006, Tyler Bates used the GuitarViol in his score for the movie 300, catapulting the instrument into the spotlight. Today, GuitarViols are a staple in film, TV, and video game soundtracks, with their distinctive sound heard daily across global media.

The TogaMan Identity

The name TogaMan was inspired by Paolo Veronese’s 1563 painting The Wedding at Cana, which features a toga-clad viol player holding the instrument like a guitar. Jonathan embraced this imagery to define his brand, opting for a name that set him apart from other builders while reflecting the instrument’s historical roots and innovative design.

Beyond the Music

Jonathan’s inventive spirit and entrepreneurial journey have turned his vision into an enduring legacy. His Valencia, California-based company, GuitarViols Inc., continues to refine the GuitarViol, pushing its design to new levels of artistry and craftsmanship.

Pathways Alumni Panel

Jonathan’s story reflects the South Kent ethos of embracing challenges, pursuing passions, and innovating boldly. We are thrilled to welcome him to the next Pathways Alumni Panel, where he will discuss his journey, the creative process behind his invention, and the impact of his work on the world of music and beyond.

Join us in celebrating Jonathan’s inspiring path from South Kent to a global stage of artistic achievement.

READ the Music on LA Times Article

Hear more from his musicians and creators on YouTube (WATCH)

SEE ALL SOUTH KENT SCHOOL MASTERCLASS TALKS

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Dorell Wright was a generational talent at the high school ranks, as he started his basketball journey in Los Angeles at Washington Preparatory School. Dorell then transferred to Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, CA, where his game began to take off and turn heads nationwide. This allowed him to play for a fifth year at South Kent, where he dropped over 29 points per game under coach Raphael Chillious. 

While Dorell Wright initially declared for DePaul for college, he ultimately decided to go into the NBA Draft out of high school, as he was drafted 19th overall to the Miami Heat. He played for the Heat until 2010 and won an NBA Championship alongside Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal. His NBA career continued through 2016 as he had stints with the Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, and Philadelphia 76ers before returning to the Heat. Following his second time in Miami, Wright played overseas until 2020.

Along with his incredible basketball talents, Dorell Wright has done a lot of philanthropic work. After his playing career, Wright founded the Wright Legacy Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to cultivating young scholars into productive and active participants in society. The Wright Legacy Foundation, also co-run by his brother Deion Wright and his wife Mia Wright, gives money to schools in need for advanced classroom training and educational advancement, providing more opportunities for athletes to take the collegiate step. Furthermore, Dorell Wright is still an active member of the South Kent School community, as he is a member of the Board of Trustees.

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A titan in the realm of journalism, he etched his name in history through a career spanning over three decades. Known in the business as a “scrappy underdog”, his tenure as editor at three esteemed newspapers, including The New York Herald Tribune, witnessed a transformative era in journalism, catalyzing the emergence of the New Journalism movement.

His memoir, “The Last Editor”, served as a testament to his unwavering dedication to the craft. With a subtitle as feisty as his personality, Bellows proclaimed how he “Saved The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times from
Dullness and Complacency.”

One pivotal moment that epitomized Bellows’ commitment to impactful journalism was his decision to publish Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in April 1963. In a time when racial tensions were rife, Bellows defied conventional norms and gave voice to King’s powerful message, amplifying the call for justice and equality. This bold editorial move not only ignited the flames of the
Civil Rights Movement but also cemented Bellows’ legacy as a catalyst for societal change.

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A seasoned veteran of Long Island’s waters, Walter has spent over nine decades navigating the waves with an unparalleled passion. At the age of 95, he continues to embrace the ocean as his sanctuary, finding solace and renewal amidst its endless expanse. In 2018, his remarkable journey was beautifully captured by Blaise Hayward in “The Swimmer,” a poignant tale highlighting Walter’s unwavering commitment to self-empowerment and the transformative influence of the sea. Walter’s story stands as a testament to the profound connection between humanity and nature, the power of ritual, and the ocean’s remarkable ability to heal and nurture both body and soul. 

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As a Communications Technician Second Class, Peter never wavered in his devotion to duty and loyalty to the United States. His courageous stand during the capture of the U.S.S. PUEBLO on January 23, 1968, served to inspire his fellow prisoners and strengthen their will to resist. Peter was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Prisoner of War Medal for his exemplary performance of duty and gallant actions during the capture. 

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Learn more about Shayne on Wikipedia.

As a standout defenseman for South Kent Hockey, Shayne was selected as the 78th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, thus beginning his professional hockey career in 2014. He finished with the Flyers as a runner-up in the 2015-16 NHL Rookie of the Year race and has continued to play in the NHL for the Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes and currently, for the Detroit Red Wings. In true South Kent fashion, Shayne is deeply immersed in the community with the establishment of his GhostBear Foundation, paying forward his lessons learned here on the Hillside and working to provide support and encouragement to organizations motivating young athletes.

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Having studied English at South Kent, Columbia, and Cambridge, John went on to teach at the University of Iowa’s Writer’s Workshop, Harvard University, Brown University, Princeton University, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Minnesota. His 77 Dream Songs won the 1965 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and its sequel, His Toy, His Dream, His Rest, won the National Book Award for Poetry in 1968.

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Ambassador Oakley graduated from Princeton, then served as a naval intelligence officer before joining the Foreign Service. He rose through the ranks, eventually serving as ambassador to these countries. He came out of retirement to negotiate the release of the American pilot captured in the Black Hawk Down incident in Somalia in 1993.

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Charles Clark Reid (August 12, 1937  – June 1, 2019)^[1] was an American painter, illustrator, and teacher, notable for his watercolor style.^[2] He won numerous national and international awards for both his watercolor and oil works, and also hosted many workshops in the US and abroad. He published numerous books and instructional DVDs and created a postage stamp and an iconic ad campaign with his watercolor depictions. His watercolor works and oil paintings are in private and college museum collections.

Artist, teacher, author, and world traveler, Charles is known around the world. His numerous awards have garnered him the reputation of being a master of the medium of watercolor. He is the author of 11 books on painting, and his students speak of him with warmth and admiration. Collections of his work are on display at Smith College, Yellowstone Art Center, and the National Academy of Design and his famous illustration of a pair of LL Bean Boots has been seen by millions! He will be remembered for his beautiful, clean colors and capture of light that immediately draws the viewer into his rich compositions. We are happy that his beautiful art lives on.  Learn more about Charles Reid.

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John was drawn to the Middle East and the Palestine problem as a graduate student and worked with service groups before a career with the CIA, residing in Lebanon, Pakistan, Jordan, and Indonesia before retiring in 2005. Since then he has focused volunteer e!orts on local issues and served as an o”cer of several area historical nonpro#ts. John is author of Alexander Robey Shepherd: The Man Who Built the Nation’s Capital, detailing construction of Washington, D.C.’s infrastructure in the years after the Civil War. 

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