*free outdoor concert* Chad Viator has been working as a musician and teacher for over 15 years. In 2000 he graduated from the University of Louisiana obtaining a BA in music concentrating on classical guitar performance and electronic media. During this time he was given the opportunity to study with Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, Manuel Barrueco, Christopher Parkening, and John Holmquist. Chad participated in various guitar competitions in the United States winning the Pine Belt Guitar Symposium and Lamson Guitar competition in 1998. Upon graduating, he began to travel across the United States as well as internationally as a guitarist performing in many festivals including: The New Orleans Jazz Festival, The High Sierra Music Festival, Cayamo Cruise, South by Southwest, D-Fest, Festival Du Voyageur, Louisiana Crossroads, City Stages, The Waterfront Blues festival and has shared the stage with artist such as Sonny Landreth, Jimmy Buffett, Lionel Richie, Los Lobos, The Nevill Brothers, Buckwheat Zydeco, Michael Doucet, Johnny Allen, Belton Richard, Roddie Romero, Joel Guzman, GIVERS, The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Stanton Moore, Mark Broussard, and others. In 20017 he was nominated for a Grammy award for his work on the album Gulfstream by Roddie Romero and the Hub City Allstars.