Justin Orok is a Toronto-based guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his narrative songwriting and sensitive approach to guitar playing. His musical education started with a deep interest in both jazz and flamenco guitar traditions, which led him to eventually pursue a degree in jazz guitar at Carleton University and later Humber College, where he studied with Roddy Ellias, Lorne Lofsky, Ted Quinlan, and some of Canada’s best jazz guitarists. He continued his education after graduating, studying privately with the idiosyncratic guitarist/composer Justin Haynes, and songwriting with John Southworth, Lorraine Feather, and Veda Hille.
Now a passionate music teacher himself, Justin incorporates his diverse experience in life and music into each lesson, and has been an encouraging and empathetic mentor to hundreds of young guitar students. His main goal is to make music a fun and inviting experience so that listening and practicing become an essential part of their lives. Creativity is wholeheartedly encouraged through activities like writing original songs, performing at recitals, and a yearly holiday recording project. Students are given monthly practice incentives, musical riddles to solve, listening reflections and more activities, making their progress feel even more rewarding.
In addition to teaching, Justin performs regularly as a guitarist with John Southworth, Andrew Downing, Jessie Gosling, and as a singer-songwriter under his own name. He has released two albums of original songs, which have been released in Japan and featured on CBC radio. He also works as a freelance media composer under the moniker Stream Cafe, with a catalog of over 10 million + streams. You can hear him live mostly at the Tranzac: every two months at his ongoing series which is focused on presenting the music of emerging songwriters in a new light, as well as frequent appearances with the Holy Oak Family Singers.