Our People
Scott Summerhays
President & CEO
Scott has been working at Summerhays Music for a really long time (since he was 12 years old!). He has actively served in many music industry roles including being the President of the National Association of School Music Dealers and served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Music Merchants. Scott believes that music and the arts is a critical part of a well balanced education and he has lobbied in WashingtonDC on its behalf. He has Masters Degree in Business from the University of Utah where he earned many academic honors including Deans Scholar. He enjoys water skiing, snow skiing, hiking, and is a really lousy golfer.
Laurel Summerhays
Vice President
Laurel joined Summerhays Music Center leaving the banking industry where she worked in the Professional Management and Bankcard areas. She earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Utah. She loves to visit her daughter who lives in Maui and enjoys golfing and snorkeling.
Cris Behnres
Manager
Cris has worked for Summerhays Music Center since 1992. He earned a degree in band instrument repair from Red Wing Tech College, and spent the first 5 years with Summerhays repairing instruments. He now is our Sales Manager. Cris has attended UVSC for business and accounting classes, and enjoys watching & playing basketball, snorkeling, boogie boarding & surfing in his spare time.
Patrick Buie
Director of Educational Services
Patrick splits his time between heading up our accessories department and performing locally and nationally playing trombone in bands spanning many genres.
Estefan Cortez
Pro Strings Department Manager
Estefan Cortez grew up in Patchogue, New York. He started his classical training on cello at the age of 10 years old under Ira Kosivair. He quickly fell in love with the instrument and excelled in his musical studies throughout school. In 2009 he received a full scholarship to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Music Education with a concentration in cello from The College of Saint Rose in Albany NY. While there he studied under cellist Dr. David Bebe.
Shortly after completion of his degree Estefan was hired to start and run a music program under the direction of master luthier Charles Rufino. Estefan took a non-excitant music program and made it into a wonderful place for students to learn and become excited about music. In the 4 years of his employment at the Long Island Violin Shop he took a program of 0 students to 125 students a week. Estefan quickly made a name for himself as a teacher and a violin dealer while doing workshops, showings, and dealing high-end instruments throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Estefan met his wife Samantha, at the Long Island Violin Shop while she was doing her apprenticeship and both of them now work together at Summerhays Music Center and they are very excited to bring new ideas and their expertise of fine instruments to the Summerhays team.
Christian Rapp
String Technician & Renovator
Christian was born in Germany and began playing the violin at the age of 5, continuing lessons until he was 15, then switching to classical guitar. Years of High School Orchestra, Jazz Group, Blues Band and several performances gave him inspiration for what the musical world has to offer.
After a specialization in English and Music in High School, he attended Wood Carpentry School which showed him that his real interest was to be found in the making of wooden string instruments. He studied an apprenticeship in the making and restoring of Classical Guitars and musical instruments in general, in Xalapa, Ver., Mexico. After getting married, he earned a BA degree in Restoration at the National School for Conservation, Restoration and Museum Studies, living, teaching and working in Mexico City for many years, with his own Luthier shop. He was then invited to work for Summerhays Music Center which opening a new chapter for him and his family, becoming finally residents in 2007 and finding a new home in Utah.
Christian lives in Murray with his wife and son. He enjoys bike riding, music, good food and playing classical guitar.