Zachary Caplinger is a guitarist who actively performs jazz and bluegrass music throughout Southern California, and is a native to the Inland Empire. Born into a musical family, he began playing bluegrass guitar at eight years old, under the instruction of his father, two-time Grammy award winning bluegrass artist, Dennis Caplinger. Zachary has had the pleasure of performing at some of the largest bluegrass festivals in the Southwestern United States, and has shared the stage with many prominent bluegrass artists and bands including: Bluegrass Etc, Dennis Caplinger, John Moore, Steve Spurgin, Byron Berline, Roland White, Alan Munde, Bill Bryson, Scott Gates, Mike Nadolson, and Wayne Taylor.

 

Zachary graduated from Riverside City College with an associate degree in music and a certificate in jazz performance, and had the distinct pleasure of studying with Charles Richard, Peter Curtis and Jody Fisher. He then attended California State University Fullerton, and graduated with a bachelor degree in jazz guitar performance while studying with legendary guitarist, Ron Eschete, and pianist, Bill Cunliffe. In 2022, he joined the jazz faculty at California State University Fullerton as an adjunct jazz guitar and improv instructor.

 

Zachary has performed at the UNC Jazz festival, Jazz Education Network Conference in San Diego, Western States Jazz Festival, Reno Jazz Festival and the Newport Beach Jazz Party, as well as at such notable clubs as the Blue Whale, Vibrato, Vitellos, and the Baked Potato. He has shared the stage with many prominent jazz musicians; including: Jeff Hamilton, The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Bill Cunliffe, Joe LaBarbera, Graham Dechter, Joey Sellers, Francisco Torres, Ron Stout, Martin Wind, Terell Stafford, Gilbert Castellanos, and Kim Richmond. Zachary currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, where he actively performs with various groups, including his own ensembles.