Mike Hilson is a Yankton native who started to play the guitar after the Beatle invasion. After taking jazz theory tutoring from Yankton College's Floyd McClain, he enrolled in the jazz studies program at North Texas State University. He studied classical guitar with Tom Johnson and jazz guitar with Jack Petersen, graduating in 1984 with a degree in Jazz Performance. Mike began teaching guitar at University Center in Sioux Falls in 2008 and is now instructor of guitar at USD. He recently participated in a concert featuring Arthur Barrow (Frank Zappa's bass player, 1979-1982) along with students and faculty performing the music of Frank Zappa.