At the tender age of 16 Russ sold a pig to buy his first guitar. Now based in Denver, Russ is both a seasoned performer and a veteran educator, blending decades of stage and teaching experience with a passion for nurturing talent. Russ's career spans work in Broadway, Pop, Rock, Classical, Gamelan, and the Avant-Garde. His active collaborative works include Solazur, Derelict Hands, Witches & Science, and Gamelan Tunas Mekar, which he helps run as co-chair.

Russ is an active soloist and chamber musician, performing in many settings domestically and internationally. As a theater guitarist, his recent credits include: Legally Blonde (Theatre Aspen) 2024, Fun Home (Vintage Theatre, Aurora CO) 2024, Beautiful (Arvada Center) 2023, Tina (National Touring Show) 2023, In the Trenches (Now That Parenting Musical) 2022/2023, and Holiday Follies (Lake Dillon Theatre) 2022. Released recordings include Nebula Ensemble's Scourge Songs, on Christopher Adler's Aeneas in the Underworld with Colin McAllister in 2023, debut album by guitar and cello duo Solazur Mercurial in 2021, and with guitar duo Derelict Hands Eyes to the Future in 2016.

Some of Russ's other notable performances include: In 2022, an invitation by San Diego New Music to perform as guest artist in the soundON Festival, premiering new works by Lukas Schulze & Will Brobston. In 2018 Solazur traveled to the Cote d’Azur, France to participate as ensemble-in-residence at the Zodiac Chamber music Festival. Frequent ongoing performances with Gamelan Tunas Mekar, including an invitation in 2019 to travel to Bali to perform across the island, culminating in a widely acclaimed appearance on both angklung and gong kebyar orchestras at Pesta Kesenian Bali (Bali Arts Festival).


As a dynamic instructor Russ actively expands his teaching studio and currently teaches guitarists of all ages and skill levels, ranging from classical to pop music. In 2020 Russ joined Lead Guitar, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that partners with neighborhood schools to provide free guitar ensemble instruction nationwide. His private studio is currently accepting students of all skill levels.

Russ earned his Master's degree at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, studying with world renowned performers and pedagogues Ricardo Iznaola and Jonathan Leathwood. His final recital was recognized as one of the university's Outstanding Recitals in May 2015, and shortly after, his ensemble Derelict Hands won top prize at the Southern Guitar Festival. In 2010, Russ was accepted on scholarship to Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts, where he studied with Robert Guthrie and earned his Bachelor’s degree. He secured first prizes at the 2011 Brownsville Guitar Festival with both his duo and the Meadows Quartet. His formal training began at Collin College with Sabine Madriguera, where he participated in the award-winning One O’Clock Ensemble and won first prizes at the Brownsville Guitar Festival in 2007 and 2010, as well as Collin College’s Annual Guitar Competition.