Many aspiring musicians look for something to set them apart from the array of others just like them. Some create unique sounds that haven’t been heard before. Others create a memorable stage personality. Sophomore Dominic Bonaventura is one of these musicians.

Bonaventura started playing the guitar when he was 10 years old and was introduced to Virgil Mandanici year later. Mandanici is the owner of Virgil Guitars where he custom builds and designs guitars. A year ago Mandanici offered Bonaventura an apprenticeship at Virgil Guitars to which he gladly accepted. “Dominic would help out around the shop and do tasks such as cleaning in exchange for my help in showing him how to build the guitar,” Mandanici said.

Bonaventura spent his summer after sophomore year at Virgil Guitars learning how to build guitars. At the end of the summer, he created his own guitar that he named The Kraken.

“Virgil walked me through the entire process. He basically showed me what to do and I had to repeat it,” Bonaventura said.

The Kraken features a cutaway body with an octopus and other various ocean life. “I’ve always loved octopi and thought an ocean scene on a guitar would be really unique,” Bonaventura said.

“I would definitely say that music is one of my main focuses for a future career, specifically acoustic finger style and instrumental electric,” Bonaventura said.

Mandanici taught Bonaventura how to make the artwork and place it on the guitar. “We started slow and I showed Dominic how to use Adobe Illustrator and we gradually progressed,” said Mandanici.

Mandanici seemed pleased with the work that Bonaventura produced over the course of the summer. “All of the artwork and inlay featured on the guitar was actually drawn and cutout by Dominic himself,” Mandanici said. The only parts that Virgil wouldn’t allow anyone but himself to do were the most intense and dangerous ones that could result in serious injury. Routing is one of these steps, and requires drilling cavities and holes into the body and neck.

The Kraken exemplifies some of the talent possessed in the world of music and art. The same talent that can be seen at sold out concerts, can be seen walking the halls of Plant.