Kevin R Gallagher

Kevin R. Gallagher began playing rock guitar in his formative

years but his musical appetite quickly led him to study jazz

and ultimately, classical guitar. His renowned gift for the

classical guitar won him numerous scholarships and awards while

studying with Benjamin Verdery at the Wisconsin Conservatory

of Music and at the Julliard School under the tutelage of Sharon

Isbin.

As one of the world's leading classical guitarists,

he was the first-prize winner in the 1993 Guitar Foundation

of America, the 1994 American String Teachers Association,

and the 1993 Artists International Competition. Most notably,

Mr. Gallagher also earned the distinct honor of being the

only American classical guitarist ever to win first prize

in the prestigious Francisco Tárrega Guitar Competition

in Spain (1997).

Following his studies at Julliard, Mr.

Gallagher gave many classical guitar performances and masterclasses

throughout the world, including those in Spain, Germany, Sweden,

Greece, Turkey, Brazil, and England. He has recorded four

classical guitar CDs. His recording for Naxos Laureate Series - Music from the Reniassance and Baroque was hailed

as ".one of the very best NAXOS guitar recordings"

by Classical Guitar Magazine (London) in 2000.



In the summer of 2001, Kevin decided to expand the scope of

his concert programs to also include works for electric guitar.

Since then, he has performed concerts using the classical

guitar for more traditional repertoire and the electric guitar

for contemporary music. Kevin is active in encouraging composers

to write new music for his Rock Quartet, Electric Kompany (electric guitar, electric bass, drums and keyboards). This unique

approach to composition is widening the audience and interest

for new music as well as educating composers who never have

the chance to study these modern instruments in a traditional

conservatory education.