Biography

New York based classical guitarist and pedagogue 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 at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music with Benjamin Verdery and the Julliard School with Sharon Isbin. His endless pursuit of study has led him to diverse teachers such as Albert Fuller, Joaquin Fabra, and Ramesh Balsekar among others.

Kevin 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. His recording for Naxos Records entitled Guitar Recital- Music from the Renaissance and Baroque was hailed as "...one of the very best NAXOS guitar recordings" by Classical Guitar Magazine in 2000.

Kevin is also the leader and founder of the chamber rock quartet, Electric Kompany