William Stewart

Billy is a native North Carolinian. He began playing guitar at 8 years old and was a self-taught musician until entering the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971. While there, he studied guitar, composition and ear-training. He also began to teach (under the guidance of his instructor, David Barison) as a guitar instructor for the Music Department in his sophomore year. He has continued teaching guitar at UNC-CH as a faculty member of the Music Department since his graduation in 1975. In that same year, he began a private studio and life as a freelance performer He has studied both classic guitar technique (Master-classes with Jesus Silva, Pepe Romero, Elliot Fisk, Manuel Barreuco) and improvisation (Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie) since the early 70's. He studied composition with Roger Hannay as well as attending composition seminars with John Duarte and Leo Brouwer. Although primarily thought of as a classical guitarist, Billy has spent the last 10 years developing his own style of composition and improvisation in venues ranging from solo concerts as well as various Jazz and Nuevo Flamenco ensembles. Several of his pieces have been used to accompany documentaries and film.

Billy has been a member of the UNC Music Department as Guitar Instructor since his graduation in 1975. He has given professional concerts and performances in N.C. in such various settings as the North Carolina Museum of Art, The Biltmore House and the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh. In 1992, through a grant from the Greater Durham United Arts Fund and Durham Arts Council, Inc, he presented a concert of his own music in collaboration with some of the area's finest musicians. In 1995, Columbia Music Company and Mel Bay Publications selected two of his compositions for publication. In 1988 he jointly founded and was the first President of the Triangle Guitar Society.

Gear

John Price Classical [1997] Godin Grand Concert SA Raimundo Classical Cutaway Electric Bose L1 Amplifier Acoustic Image Amplifier Fishman Acoustic Pro [and extension/monitor] Ampllfier Roland GR-1

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