About Craig Carroll

Craig Carroll's performing debut came at the age of 18, after only a year’s study, in his hometown of Morristown, Tennessee. His passion for classical performance led him to study not only with many great guitarists, but to examine the mechanics and techniques of the masters from the time/motion perspective and to study the broader field of music interpretation and performance. Craig has given numerous recitals in churches, museums, schools, recital halls, chamber music societies, guitar societies and festivals. Craig has been a featured artist as a soloist recitalist workshop teacher, artist in residence such as the ones listed:


He has been a guest artist for the Masterworks Program at WETS Public Radio, Johnson City, Tennessee. Craig was selected to be the 1st Chair Guitar in the Pit Orchestra for the show “Big River” at Walters State Community College, Morristown Tennessee. Craig has been active as an artist in residence for several Tennessee and North Carolina schools. Craig currently performs nationally and teaches classical guitar in East Tennessee.

From the beginning of his studies Craig has sought out the very finest teachers and has taken every opportunity to broaden his knowledge of and skill with the classical guitar. From 1981 to 1994, Craig studied guitar performance under Dr. Benjamin Bolt, Associate Professor of Guitar at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Simultaneously, he obtained an engineering degree from Walters State Community College, applying time/motion studies to guitar performance, while minoring in music with 75 hours of study.

Craig’s insistence upon appropriate, full, and complete interpretation and performance led him to study under Gregory Pysh, Music Director, First Presbyterian Church, Midland, Texas (1989-1996), Dr S. David Smith Professor of Music (ret), Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee (1992-1998) and Concert Pianist Glenn Rassmussen.

Craig has also participated in numerous master classes with the greatest guitarists in the world. In 1996, Craig was one of only six people selected to perform at the Christopher Parkening Master Class, held at Bethel College, in St. Paul Minnesota. Craig has performed in Master Classes at the Stetson International Guitar Workshop and at the Appalachian Guitar Festival, where he has studied under: Ricardo Iznaola, Stephen Robinson, Bruce Holzman, Adam Holzman, Julian Gray, Ronald Pearl, Mark Delpriora, Stephen Aron, Thomas Patterson, John Michael Parris, Lily Afshar, Stanley Yates, Arnaud Dumond,<< Raphaella Smits, Douglas James, Roland Dyens, Nicholas Goluses, Dale Kavanaugh, Tom Johnson, Dennis Koster, Andrew Zohn and John Holmquist.

Craig’s ability has won him scholarships to the National Guitar Summer Workshop and repeated scholarships to the Stetson International Guitar Workshop. Craig is listed in the International Directory of Music and Musicians Who’s Who. The Southern Arts Federation recently picked him for a Showcase at the 2003 Performing arts exchange in Charlotte North Carolina. He is the first classical guitarist to perform for the live showcase at the 2004 Tennessee Stages/Tennessee Stars sponsored by the Tennessee Arts Commission. He has recorded 1 CD entitled “Live From Your Living Room, Gummy Bears and All” and is currently working on a second one tentatively entitled “Journeyman.” Mr. Carroll tours nationally and maintains a small teaching studio in Morristown TN.




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