Guitarist Scott Sanchez Joins Music Department

The Department of Music is delighted to welcome a new member of the faculty: classical guitarist Scott Sanchez. Beginning in Fall 2023, Sanchez will teach Individual Instruction Program courses in classical guitar. We congratulate Scott and wish him a warm welcome to our musical community.

Originally from Colorado, Scott Sanchez's playing has been described as "colorful and poignant" by Soundboard Magazine (U.S.). Referring to his British debut, Classical Guitar Magazine (U.K.) said, "Sanchez drew the audience into his playing with his excellent performance....made light work of playing what at times looked like some fearsomely difficult passages... stylish and virtuosic."

Sanchez's four CDs on Intraspect Productions cover a vast repertoire spanning the music of the Baroque era to modern-day masterpieces. He has also recorded music for the Contemporary Anthology of Solo Guitar Music for Five Fingers of the Right Hand, published by Mel Bay Publications.

He is passionate about sharing his knowledge on pedagogy with fellow musicians and aspiring guitarists. In articles published in Soundboard Magazine, such as The Linear Approach to Playing the Guitar: A Choreographic Analysis of Arpeggios and Right Hand String Positions, Sanchez discuss the mechanics of alignment, positioning and synchronization in guitar technique, providing readers a unique perspective. In Guitar 101: Tips for Directing a University Guitar Ensemble, Sanchez shares his experience in leading a university-level guitar orchestra. Furthermore, his arrangements and compositions are available at his website and at Sheet Music Plus, a division of Hal Leonard LLC.

Sanchez has taught college-level courses in guitar, guitar ensemble, jazz history, music in film, and women in music. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Denver as a student of the renowned Cuban classical guitarist Ricardo Iznaola. He graduated with a Master of Music degree from Yale University. During his time at Yale, Sanchez had the privilege of being both a teaching assistant and a student of the esteemed American classical guitarist Benjamin Verdery. As a student, he also performed in masterclasses for renowned guitarists such as Scott Tennant, David Russell and Pepe Romero, among others.