Biography
Always having a full studio of students, Steven Kennedy is one of the most in-demand guitar instructors in central Iowa. He is also one of the most sought-after classical guitarists in the area for gigs and recitals. He serves as guitar instructor at Central College in Pella, Grand View University in Des Moines, and Simpson College in Indianola. His debut album, Pequeño vals para Florencia (featuring works by Bach, Sor, Máximo Diego Pujol, and José Luis Merlin) was released in 2013. Steven is also an avid chamber musician, performing as one half of the Kennedy-Reynolds Guitar Duo, and as a member of the Iowa Guitar Quartet.
Steven received his Master of Music degree from Belmont University (Nashville, TN) and his Bachelor of Music degree from Simpson College; both in classical guitar performance. Additionally, he has studied privately with notable guitarists David Leisner and Jerald Harscher. He has performed in master classes for notable guitarists Jason Vieaux, Jerome Ducharme, and Petar Jankovic, and additionally has observed classes given by Eliot Fisk, Christopher Parkening, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Douglas Niedt, Jorge Caballero, Aniello Desiderio, Denis Azabagić, and Matt Palmer, among others. In addition to his experience in classical music, Steven is proficient in many commercial music genres including jazz, blues, and rock.
Steven serves as the president of the Heart of Iowa Classical Guitar Society - an organization that actively promotes classical guitar music and education across the state of Iowa. He is also a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), the Iowa Music Teachers Association (IMTA), and the Des Moines Music Teachers Association (DMMTA).
