BIOGRAPHY
Portland based classical and flamenco guitarist Derek Brown fell in love with the guitar at an early age. “The storytelling quality of the guitar captured my heart instantly and has never let go. The opportunity to share a musical story, to connect with and transport an audience to another place and time is a tremendous gift and honor.”
Derek is an active regional and international performer and teacher. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a concentration in classical guitar performance from Pacific University in 1998 under the tutelage of David Franzen. During his studies, Derek has also completed master classes with world renowned guitarists Pepe Romero, Manuel Barrueco, David Russell, Dusan Bogdanovic, Israel Heredia, and Santiago Lara. Derek was a 2019 Volterra Project laureate, where he studied with acclaimed guitarist Antigoni Goni. Derek is a 2020 inductee in the Pacific University Music Hall of Fame, and a 2022 recipient of the Pacific University Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award.
Derek is a dedicated music educator. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from Pacific University and a Doctor of Education degree from George Fox University. Derek maintains a private teaching studio, and regularly delivers workshops and master classes in public schools and universities in the Portland area.
In addition to classical and flamenco guitar performance and teaching, Derek is a guitar maker. In 2018, Derek built a guitar under the guidance of master luthier Pavel Gavryushov in Granada, Spain. “Guitar making using the Spanish method is the perfect blend of art and science, and has truly transformed how I interpret and perform music.”