Christopher McGuire commands the many expressive qualities of the guitar with what one critic called “unselfconscious intensity.” His engaging performance style invites people of all ages to feel as if they are taking part, not just taking a seat.
Andrés Segovia wrote that he is “…an artist, sensitive, with perfect technique…he will be appreciated and applauded everywhere.”
McGuire’s direct influences include private lessons with Maestro Segovia and jam sessions with Stevie Ray Vaughn. Christopher has also shared a stage with legendary pianist Van Cliburn.
He is the founder and Artistic Director of the *Allegro Guitar Society, serving North Central Texas since 1995.
McGuire has performed more than 1500 solo concerts in the United States, Mexico, Japan, Venezuela, Germany, Spain, and the Canary Islands. He has played for past presidents of the United States and Mexico, and for members of the Spanish Royal Family.
A great lover of chamber music, he has been a guest artist with many orchestras and ensembles and also performs his own compositions and arrangements with his eclectic chamber group D’Accord and the Allegro Jazz Ensemble.
Christopher has collaborated with many great musicians including Charlie Byrd, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Roland Dyens, Carlos Bonell, Karin Schaup, José Feghli, and Swang Lin.
He has presented more than 2,500 community outreach performances at various schools (including many Title 1 schools), assisted living facilities and other venues in cities throughout North America, Spain, Venezuela and Japan.
In 1985, Chris won First Prize in the Dallas Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition and subsequently performed Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Guitar with the DCO.
McGuire has served as a judge for multiple Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) International Competitions and served on the jury of the 14th International Guitar Competition at Fundación Alirio Diaz in Carora, Venezuela, and the Internationales Gitarrenfestival Heinsberg in Germany.
He has presented numerous masterclasses and lecture demonstrations for prestigious institutions including Arizona State University, the Juilliard School, Alaska Pacific University, and the GFA.
He has studied with or performed in master classes for several of the world’s foremost guitarists including Andrés Segovia, Oscar Ghiglia, Pepe Romero, Robert Guthrie and José Tomás. He received full scholarships to Southern Methodist University (SMU) and to the Aspen Music Festival.
In the summers of 1980-82 McGuire had both classes and private lessons with Maestro Segovia and the great Spanish composer Federico Moreno-Torroba.
Stevie Ray Vaughn, who at one time played in a band with Christopher’s brother Patrick, was a regular in the McGuire family music room in the early 1970’s and taught Christopher to play the blues in weekly jam sessions.
McGuire previously taught at the collegiate level for 25 years, serving on the faculties of the University of Dallas and North Lake College.
He now devotes most of his time to performing, teaching, overseeing the Allegro Guitar Society as Artistic Director, and spending time with his family.
*Allegro Guitar Society is a DBA of the Fort Worth Classic Guitar Society, a 501c3 nonprofit arts organization registered in the State of Texas.
