Ryan Walsh

When I finished college, I decided to follow the call of my passion, the classical guitar. I bought a ticket to Spain, birthplace of the instrument and home to a rich and ancient musical tradition. After several years studying alongside some of the world’s greats and honing my performance skills, I began to hear a different call—that of my own roots, the Pacific Northwest—and I knew it was time to continue my travels. Although I have now returned home from Spain, my journey with the classical guitar is only beginning.

Whether you believe in fate or not, from the very first moments in Spain it seemed something beyond chance was guiding me toward the guitar. No sooner than checking into my hotel did I bump into Ricardo Gallen, one of the world’s greatest living classical guitarist. That evening I was personally invited to a small, private concert of his, and introduced to many in his circle. This initiation set me upon a path that would eventually lead to Seville’s renowned Conservatorio Superior, and the unsurpassed tutelage of Paco Cantón.