Gideon Whitehead

Noted by Cleveland Classical for his ability to “bring out subtle inner details” and to “communicate directly with the listener,” classical guitarist Gideon Whitehead has established himself as an outstanding and captivating artist. He holds the Bachelor of Music in guitar performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Artist Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, having studied with renowned guitarists Jason Vieaux and David Starobin. He made his New York City debut at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and he has also performed at Steinway Hall, the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society, the Guitar Society of Michigan, the Sturgis Council of the Arts, the Louisville Guitar Society, and Hope College, among other venues. As a chamber musician he has collaborated with Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim, flutist Mimi Stillman, and the Dolce Suono Ensemble. He has earned prizes at the James Stroud Guitar Competition, the University of Louisville International Guitar Competition, and the Salon de Virtuosi competition in New York City. He is an active teacher and has maintained a private studio since 2007. He is also committed to serving the community through his music, frequently performing for residents at retirement living centers and presenting the classical guitar to school children of all ages. While at the Cleveland Institute of Music he was involved in the school’s Community Outreach Program, and during his time at Curtis he was active as a mentor with the Curtis Community Engagement Mentor Program. Gideon performs on a 2011 Toby Rzepka cedar-top guitar.