Benjamin Gascon, guitar

Distinguished as a finalist in multiple national competitions, Benjamin Gascon is a dedicated and accomplished classical guitarist. His performances have garnered top placements in prestigious events, including second place at the Boston Guitar Festival and third place at the Southern Guitar Festival. He was also a finalist in the Philadelphia Guitar Festival and the Appalachian State University Guitar Festival, as well as a semi-finalist in the San Antonio Guitar Festival, University of Louisville Guitar Festival, and Florida State Guitar Festival. 

Deeply dedicated to musical craftsmanship, Gascon shares a repertoire that seamlessly intertwines Classical- and Romantic-era masterpieces with contemporary compositions. He has been featured by the Estrella Classical Guitar, Honey Acres Music Center, Emerson Avenue Salons, the Arts Club of Washington, and The Church of the Epiphany Concert Series, with upcoming performances scheduled across the United States and Canada. Additionally, he performs regularly in the Guitar Department concerts at the esteemed Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.

Gascon is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the Peabody Conservatory, where he previously earned both a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance under the mentorship of Julian Gray. His foundational training began with pre-college studies at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music with Jonathan Leathwood. His academic and musical excellence has been further highlighted by numerous awards, including the Harry Randolph Prize in Performance (2022) and the James Winship Lewis Memorial Prize in Performance (2020). He was also a Presser Undergraduate Scholar and received the Peabody Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Award.

Beyond performance, Benjamin Gascon is a passionate and dedicated educator. He has served as a Guitar Department Graduate Assistant at Peabody since 2020 and actively engages with the Baltimore-D.C. community, fostering a love for classical guitar.

Benjamin Gascon performs on a Daniel Friederich guitar from 1973.