Billy Stewart

Teaching Associate Professor (Guitar, UNC Guitar Ensemble)

Billy Stewart (Teaching Associate Professor) was born in Sanford, North Carolina and has been playing guitar since he was eight years old. He was self-taught until be entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a first-year music major. There he commenced studies in guitar and composition. Upon receiving his degree in music (Bachelor of Music in Education), he extended his studies of the guitar by attending Master Classes with classical guitarist Pepe Romero and with jazz artists Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie.

Billy has been a member of the Music Department as Adjunct Faculty (guitar instructor) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since his graduation in 1975. He has given professional concerts and performances in North Carolina in such various settings as the North Carolina Museum of Art, The Biltmore House and the Governor’s Mansion in Raleigh. In 1992, through a grant from the Greater Durham United Arts Fund and Durham Arts Council, Inc, he presented a concert of his own music in collaboration with some of the area’s finest musicians. In 1995, two of his compositions were selected for publication by Columbia Music Company and Mel Bay Publications. In 1988 he jointly founded and was the first President of the Triangle Guitar Society.