Tom Clippinger

GRAMMY-Nominated classical and electric guitarist Dr. Tom Clippinger has been described as “one of the finest young players I’ve heard,” and “someone to watch” (Oren Fader, guitarist and faculty at Manhattan School of Music and SUNY Purchase). As an advocate for new music, Tom frequently works with composers to expand the classical guitar repertoire, and in this process has been the dedicatee of several new works by composers such as Donald Grantham, Celil Refik Kaya, José Maria Sanchez-Verdú, Nailah Nombeko, and Kile Smith. Most recently, he was the guitarist for the world premiere tour of Damien Geter’s critically acclaimed opera, “Loving v. Virginia” with Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony Orchestra.

Tom first pursued his formal classical guitar studies at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. He then pursued his Masters degree at Florida State University, where he served as a teaching assistant to esteemed pedagogue Bruce Holzman, and was invited to perform at the TEDxFSU conference in Tallahassee, FL in 2018. Finally, he achieved his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021.

Additionally, Tom was a founding member of the Austin Guitar Quartet. In 2019, they performed and recorded Nico Muhly’s “How Little You Are” with the Texas Guitar Quartet, and the GRAMMY Award Winning groups, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and Conspirare. In 2021, Tom left the Austin Guitar Quartet, and started the New York City Guitar Quartet, a group dedicated to new music.

Tom has studied with Ray Chester, Bruce Holzman, Adam Holzman, Matt Palmer, Oren Fader, Sharon Isbin, and Magnus Andersson. He has attended Le Domaine Forget International Music Festival, The Aspen Music Festival, Brevard Institute, and Mostly Modern Festival.

Tom plays on a Glenn Canin guitar, is an Ex-Aequo Artist, and is endorsed by Augustine Strings, GuitarLift, Chase Bliss, Wampler Pedals, TourGear Designs, and MONO Creators. He currently serves on the faculties of Christopher Newport University, Virginia Wesleyan University, and The Governor’s School for the Arts.