Artist Profile: Steve Newbrough

Steve Newbrough — Classical Guitarist

Performer, Educator, and Recording Artist — Asheville, NC

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Steve Newbrough is one of the most versatile and accomplished classical guitarists working in the Southeast today. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Steve has built a career that spans solo recitals, chamber music, university teaching, and community arts leadership — all grounded in a deep love for the instrument and an infectious enthusiasm for sharing it with others.

As a fellow Asheville-based business rooted in the classical guitar world, XGuitars is proud to count Steve as a friend, colleague, and valued member of the local guitar community.

A Career Shaped by the Guitar

Steve's musical journey began in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where he studied with Gordon Kreplin. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the mentorship of Joseph Pecoraro, and later completed a Master of Music in Classical Guitar Performance at the University of Minnesota in 2008, studying with the renowned Jeffrey Van.

That breadth of training shows in his playing. Steve is equally at home with the Spanish Romantic repertoire of Tárrega and Albéniz as he is with the rhythmic intensity of Piazzolla or the introspective beauty of Barrios Mangoré. He has performed across the country — on concert stages, on television, and on the radio — bringing classical guitar to audiences who might not otherwise encounter it.

The Minneapolis Guitar Quartet

Steve is a member of the internationally acclaimed Minneapolis Guitar Quartet, an ensemble that has toured extensively throughout the United States performing works by Debussy, Rodrigo, Piazzolla, Stravinsky, and numerous contemporary composers. The quartet has been featured on PBS's Minnesota Original and has premiered commissioned works by composers including Gao Hong and Van Stiefel. Their album Thrum, released in 2012 on the Innova label, showcases the ensemble's distinctive sound and collaborative spirit.

Teaching and Community

Steve currently serves on the guitar faculty at both Clemson University and Furman University. He has also taught at summer programs including the North Carolina School of the Arts and the New England Music Camp. Closer to home, he is the founder and Executive Director of the Summit Academy of Music in Asheville, where he offers instruction in classical, jazz, blues, rock, and Suzuki guitar for students of all ages and levels. He was voted one of the top three private music teachers in the Best of WNC poll by the Mountain Xpress.

Steve is also the co-creator of Video Guitar Glossary, an online resource that provides concise, focused video definitions for guitar and music-related topics — built on the idea that students shouldn't have to wade through hours of content to find a 30-second answer.