David Sewell is a guitarist, arranger, and educator in Phoenix, Arizona.  He is devoted to arranging unique repertoire for the guitar and teaching his students at Grand Canyon University a wide variety of styles and techniques.

He has received awards and recognition including first prize of 2016 UL Friends of Music Guitar Competition, teaching assistantship at U of L, and a teaching assistantship at Arizona State University where he earned his DMA under renowned pedagogue Frank Koonce.

Dr. Sewell’s DMA research included an arrangement of Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre’s Harpsichord Suite in A Minor for solo guitar. This arrangement is a grand representation of the French Baroque dance suites of the late 17th century including eight dances and an unmeasured prelude. His arrangements are set to appear on his first solo album of all harpsichord music in 2022.

As a passionate chamber musician, David has premiered a guitar orchestra piece “By Chants” written by notable composer/guitarist Andrew York with the Arizona Guitar Orchestra and the Grammy-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. He regularly works with other musicians performing a broad range of genres.

David earned his Masters in guitar performance at the University of Louisiana with Dr. Jeffrey George, his Bachelors in guitar performance at the University of Southern Mississippi under Dr. Nicholas Ciraldo, and studied with South Korean virtuoso JIJI while attending ASU.

David has performed in masterclasses with celebrated guitarists such as Brasil Guitar Duo, Martha Masters, Francisco Bernier, Rene Izquierdo, Anton Baranov, Adam Holzman, and Marcin Dylla.

Born in Biloxi, Mississippi David began playing electric guitar at 13 and by 16 was teaching guitar at a local music store to all ages and levels. His electric guitar influences drew him to classical music where he began his pursuit as a classical guitarist.