Muriel Anderson is a composer and award-winning guitarist and harp-guitarist.
Contents |
Muriel Anderson was born in Downers Grove, Illinois. Her grandfather was a saxophone player in John Phillip Sousa’s band, and her mother was a piano teacher. Her musical heritage showed early when an inspired six year old Anderson began composing her own songs. Muriel Anderson studied classical music in college at DePaul University with Leon Borkowski. She later took master courses with classical virtuoso Christopher Parkening. In 1989 she became the first woman to win the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship.
Anderson is founder & director of the Music For Life Alliance, which is a 501c(3) tax exempt, not for profit charity that facilitates the efforts of individuals and organizations making music learning accessible to young people who may not otherwise be able to experience the educational, psychological, and social benefits of making music. She is also the founder and host of the Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night, which donates its proceeds to the Music for Life Alliance.[1] Her music can be heard in Woody Allen's film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and her “Heartstrings” recording accompanied the astronauts on the space shuttle Discovery.
Her recent project is "New World Flamenco", a collaboration with Germany's renowned duo, Tierra Negra.[2]
Anderson's unique approach to the instrument has been said to virtually transform the guitar into a lyrical choir, then a marching band, then a Japanese koto, then a bluegrass band. . She can be heard in concert and as a guest on radio shows across the globe performing her unique arrangements and original compositions.
She resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Celebrating her depth as a guitarist, composer, and vocalist, Muriel Anderson has a released fifteen CDs, nine videos/DVDs published by Truefire, Mel Bay and Homespun, and guitar books published by Hal Leonard, Mel Bay, and Zen-On Japan. Her compositions include commissioned classical works for the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and Vox Caelestis Women’s Choir, as well as songs which have appeared as title tracks for three albums by various artists. Muriel Anderson is a member of the advisory board for Mel Bay Publications.
A Guitarscape Planet 2006