Stephen Bennett

One of the most prolific and original finger-style guitarists of his generation, Stephen Bennett is also a leading exponent of the harp guitar. A challenging teacher, a gifted composer, and a performer of “great sensitivity”, the Toronto Finger-Style Guitar Association referred to him as “the Jedi Master of Finger-style Guitar”.

Stephen has performed around the world, shared the stage with some of the finest guitarists there are, and created a well-regarded body of work.

From America: “Stephen’s music draws the listener in. He has the ability to make you feel as though you are a part of the music he is making.”

From France: “Stephen’s compositions are so beautiful, filled with great emotion and great sensitivity. He is one of those musicians who serve the music, and only the music.”

From Canada: “Sitting there watching and listening to this guy hunched over his harp guitar exuding this strange calmness and wisdom through his music just made me think of the Jedi Master, Yoda. So, the Jedi Master moniker is not promoter hyperbole, it was a genuine reaction to hearing Stephen for the first time three years before I started promoting guitar concerts.”

From Italy: “When I first heard him playing a few years ago, I felt like I had been pushed into a different world, where the lost emotions come back to your heart and make it beat in a different way. What Stephen can do, and few artists have this gift, is to speak directly to your heart and to move your best feelings!”

He is the founder of the Harp Guitar Gathering, an annual event that brings players, luthiers, scholars and fans of this instrument together for a weekend of performances, workshops and camaraderie.

Whatever guitar he happens to be playing, in live performance or on recordings, Stephen’s life-long love affair with the sound of guitar strings is apparent – and contagious!