Jon Yerby

Jon Paul Yerby, D.M., is an internationally recognized classical guitarist, educator and collaborative artist. Renowned for his musicality and refined tone — hailed by master guitarist Eliot Fisk as possessing “one of the world’s most beautiful natural guitar sounds” — Yerby has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across four continents. Born in Celle, Germany, Yerby pursued rigorous academic training in guitar performance, earning a Bachelor of Music from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory and a Doctor of Music from Florida State University.

An active advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, Yerby’s creative research regularly blends dance, visual art, digital projection and electronics in performance. Yerby often performs alongside his wife, dance artist Alexandra Bradshaw Yerby, as the duo 7&1. Together, they create original works that merge live classical and fingerstyle guitar with contemporary dance. Most recently, Yerby completed a performance project titled “Luz Entre Arcos.” This live performance of marimba and guitar music from Spain and Latin America was set in an immersive environment featuring hand-drawn, 12-foot panels and digital projections, placing the audience members inside the Alhambra Palace.

Yerby is assistant professor of guitar interarts at Texas A&M University.