Stephen Goss

Stephen Goss is Professor of Composition and Director of the International Guitar Research Centre at the University of Surrey, and also holds a professorship at the Royal Academy of Music. His compositions are widely performed at major venues such as Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Tchaikovsky Hall, and have been recorded on over 100 albums by labels including Decca, EMI, and Naxos.

• Professor of Composition, Department of Music and Media, University of Surrey
• Director, International Guitar Research Centre (IGRC)
• Professor of Guitar, Royal Academy of Music
• Board Member: Incorporated Society of Musicians, Guitar Foundation of America, International Guitar Foundation

Goss’s research and compositional practice centers on pluralism in music, the late 20th and early 21st centuries, guitar history and repertoire, and performance practices. His work is marked by a fascination with time, place, and the juxtaposition of contrasting styles, often blurring the lines between composition, transcription, and improvisation. As a performer and collaborator, he has worked with composers such as Tōru Takemitsu and Peter Maxwell Davies, and performers including John Williams and Dame Evelyn Glennie.

His recent compositions, such as Wynwood Walls, Landscape and Memory, and The Alchemist, reveal a continued exploration of narrative, visual art, and intercultural dialogue. These works often feature hybrid instrumentation and programmatic themes, reflecting his eclectic and forward-looking approach.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Ivor Novello Award nomination (2021) for Still Life
• Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (FRAM, 2018)
• Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM, 1999)
• Julian Bream Prize (Royal Academy of Music)

Goss has supervised over 25 PhD students in areas including contemporary composition, guitar pedagogy, performance practice, and cross-cultural collaborations. He has received commissions from leading artists such as Nicola Benedetti, Ian Bostridge, and David Russell. He is also an active speaker and keynote lecturer at international conferences, addressing topics such as collaboration, improvisation, and the politics of nostalgia in music. He leads the International Guitar Research Centre, fostering global research and innovation in guitar studies.

He is a D’Addario artist and an Arsenal FC season ticket holder.