Tom McKinney

Tom McKinney is Professor of Guitar at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), where he teaches classical guitar and leads group classes in GuitarLab. A prominent guitarist and BBC Radio 3 broadcaster, he has performed at major British festivals like the BBC Proms and Aldeburgh, and internationally at venues including the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

• PhD in Musicology (University of Manchester)
• Studied guitar with Gordon Crosskey and Craig Ogden at RNCM
• Collaborator with composer Larry Goves and founder of House of Bedlam

His career focuses on premiering contemporary works, including compositions by Louis Andriessen and Julia Wolfe. He has given UK premieres of George Crumb's Quest and participated in Psappha's Composing for… scheme. As a broadcaster, he presents Essential Classics on BBC Radio 3 and hosts concerts for the BBC Philharmonic.

McKinney also programs concert series for Music in the Round and Kettle's Yard art gallery, while serving on NMC Records' artistic advisory committee. His work bridges performance, education, and media engagement.