ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Piotr Pakhomkin
B.M. & M.M. PEABODY INSTITUTE
Piotr Pakhomkin is not merely a guitarist — he is a storyteller, technician, and innovator, transforming six strings into a full orchestra. Praised as a "virtuoso" by WYPR/National Public Radio, he has performed on some of the world's most prestigious stages, from Carnegie Hall to international festivals across Europe, Central America, and North America.
His journey to classical guitar mastery began in an unconventional way. After moving to the United States during the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 as a small child, he picked up the classical guitar more than ten years later. Within a year of formal training, he was winning prizes at competitions and performing at venues like the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
His prodigious talent caught the eye of legendary guitar pedagogue Aaron Shearer, leading to his feature in the documentary film Aaron Shearer: A Life with the Guitar. Soon after, his idol Manuel Barrueco invited him to the Peabody Institute to begin his Bachelor's and Master's degrees — at what was then the premier guitar studio in the world.
Beyond the concert hall, Piotr is a dedicated teacher and mentor. He has taught music on three continents in three different languages. He has built his method over the course of twenty years.
Piotr’s journey to classical guitar mastery began in an unconventional way. After moving to the U.S. during the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 as a small child, he picked up the classical guitar more than ten years later. Within a year of formal training, he was winning prizes at competitions and performing at venues like the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. His prodigious talent caught the eye of legendary guitar pedagogue Aaron Shearer, leading to his feature in the documentary film Aaron Shearer: A Life with the Guitar. Soon after, his idol Manuel Barrueco had invited him to the Peabody Institute to begin his Bachelor and Master degrees. At this time, this was was the premier studio in the world, an elite group of professional classical guitarists from England, Croatia, Armenia, Poland, Israel, China and France.
His fearless approach to performance has earned him top prizes in major international competitions, including: First Prize at the Mexican International Guitar Competition, Top awards at Boston GuitarFest and Montreal International Guitar Competition and the 2016 Respighi Prize, leading to his Carnegie Hall debut in 2018 and professional management contract with Dan McDaniel in Chicago.
Piotr’s impact extends beyond live performances—his recordings have been internationally recognized, most notably his work on the album Astor Piazzolla: Music for Guitar with Naxos Records, one of the most prestigious classical music labels. His interpretations have been praised for their depth, nuance, and technical mastery, bringing fresh life to works from Bach to contemporary composers.
In addition to recording and performing, Piotr continually expands the guitar’s reach by transcribing works once considered impossible for the instrument. His arrangements of Chopin and Vivaldi pieces demonstrate the guitar’s limitless potential, bridging the gap between string instruments and redefining what’s possible in classical guitar performance.
