About Griffin
Learning
Griffin wasn’t even a year old when he was caught on video with one hand playing notes on the piano and — at the same time — the other hand plucking strings on the guitar. And he has loved music ever since. It has become his passion.
He started piano lessons at 5 years old, then classical guitar lessons at 8. All lessons stopped during the pandemic quarantine, and during that time he started experimenting on his own with an electric guitar. He loved it from the start. He attends Weaver Academy, a public school for the arts, where he studies classical guitar daily. Griffin also takes outside-of-school classical and electric guitar lessons. It's all guitar, all the time!
At 15, Griffin started playing at a weekly blues jam, mingling with older, experienced musicians. He seamlessly improvises guitar solos on songs he is often hearing for the first time. He lives for the music. All kinds of music.
Inspiration
Griffin grew up around music. There’s a piano in the living room (his mom played in church as a teenager) alongside an old acoustic guitar. Family trips meant singing along while his grandfather (“Papa”) Jerry and uncle Greg picked guitars on gospel, country and western tunes. Griffin knew all the words to “You Are My Sunshine,” “She’ll Be Coming ’Round The Mountain” and “I’ll Fly Away” before he started kindergarten.
Dad has no musical talent. But Griffin found his CD collection and soon discovered AC/DC and The Clash, Talking Heads and The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top and The Who. He began soaking up guitar music, both recorded (Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn) and live (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Joe Bonamassa, Yngwie Malmsteen).
Volunteering and Awards
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Played concerts piano and guitar for seniors at Brookdale Senior Living
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Worked at Glenwood Community Garden several summers
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Worked at Triad Pregnancy Network several summers
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Cleaned and prepped low-income elementary school in Greensboro several summers
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Flag raiser at Weaver Academy (freshman, sophomore and junior years)
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Helps pick up and deliver food for Simple Gesture
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GMTA Competition Rating: Superior (2 times)
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GMTA Competition Rating: Excellent
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Weaver Academy Battle of the Bands winner (2024, 2025)
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National Federation of Music Clubs trophy for points accumulation
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Taught masterclasses for former teacher's guitar students
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Invited to play at N.C. Folk Festival's Blues Tent
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Invited to play at the annual Festival of Lights in Greensboro
Memberships
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Member of Piedmont Blues Preservation Society
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Member of Bid Nil Band
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Member of The Pocket (band)
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Member of Piedmont Guitar Orchestra
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Member of Grace Community Youth Worship Band
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Member of Weaver Academy Jazz Club