Dr. Jeffrey Mcfadden

Biography

Since his professional debut at the Guitar ’87 Festival in Toronto, Jeffrey McFadden has established himself as a prominent figure among admired guitarists of his generation. He has performed extensively across Europe and the Americas at numerous prestigious festivals and has a prolific recording career, primarily with the Naxos label, receiving outstanding reviews from notable publications like the Daily Telegraph in London, Gramophone, El Pais, and Soundboard. His recordings focus on a wide range of repertoire, including the first ever complete recording of the 25 Etudes de genre by Napoleon Coste, as well as lesser-known works by Agustin Barrios and Enrique Granados, and the complete Cello Suites by J.S. Bach. McFadden is the first-ever graduate of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program at the University of Toronto, and his dissertation formed the basis for his groundbreaking book, 'Fretboard Harmony: Common-Practice Harmony for Guitar,' published in 2010. Since 2016, he has been active as a composer with works for SATB Choir, guitar solos, guitar and flute/violin, and guitar quartets. Over the years, he has also been a prolific arranger of works from diverse composers, including Monteverdi, Falla, and Antonio Carlos Jobim. McFadden serves as Associate Dean of Performance and Public Events, Head of Guitar Studies, and Professor in the Teaching Stream at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto.

Research Interests