Anthony Caulkins

Anthony Caulkins is an active composer and guitarist based in Irvine, California. Through his compositions, Anthony strives to create an eclectic soundscape that spans many styles and genres. Over his career as a composer, Anthony has developed a voice that focuses on both intricate systems and improvisatory practices. Combining the sound worlds of both acoustic and electronic instruments in his compositions, Anthony invents ideas to resonate with audiences of all types. His pieces have been enjoyed by many audiences, with performances in the United States, Italy, Holland, and Spain. His most recent works include a feature length film score for the documentary, Nine-Story Mountain.

Anthony completed his Bachelor of Music in Composition at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he studied with Professors Stephen Dembski and Laura Schwendinger. In the Fall of 2014, Anthony will begin his study of Integrated Composition, Improvisation, and Technology at the University of California - Irvine.

Along with composing, Anthony is an active performer who has played extensively in and around the Madison area, as well as the rest of the US and Europe. Anthony is a versatile guitarist and has many years of experience performing in solo, chamber, and orchestral contexts. His early years of performance were spent in bands of varying genres, from Rock/Metal, to Irish Folk/Pop, to Ambient, to Jazz. In the last few years, he has moved to performing primarily in chamber, classical, and jazz contexts, as well as frequent performances in pit orchestras. Anthony studied classical guitar with Professor Javier Calderon and Jazz Performance with Professors Richard Davis and Les Thimmig.

Anthony has also been active as a teacher of guitar, maintaining a full studio for the last seven years. He has experience teaching students from ages 6 to 65 and is comfortable with a wide range of musical styles and skill levels. As a teacher, his primary goal is to foster as much independence in his students as possible. When this independence is gained, musical discourse in lessons becomes much more productive and allows for deep discussions of music and expression.