Award-winning classical guitarist Andrew Oswinkle was born and raised in Baltimore and received his masters in Guitar Performance and pedagogy from the Conservatory of the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University. While there, he had the privilege to be selected to represent his studio in Peabody’s Friday Noon concert series and had many masterclasses with renowned guitarists such as Andrew Zohn, Allan Neave, and Sergio Assad. After his first year of study at Peabody, Andrew began participating in competitions throughout the region and setting up his own concerts locally. He placed 3rd in the 2019 Philadelphia classical Guitar Competition and placed as a semi-finalist, in his first time ever competing in the 2019 Appalachian GuitarFest Solo Guitar Competition. Since then He has continued competing in competitions recently receiving 2nd at the 2022 Southern Guitar Competition and advancing to the semi-finals in many others. Some notable concerts include performances at the 2019 Baltimore’s ArtScape festival, as well as 2 very successful concerts he organized on his own that same year, The Maryland State Boychoir summer series in 2021, and as a concert opener for the Wilmington guitar society in 2022. 

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In his formative years, Andrew grew up listening to church and community choir rehearsals that his parents attended throughout his childhood. While in school he was involved in every kind of ensemble he could, playing the French horn in the band from elementary school through high school and also being a part of choirs and rock bands as he got older; at one point, he was even enrolled in choir, band, and guitar ensemble all at the same time in high school. His love for music deepened during his time singing with the Maryland State Boychoir which he joined in middle school. There, he became acquainted with all kinds of music from the renaissance counterpoint of Palestrina, to the cluster chords of Eric Whitacer, to the spirituals of Charles Albert Tindley, and everything in between. He had great opportunities there to travel all across the US, as well as to Europe and Canada, and had many great performance opportunities in every kind of venue. However, it was the discovery of the guitar that truly spoke to him.

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Andrew started his college career at CCBC, The Community College of Baltimore County, having no prior guitar instruction to audition anywhere else and having a lack of interest in other subjects throughout his school career, left him with few other options. There he quickly picked up on all the techniques and repertoire he was given and soon outgrew the abilities of his first teacher who was primarily the jazz guitar teacher and was handed over to Andrew Dickenson, a recent Peabody Alumni. After quickly picking up the basics of the instrument over the span of a few years he was awarded the Outstanding Instrumentalist award, Outstanding Guitarist award, and was asked to play for the CCBC honors recital as well as their annual Gala. After Graduating from CCBC he transferred to Shepherd University in West Virginia where he received high scholarship for his playing ability to study with the guitarist that had so transfixed him back in High School, William Feasley. There he studied music Education, since his parents saw little opportunity in performance, and so he muddled through all the Education requirements so he could get back to the practice room. While there he had the honor to be a part of the Shepherd Honors Recital and had multiple high-level masterclass opportunities with prominent guitarists such as Manuel Barrueco, Willam Kanengiser, and David Russel. He graduated with high honors and took a year to work and practice before auditioning for his master's at Peabody where he received a scholarship to study under the renowned pedagogue Julian Gray.

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Since graduating, Andrew has become an  enthusiastic teacher and regular performer in the Baltimore/DC area. Andrew’s involvement with a broad variety of ensembles throughout his life, as well as his deep curiosity in a multiplicity of genres, has resulted in a varied repertoire of all different styles of music. His technique and understanding of music, have been deepened through his study with Julian Gray and his technique has been pushed further by many master class experiences with many renowned guitarists such as Manuel Barrueco, William Kanengeiser, and David Russell. He continues to develop his skills as a guitarist and artist through continued study with prominent guitarists and attending festivals and competitions. Andrew is also dedicated to advocacy for the classical guitar by, not only bringing his music to formal concert stages, but also by bringing high-quality music into his local community by playing for local events, schools, and non-traditional venues.