After starting guitar at age 9 and studying under Janet Robin, I became obsessed with the instrument and quickly became highly skilled on the electric guitar. I began busking on the streets of downtown Burbank in order to save up for new guitars and gear, as well as get exposure and performance experience. By age eleven, I had become an artist for Taylor Guitars, Schecter Guitars, Fender Guitars, Dunlop, and Gibson Guitars. At 12, I played the Randy Rhoads Remembered Show in Anaheim, California in front of thousands, earning the nickname “Randy Rhoads’ grand student.” The following year, I began composing music for the electric guitar and released his first album, “Limitless” in December of 2016. By age fifteen, I decided to shift my focus to begin studying the art of the classical guitar after world-renowned guitarist Christopher Parkening reached out after hearing my first album. I then studied under Kevin Enstrom at Pepperdine University, where I began competing and performing with the classical guitar. I won the “Gohar and Ovanes Andriassian Young Classical Guitarist Competition” two years in a row (2018 and 2019), as well as placing in many other competitions, including 3rd in the prestigious “Parkening International Young Guitar Competition” in 2019. Throughout my time at Pepperdine, Garrett has released two classical albums, “Villa-Lobos: 5 Preludes" and “The Pacific Duo: A Debut,” as well as two instrumental metal singles, “Overarching” and “Turning Point.” I also released an album with my band, Byrdhouse, titled “Figure It Out” in May 2023. I continue to perform in Los Angeles in different bands as well as independently in addition to my role as guitar teacher at Malibu Music.

Music has been an integral part of my life since the day I was born, and I can confidently say that it has positively impacted me at every turn, in every possible way since. I learned to read music around the same time I learned to read words, starting shortly on the violin before moving to cello at the age of five. Shortly after, a love of singing, acting, and ukulele emerged, and I spent my childhood and teenage years nurturing these passions into skills I could use as a professional artist. In my work as an Artist in Residence with the Malibu Friends of Music, I have performed as a featured artist in multiple historic venues across the continental United States, including the Capitol Building Rotunda in Olympia, Washington, and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. In addition to my performance pursuits, I am a private cello, ukulele, voice and acting instructor, working to help build the next generation of artists and encourage people of all ages to connect with what makes us truly human. 

I’ve been playing guitar since I was six years old, and from the moment I strummed my first chord, I was hooked. Along the way, I dove into rock, blues, jazz, funk, and more—each genre leaving its mark on my style and fueling my love for the instrument. These days, I bring that same passion to my teaching, helping students of all ages sharpen their skills, explore new styles, and push toward their goals with confidence and creativity. And if you’re ready to fall in love with playing all over again, do yourself a favor and check out the Taylor 814ce at Malibu Music—it’s the kind of guitar that makes every note feel like magic.

I’m a second generation studio music from Los Angeles. I grew up tagging along with my dad to sessions, then in my teen years started playing guitar in churches and clubs around LA. Over the last fifteen years I’ve been working in studios all over LA and have worked with Jelly Roll, One Republic, Maren Morris, and Olivia Holt. I also play banjo, mandolin, ukulele, dobro, lap steel, and pedal steel. 

My love for music started before I could walk—some say I conducted my first symphony from the crib. Over the years, I’ve conducted hundreds of performances around the world, played in legendary film sessions, and built a life steeped in the richness of sound. I co-founded and helped build the Icicle Creek Center for the Arts, a place that continues to inspire creativity in a breathtaking mountain setting. I’ve also spent years performing string quartets across the globe, chasing that elusive, perfect blend of voices that only chamber music can deliver. These days, in addition, I head up the lessons and educational programs at Malibu Music, where I get to nurture the next generation of artists, and maybe turn a few young string players into full-blown pros. Let’s make some music.