Stefan Roach was born on the 25th May 1987 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He has lived in Diego Martin for his entire life. Stefan is a Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of the West Indies but his passion is music.
Stefan began studying classical guitar with Graham Newling in 2001. He has since developed a love for the instrument and has excelled in its study, successfully completing grade 8, the final grade in the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) exams and subsequently attaining a Diploma in Performance Guitar, also from ABRSM (DipABRSM). In 2008, he won best Senior Guitar Solo at the National Music Festival and went on to found the guitar school, Stefan’s Guitar Academy in 2009, teaching classical guitar and music theory.
At Stefan’s Guitar Academy, young kids and teenagers are prepared for the ABRSM exams.It is one of the few places in Trinidad and Tobago that gives this training in classical guitar. Every year, a recital is hosted for the students, providing them an opportunity to perform in front of an audience - invaluable experience for building their self-confidence.
As a performer, Stefan has been exposed to many styles of music including Parang, Calypso, Reggae and Rock and has played in many bands within Trinidad. Flamenco guitar has however, always captivated him, especially due to his classical foundation. He developed himself as a flamenco guitarist, and then launched himself into the performance arena in September 2012 with ‘A Night of Classical and Flamenco Guitar and Dance’ at Fiesta Plaza, Movie Towne. Since then, his unique and intricate art form has attracted an impressive range of private and corporate clients. He has graced the stage at numerous weddings, corporate dinners, cocktails and National functions, making him one of the most sought-after local classical musicians.
In August 2014, Stefan was chosen to perform at the close of the National Awards, hosted on Independence Night, and in September 2015, he performed at the Swearing-In Ceremony of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, two highlights of his National career thus far. He also produced ‘Viva – a Musical Production’, hosted at Queen’s Hall in September 2014, which attracted a capacity crowd to the prestigious venue. Another wonderful experience was traveling with his band to Antigua for a special Ole Years’ Night performance (Dec 31st 2014), in collaboration with dancers from Quindale Productions, Barcelona, Spain.
Stefan works hard at producing a high quality musical product. He values professionalism and customer service, always aspiring to exceed his clients' expectations. His experience in doing productions and student recitals has honed his skills at Event Planning and Management.
Stefan aspires to be a classical and flamenco guitarist that can command the respect of an audience in any part of the world. He remains grounded and focused, recognizing that there is a long way to go in his musical development. He embraces his niche and is delighted to contribute uniquely to the already diverse musical landscape of Trinidad and Tobago.
Email Stefan for more info.: ssrguitar@outlook.com
