Eric McGarry

Eric McGarry
Guitarist & Composer

Eric McGarry is a guitarist, composer, and educator based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

McGarry is a graduate of the University of the Arts with a Master of Music in Jazz Studies.  Prior to completing his Master of Music, McGarry earned a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance with Honors, and a Minor in Music Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology from the University of the Arts.

McGarry has studied with prominent guitarists Dave Allen, Matt Davis, Tim Motzer, Kevin Hanson, Mike Kennedy, and Ben O’Neill. While attending UArts, McGarry held the guitar chair for the award winning Z Big Band, under the direction of Matt Gallagher.

In 2019, McGarry was named a recipient of the Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency, a selective program reserved for fifteen of the nations finest collegiate musicians. In 2022 McGarry was a member of Jazz Philadelphia's Core Cooperative, an entrepreneurship and wellness program focused on nurturing the Philadelphia jazz scene.

McGarry’s main creative project, the Eric McGarry Quintet focuses on performing his original compositions. They can be found regularly at venues like Chris’ Jazz Cafe, where McGarry recently hosted the Friday night jam sessions. Recently, McGarry was a featured artist at the Philadelphia Free Library.  McGarry released his debut album, “As I Am, As You Were” on 1/27/2023.