bio
Rusty Banks, Guitar/Composer/Conductor
Rusty Banks (b.1974) is a composer, guitarist, and educator born in Jasper, AL and living in Mountville, PA. His compositions have been performed in China, Italy, Canada, and throughout the United States. Besides writing concert music for ballet, orchestra, and acoustic ensembles, Rusty “designs” pieces that use traditional performers, boomboxes, and video within dynamic audio/video installations. His music is thoroughly modern with an emphasis on beauty and invention. As a guitarist, Rusty is an often called upon interpreter of new works for the concert guitar. Besides modern works, Rusty has performed much of the traditional solo repertoire as well as concerti with Lincoln Symphony, the Third Chair Chamber Players, Doane Orchestra, and others. As an educator, Rusty has taught composition, theory, guitar, and music business courses privately and for universities. His educational endeavors are driven by a desire to involve learners in projects that transcend the semester and the campus walls and impact the community beyond. At Millersville University, Rusty teaches Popular Music, Music and Culture, Electronic Music, and Music Business.