Electric guitar playing sample
Classical Sample
Full sample electric playing
Classical playing full sample
Masterclass performance at the Peabody Institute
Performing in Hua Hin, Thailand
Performing in Maryland
Tedesco Guitar Quintet performance for the National Music Festival
Performance at the Saigon Guitar Festival
Hi, I'm Joe Tollefsen! I have a masters degree in classical guitar performance from Yale University, and I play at weddings, church services, fundraisers, cocktail hours, and special events. I generally play electric or classical guitar (I can also play acoustic if desired). For electric, I generally use a looper to cover popular songs. For classical, I generally play arrangements of popular songs and traditional classical guitar music. I can play general background music, or accommodate specific song or piece requests. My goal is to tailor my playing to best fit any given situation or need. Contact me for my website details, or to check out my youtube channel.
Best,
Joe
1 review
Noah G.
March 23, 2026Very talented, very easygoing and friendly, great background and relaxing chill vibe music
Hired as: Classical Guitarist, Guitarist
Price range: $300 – $1,000 per event
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 450 minutes
I can provide different kinds of guitar services. I can do background music (of any style) for events; I can play classical music at wedding ceremonies; I can play more popular music with or without looping or vocals; I can play seasonal music for holidays or birthdays. I am flexible, so let me know what you have in mind and we can make it happen!
Hi! My name is Joe Tollefsen. I've been playing guitar since I was about nine, and started taking lessons at the age of twelve. In middle school and high school, I became very invested in playing, performing, and recording music, and even building (primitive) instruments out of cigar boxes. I realized that I need to pursue this passion for music at the collegiate and professional levels; I graduated with degrees in writing and music from Johns Hopkins in 2022 and am now pursuing a Masters in guitar performance at the Yale School of Music. I've performed on NPR's From the Top, four TedX events, a number of competitions, and many private events. I play classical, acoustic, and electric guitar, so don't hesitate to peruse my videos and reach out if you're interested!
I need to know the venue size in order to make decisions about amplification. For some performances, I require a chair.
This varies according to the nature of the event.
Classical Guitar influences:
Julian Bream
Denis Azabagic
The Assad Brothers
Gabriel Bianco
Acoustic Guitar influences:
David Rawlings
Doc Watson
Electric Guitar influences:
Mark Knopfler
Jimi Hendrix
Bombino
Chair
Guitarist