Damian Lamont Goggans
Classical Guitarist, Composer, Arranger, Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Researcher
Damian Goggans began his guitar studies in 2016 at the Citizens Leadership Academy in an after-school Guitar Club with Brian Gaudino, former Director of Education for the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society(CCGS). Since then, he has been on national television and radio, performed his original composition "Ballad of a Mother" at Severance Hall, toured with the US Guitar Orchestra (2021), and had master classes with such artists as Thomas Flippin, Adam Holzman (Brevard) and Matthew Cochran (Interlochen).
Damian is an inaugural member and graduate of the Musical Pathways Fellowship at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Erik Mann, the Executive Director of CCGS. He was also one of fourteen students from seven countries to be in the inaugural Guitar Foundation of America Mentorship Program, where he studied with Christopher Mallett and Raphaël Feuillatre. He graduated from High School in 2021 at the Cleveland School of the Arts (CSA), where he majored in Orchestra under the direction of Dianna Richardson.
Damian is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance at Oberlin Conservatory with Stephen Aron and a minor in African American Music with Courtney Savali-Andrews. Recently, Damian has been curating an anthology of classical guitar music by African diasporic composers and arrangers, a project he eagerly anticipates publishing in the coming years.
Armed with his Glenn Canin guitar, generously provided by Greg Maloney of Gifted Guitars, he intends to use his music as a weapon against injustice. Damian’s performances and accomplishments are all dedicated to his brother and guardian angel, D’King Goggans, who passed away in August of 2020.
Damian Goggans Damian began his guitar studies in 2016 at the Citizens Leadership Academy in an after-school Guitar Club with Brian Gaudino, former Director of Education for the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society(CCGS). Since then, he has been on national television and radio, performed his original composition "Ballad of a Mother" at Severance Hall, toured with the US Guitar Orchestra (2021), and had master classes with such artists as Thomas Flippin, Adam Holzman (Brevard) and Matthew Cochran (Interlochen).
Damian is an inaugural member and graduate of the Musical Pathways Fellowship at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Erik Mann, the Executive Director of CCGS. He was also one of fourteen students from seven countries to be in the inaugural Guitar Foundation of America Mentorship Program, where he studied with Christopher Mallett and Raphaël Feuillatre. He graduated from High School in 2021 at the Cleveland School of the Arts (CSA), where he majored in Orchestra under the direction of Dianna Richardson.
Damian is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance at Oberlin Conservatory with Stephen Aron and a minor in African American Music with Courtney Savali-Andrews. Recently, Damian has been curating an anthology of classical guitar music by African diasporic composers and arrangers, a project he eagerly anticipates publishing in the coming years.
Armed with his Glenn Canin guitar, generously provided by Greg Maloney of Gifted Guitars, he intends to use his music as a weapon against injustice. Damian’s performances and accomplishments are all dedicated to his brother and guardian angel, D’King Goggans, who passed away in August of 2020.
“…the stirring rendition of three etudes by Thomas Flippin defined Goggans’ performance that afternoon. The arrangements of “Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around,” “Wake Up, Jacob,” and “Don’t Be Weary, Traveler” all came from Flippin’s 14 Études of the Music of Black Americans — Goggans preceded each one with a rendition of the spiritual in his deep, self-assured singing voice, contextualizing what he would go on to echo from his guitar.”
— Stephanie Manning(ClevelandClassical.com)
“Damian Goggans- the composer, singer, song writer- on his way to the hall of fame!”
- Loretta Bey(Grandma)