About Brenda Buckendahl

Brenda Buckendahl began her musical journey in the public schools where, in the fourth grade, she was given the opportunity to take flute lessons. She loved to play the flute and continued in school bands through High School, but in the meantime also taught herself to play guitar. She switched her main instrument to guitar in High School so that she could play in the school’s jazz band, and formed her own rock band on the side as well.

When it was time to study music in college, Ms. Buckendahl decided to major in Classical Guitar Performance, and she graduated with honors with a Master of Music degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. After finishing college she moved to Tucson, Az., where she spent a number of years as a freelance musician, playing gigs and teaching and performing in the private studio and at community colleges. While in Tucson, Ms. Buckendahl was the featured guitar soloist with the Sierra Vista Symphony orchestra, the Symphony da Chiesa, and the Cochise College Chamber Orchestra. She also recorded 2 CDs of original compositions and favorite repertoire pieces for classical guitar. Ms. Buckendahl then later moved to Colorado Springs, where she continued working as a freelance musician before moving to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2005.

In 2009 Ms. Buckendahl joined the adjunct faculty at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College teaching guitar lessons and group classes, and continues to teach there presently. She also teaches private lessons at The Music Studio in Diamondhead. Since coming to the Gulf Coast, Ms. Buckendahl has performed numerous solo concerts, and continues to perform both as a soloist and in groups throughout the area.