Payton Harkins holds a Bachelors and Masters in Music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem NC. Along with his experience in guitar performance Payton is also a composer. His works have been used by UNCAs Modern Dance Dept., as a member of the band Minutes and Years, and in chamber music settings. Payton has experience performing in all styles of music. He has played concerts all along the east coast as a solo classical guitar player, a jazz guitarist in small jazz ensembles, and as a lead guitar player in pop rock bands.