Ian O’Sullivan is a classically-trained guitarist and composer from the North Shore of O’ahu.

Well-versed in Hawaiian music and the ‘ukulele, in addition to the Western classical repertoire, Ian has performed internationally as well as throughout the United States including Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. In 2013 Ian released his first solo album “Born and Raised,” featuring his original compositions alongside music of fellow Hawaii composers. In 2016 he released his second album “Songs for the North Shore”- a set of original compositions written for specific places and stories from the North Shore of O‘ahu.

In 2001, Ian entered the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa as a marine biology major. Soon after he met Grammy Award winning artist, and (at that time) lecturer of classical guitar at UH Manoa, Jeff Peterson. He introduced Ian to the world of classical guitar. During his years at UH, Ian transformed from a non-music-literate garage band guitarist to being the first Hawaiian guitarist to be accepted to Yale University’s School of Music.

Ian’s past performances included the New York Classical Guitar Society, Minnesota Guitar Society, Peninsula Guitar Series, Korea International Guitar Festival, Na Hiwahiwa Festival in Tokyo, and Benjamin Verdery’s Maui Guitar Class.

Ian currently teaches at Kamehameha Schools’ Kapālama Campus.