Damian Lamont Goggans
Guitarist, Researcher, Composer, Arranger, Singer, Songwriter, Actor,
Damian Goggans is a guitarist, and scholar whose work explores the contributions of African diasporic composers and arrangers in classical guitar repertoire. Since beginning his studies in 2016 at the Citizens Leadership Academy under Brian Gaudino, former Director of Education for the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society (CCGS), Damian has performed nationally, appeared on television and radio, and premiered his original composition Ballad of a Mother at Severance Hall. He has toured with the U.S. Guitar Orchestra (2021) and studied in master classes with artists including Thomas Flippin, Adam Holzman (Brevard), and Matthew Cochran (Interlochen).
As an inaugural member and graduate of the Musical Pathways Fellowship at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Damian studied with Erik Mann, the Executive Director of CCGS. He was also one of fourteen students from seven countries selected for the inaugural Guitar Foundation of America Mentorship Program, studying under Christopher Mallett and Raphaël Feuillatre.
In 2021, Damian graduated from the Cleveland School of the Arts High School, where he majored in Orchestra under the direction of Dianna Richardson. He then went on to receive his Bachelor’s of Music in Classical Guitar Performance at Oberlin Conservatory with Stephen Aron. During that time, he also pursued a minor in African American Music and was mentored by Dr. Courtney Savali-Andrews (Ethnomusicology), Dr. Candice Raynor (Africana Studies), Dr. Thomas Talawa Presto (African Diasporic Dance), and Professor Caroline Jackson Smith (Black Theater). Currently, Damian is pursuing his Master’s in Guitar Performance with Matthew Denman at Oklahoma City University as an inaugural recipient of the Leyenda Foundation Scholarship.
Part of his research was published in NOTES: The Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association. At the 2025 Guitar Foundation of America Convention, he presented his first lecture on his research. His scholarship and performances alike reflect a commitment to expanding the guitar canon and amplifying historically marginalized voices in music.
Armed with his Glenn Canin guitar, generously provided by Greg Maloney of Gifted Guitars, Damian seeks to use music as both a vehicle for artistry and a weapon against injustice. All of his performances and accomplishments are dedicated to his late brother and guardian angel, D’King Goggans, and his sisters D’nya and D’Koda-Love.
Damian Goggans is a classical guitarist and scholar whose work explores the contributions of African diasporic composers and arrangers to the guitar repertoire. Since beginning his studies in 2016 under Brian Gaudino at the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society, Damian has performed nationally, appeared on television and radio, premiered his original composition Ballad of a Mother at Severance Hall, and toured with the U.S. Guitar Orchestra (2021). He has studied in master classes with Thomas Flippin, Adam Holzman, and Matthew Cochran.
An inaugural member of both the Musical Pathways Fellowship at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Guitar Foundation of America Mentorship Program, Damian studied with Erik Mann, Christopher Mallett, and Raphaël Feuillatre. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance from Oberlin Conservatory, with a minor in African American Music, and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Guitar Performance at Oklahoma City University as a Leyenda Foundation Scholar.
His research has been published in NOTES: The Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association and presented at the 2025 Guitar Foundation of America Convention. Armed with his Glenn Canin guitar, Damian dedicates his work to using music as a tool for artistry, justice, and in honor of his late brother, D’King Goggans, and sisters D’nya and D’Koda-Love.
“…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)