Niall Ransford is a guitarist and theorbist based in the Seattle area. He began studying guitar and music composition at 15 after taking a music class in highschool with Nathaniel Eschler, a Utah based composer. Niall studied at Bard College from 2019- 2024 and had the distinct privelege to study with a wide range of talented musicians including but not limited to: Renée Louprette, Scott Kritzer, Richard Kolb, Mike Demicco, George Tsontakis, Joan Tower and Kyle Gann. Upon graduating Niall was presented with the presitigous Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award. Niall is especially interested in Baroque and Classical improvisation. Recently he has been working on performing his arrangments of BWV 997, 996 and 829, which includes a large emphasis on free and improvisatory embellishments. He has a passion for teaching and spreading the joy of music to students. He teaches both privately and at the Academy of Music and Dance and works as a paraeducator for Harbour Pointe Middle School.