Guitar, Composer | b.1980

Born 1980 in Brookline, Massachusetts, Mary Halvorson is a Brooklyn-based guitarist and composer recognised as one of the most original guitarists of her generation, winning DownBeat Critics Poll Guitarist of the Year for nine consecutive years and receiving a 2019 MacArthur Fellowship. Beginning on violin, she switched to guitar at age 11 after discovering Jimi Hendrix. She attended Wesleyan University initially for biology but switched to music after sitting in on Anthony Braxton's class, who became a pivotal mentor alongside guitarist Joe Morris, both encouraging her to pursue her own voice. Describing the guitar as a "neutral vessel", her music incorporates jazz, flamenco, rock, noise, and psychedelia.

After studying at Wesleyan and The New School, Halvorson moved to NYC in 2002, quickly becoming one of the city's most in-demand guitarists, appearing on more than 75 releases. Her debut Dragon's Head (2008, Firehouse 12) featured John Hébert and Ches Smith. She expanded to quintet on Saturn Sings (2010) and Bending Bridges (2012), septet on Illusionary Sea (2014), and octet with Susan Alcorn on Away With You (2016). Her solo album Meltframe (2015) was called "category-exploding" by NPR. In 2013 she formed Thumbscrew with Michael Formanek and Tomas Fujiwara. Code Girl (2018) featured her lyrics sung by Amirtha Kidambi. Signed to Nonesuch in 2022, twin albums Amaryllis and Belladonna featured Mivos Quartet and her Amaryllis sextet, receiving five stars from The Guardian. Cloudward appeared in 2024, followed by About Ghosts in 2025, named best new jazz album by NPR Music and Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll. She teaches at The New School.