Paul Kneller is a classical guitarist teaching and performing in and around Portland, Maine. He studied classical guitar with John Johnstone from 2000 through his first year in university, 2014. Paul was fortunate to be able to study Johnstone’s compositions as John was in an active period of composing and publishing works for guitar. In 2014, Paul began his studies in music at the University of Southern Maine under the mentorship of Keith Crook. Keith was an eccentric and devoted teacher, performer, and composer. He offered a continuing mentorship beyond Paul’s time at the university. While studying at the university, Paul participated in a Master Class with Lily Afshar and performed Sergio Assad’s transcription of Invierno Porteno by Astor Piazzolla in the 41st Honors Recital. Paul Kneller holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Southern Maine, 2018.

Paul performs with a flute and guitar duo, Paul & Kate. Additionally, Paul has performed with vocalists, cellists, a string quartet, flutists, violinists, and continues to pursue opportunities to perform with other instrumentalists and ensembles. Outside the classical realm, Paul has recorded and played with groups ranging from experimental influences to punk. He has recorded DIY albums with drummer Matthew Rioux, notably Popcore (2014) and Easier Done Than Said (2018). He has recorded with a larger group including vocalist Derek Kneller, violinist Harleigh Gillespie, and aforementioned drummer Matthew Rioux, It’s Loud and it Hurts (2015). Paul was influenced by the lo-fi community and spent a great deal of time recording with Tascam cassette units up until 2015. Presently, classical guitar is his primary focus.

Since 2017, Paul has been teaching guitar in southern Maine. Paul joined the faculty of the Portland Conservatory in 2021. At PCM Paul coaches a guitar duo, the first time guitar has been represented in the chamber program, and he encourages collaboration, when possible, between students. He makes every attempt to collaborate on music with faculty or the community. At PCM Paul is engaged in building an active classical guitar community.

In May of 2026 Paul completed an Associate of Health Science in Radiography. He works as a Radiologic Technologist, R.T.(R) and continues to teach and perform through the Portland Conservatory of Music.