Robert Messore (meh-sor’-ee) has passionately devoted himself to the guitar for 30+ years. Messore has been called "Connecticut's finest fingerstyle guitarist." He plays beautiful instrumental guitar music and he is noted for composing tuneful pieces that work well as music, and not simply as fancy guitar playing.

Voted Best Instrumentalist in a New Haven Advocate readers' poll, Robert has been called "the Heart of the New Haven Folk Scene" for his vital and many-faceted contributions as solo performer, side man, recording artist, teacher and concert presenter (working on several concert series and the Connecticut Folk Festival). He also plays guitar and bass with soul/rock group, The Chrissy Gardner Band, and presents a weekly program called Toddler Tunes which is the largest children's sing-along in CT!

After graduating from Hampshire College (Amherst, MA) in 1995 with a degree in Cognitive Science, Messore moved to New Haven, CT. He has spent the past 17+ years there being a major contributor to the folk scene, performing, recording, and organizing concerts and festivals including St. John’s Coffeehouse (more than 10 years) and The Connecticut Folk Festival (more than 10 years), as well as hosting the open mic at The Space (5 years).

Stylistically, Messore can go from traditional Irish tunes to jazz-inflected pieces to works inspired by funk and/or metal, all in one show, and somehow make it work. He was voted best instrumentalist in a New Haven Advocate reader’s poll. He has performed at coffeehouses, colleges and clubs from Boston to Burlington to Ithaca to Philadelphia. His 4 CDs of original music receive frequent airplay on public radio, and he has made numerous TV & live radio appearances.

In recent years Messore has become almost as well known for his children’s performances, and his Toddler Tunes program at St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Haven attracts enthusiastic participants every week. Messore also plays children’s concerts and parties, as well as performing for area nursery schools.

Go to toddlertunes.org

Quotes

“Robert is a world class player. It’s rare to find someone with such talent and heart.” David Wilcox

"When he plays the instrument, it sings, absolutely sings, and you'd be hard pressed to hear a sweeter song." Karen E. Reynolds, WDVX FM, Knoxville, TN

"Messore's advanced brand of acoustic guitar wizardry probably deserves a category all to itself." Chris Arnott, New Haven Advocate, New Haven, CT