John Doan

Biography

John Doan (b. May 16, 1951) is an American guitarist and composer celebrated for revitalizing the rare 20‑string harp guitar. Born in Santa Monica and raised in Venice, California, Doan began playing at age 11 on a 12‑string guitar and double‑neck electric in rock bands. He studied classical guitar at Cal State Northridge, fell in love with lute music, and later discovered a neglected harp guitar that sparked his lifelong devotion. After relocating to Oregon, Doan earned a master’s in music education from Western Oregon University and served on its faculty. He also studied Renaissance and Baroque lute in the Netherlands before becoming Associate Professor of Music at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. A pioneer of the modern harp guitar, he commissioned a redesigned 20‑string instrument in 1986—praised as the first modern form of its kind. Beyond performance, Doan is an author, speaker, historian, and educator. He contributed to publications on harp guitars, wrote a chapter for Between the Strings, and regularly delivers lectures and keynote presentations on creativity, music history, and entrepreneurship. In 2014, the BrandLaureate honored him with its International Brand Personality Award, acclaiming his unique talent and ability to channel “divine” music. In summary, John Doan has forged a remarkable path as a visionary harp‑guitarist, composer, storyteller, educator, and speaker—melding classical, folk, Celtic, and Renaissance traditions into a singular musical voice.