“The brightness comes from more than Megan’s considerable ability as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. It comes from her heart, her ever present smile, and the twinkle in her eyes. Her happiness is infectious. Her music makes you feel good. Megan truly loves to perform, loves to entertain, and loves being on stage. She will always hold a special place in Smoked Country Jam’s heart.”
- Ron Kodish, Smoked Country Jam Bluegrass Festival
- Ron Kodish, Smoked Country Jam Bluegrass Festival
Megan McGarry is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, and entrepreneur from Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Recently home after spending two years teaching music in Hong Kong, Megan currently fronts two bands, The Badlanders and The Megan McGarry Band. She also teaches music through her studio, McGarry Music Studios.
Early Life & Education
McGarry was born and raised in Clearfield County Pennsylvania. She began learning fiddle at age 5, followed by guitar at age 13 and claw-hammer banjo at age 16.
Megan started appearing on stage with her dad and his bluegrass band at around age 7. Shortly after, Chris McGarry started receiving calls requesting their father-daughter duo to perform at local club meetings and arts festivals. Around this time, Megan also competed in fiddle competitions, her parents driving her around the state of Pennsylvania during the summer months. Megan held the title of Pennsylvania State Fiddle Champion in the Junior Division for two consecutive years, 2007 and 2008.
In high school, McGarry participated in choir and musicals, attending PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) festivals for voice and violin. In addition to this, she traveled across the state to perform regularly with her father-daughter duo, and a couple of bands including The McGarry Family String Band, The Dusty Trout, and Young Folk.
In her senior year of high school, Megan recorded her debut album.
McGarry enrolled in Berklee College of Music in 2014 where she studied with the likes of Bruce Molsky, Darol Anger, Tony Triscka, Jason Anick and more. She graduated summa cum laude in 2018 with a degree in Music Education and a minor in American Roots Music.
Career
As a performing artist, McGarry has performed at such prominent music festivals as Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in New York, FreshGrass Music Festival in Massachusetts, Smoked Country Jam in Pennsylvania, and Hickory Fest in Pennsylvania.
In 2013, McGarry appeared on The Dusty Trout’s album Fly Reel, contributing vocals and fiddle. She also performed with them a number of times between 2012 and 2016.
In July 2015, McGarry released her debut, self-titled album, Megan McGarry, singing and playing clawhammer-banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar. She blended the sounds of traditional American roots music and contemporary folk music through rich melodies and engaging storytelling.
In 2016, McGarry appeared as the violinist on “pop-adjacent” duo, Sleeping Lion’s EP, Patient Creature.
In 2019, she moved to Hong Kong to teach music American School Hong Kong.
She returned home in 2021 and launched McGarry Music Studios in January 2022, a music lesson studio with her office located in Curwensville, PA. She manages and performs with her two bands The Megan McGarry Band and The Badlanders.
Early Life & Education
McGarry was born and raised in Clearfield County Pennsylvania. She began learning fiddle at age 5, followed by guitar at age 13 and claw-hammer banjo at age 16.
Megan started appearing on stage with her dad and his bluegrass band at around age 7. Shortly after, Chris McGarry started receiving calls requesting their father-daughter duo to perform at local club meetings and arts festivals. Around this time, Megan also competed in fiddle competitions, her parents driving her around the state of Pennsylvania during the summer months. Megan held the title of Pennsylvania State Fiddle Champion in the Junior Division for two consecutive years, 2007 and 2008.
In high school, McGarry participated in choir and musicals, attending PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) festivals for voice and violin. In addition to this, she traveled across the state to perform regularly with her father-daughter duo, and a couple of bands including The McGarry Family String Band, The Dusty Trout, and Young Folk.
In her senior year of high school, Megan recorded her debut album.
McGarry enrolled in Berklee College of Music in 2014 where she studied with the likes of Bruce Molsky, Darol Anger, Tony Triscka, Jason Anick and more. She graduated summa cum laude in 2018 with a degree in Music Education and a minor in American Roots Music.
Career
As a performing artist, McGarry has performed at such prominent music festivals as Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in New York, FreshGrass Music Festival in Massachusetts, Smoked Country Jam in Pennsylvania, and Hickory Fest in Pennsylvania.
In 2013, McGarry appeared on The Dusty Trout’s album Fly Reel, contributing vocals and fiddle. She also performed with them a number of times between 2012 and 2016.
In July 2015, McGarry released her debut, self-titled album, Megan McGarry, singing and playing clawhammer-banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar. She blended the sounds of traditional American roots music and contemporary folk music through rich melodies and engaging storytelling.
In 2016, McGarry appeared as the violinist on “pop-adjacent” duo, Sleeping Lion’s EP, Patient Creature.
In 2019, she moved to Hong Kong to teach music American School Hong Kong.
She returned home in 2021 and launched McGarry Music Studios in January 2022, a music lesson studio with her office located in Curwensville, PA. She manages and performs with her two bands The Megan McGarry Band and The Badlanders.
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“Megan McGarry is a talented string musician who radiates positivity and light. Do yourself a favor and spend some time with her music.” - Darol Anger |
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“Our audience enjoys the warmth, laughter and stories that accompany the outstanding musicianship...as we work on our schedule for the next season, we will certainly include Megan McGarry."
-Kevin Connelli, Director of the Wellsboro Deane Center for Performing Art |
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Megan endorses Bourgeoise Guitars and The Ozark Banjo Company.