Interview with 2023 MLC Guitar Grant winner Russell Franklin

Russell Franklin was the winner of the Marton L. Carroll Guitar Grant through St. Louis Classical Guitar in 2023. He is a former guitar student of Alyssa Catlin at Childbloom St. Louis.

SLCG's Dan Rubright conducts an interview with Russell about his guitar beginnings, his Keith Adams' guitar ("the favorite thing that I own"), taking a tour of Keith's luthier studio, and what his advice is for young guitarists who are seeking to apply for the MLC grant.

Watch the full interview on YouTube:

The Marton L. Carroll Guitar Grant is offered to young classical guitarists ages 16-23 in the Midwest region. Applications for the 2026 grant are due June 30!

Learn more about this special grant on our website:

Russell Franklin with his teacher Alyssa Catlin (Childbloom) and Marton L. Carroll posing with his brand new Keith Adams guitar, August 2023.