Brandon Vaccaro is a composer, performer, and sound artist based in Denver, Colorado.

As a composer, Brandon has received commendations, awards, and commissions from The Experimental Playground Ensemble (TEPE), SCI/ASCAP, the Iowa State University Carillon Festival, the University of Denver, and the University of Colorado. His works have been performed by a number of groups and performers such as the Tosca String Quartet, the Vinca Quartet, the Lamont Symphony Orchestra under Lawrence Golan, carilloneur Todd Fair, guitarist Jonathan Leathwood, and pianist María Fernanda Nieto-Pulido. His works have been performed throughout the United States and in Greece.

As a performer, Brandon has been active in both chamber and popular venues. Brandon was guitarist of the innovative bands Kallisti (2001-2003) and Coefficient of Friction (1996-1998). He has also been active as an improviser in both solo and ensemble settings. This has included collaborations with The Tosca String Quartet, The Experimental Playground Ensemble, Conrad Kehn (as MacroCephalic Cabal), Jesse Woods (as Ground), and Scott Schulz (as Shutter Trio) as well as guest performances with Tatsuya Nakatani and the Mystery Children. His group Free Love Ensemble was praised for its blend of “cutting-edge jazz with rock influences and motifs inspired by twentieth-century classical music” (Westword).  He continues to work with S. Lyn Goeringer.

Brandon has been active in more traditional musical groups. He was a founding member of The Experimental Playground Ensemble (TEPE, now The Playground, ensemble-in-residence at the University of Denver), performing as a guitarist, percussionist, electronic keyboardist, and conductor before leaving the group to begin doctoral studies. He has been active as a choral singer, classical guitarist, and chamber musician for over 17 years.

Since the summer of 2007, Brandon has curated a new series for experimental music, sound installations, and audio/visual works titled Soundscapes Presented by Mystery Cabal. The series is hosted by Object + Thought, part of a thriving gallery district north of downtown Denver.

Brandon holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Denver. He is a candidate for Doctor of Music Arts degree at the University of Colorado. He has studied composition with Carter Pann, Daniel Kellogg, Michael Theodore, Donald Keats, Malcolm Lynn Baker, William Hill, and Chris Malloy. His principal guitar teachers were Masakazu Ito and David DiMichaelis.