Baramay is a Cambodian-American guitarist and composer from Chicago, now based in Los Angeles. After earning a bachelor’s degree in guitar and music composition from the University of Miami, he performed in festivals across the U.S. and Europe, formed a classical guitar rock band that toured the Midwest and East Coast, and composed for ensembles such as the Cleveland Orchestra, Gaudete Brass Quintet, and the Midwest Children’s Orchestra. He also opened a community arts center on Chicago’s South Side and maintained a thriving teaching practice. Seeking greater musical depth, he moved to Los Angeles and earned a master’s degree from the California Institute of the Arts.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Baramay took a break from music and entered the field of public health. Drawing on the organizational and entrepreneurial skills he developed as a bandleader and musician, he helped guide communities like the city of San Fernando and Pasadena City College through the pandemic’s challenges. Yet the guitar has always been his anchor.

Today, he continues to share his passion for the instrument, composition, and collaborative art while supporting and inspiring the next generation of musicians at Pierce College.