Design featuring a yellow outline of a guitar integrated with an outline of the state of Arkansas. The text reads 'GUITAR WARS' in large blue font, with 'PLAY IT FORWARD' in smaller yellow font underneath.

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A man with a shaved head wearing a red and white striped shirt playing an electric guitar in a room with musical equipment and a wall decorated with a framed picture.

David Dunavant

Founder/CEO and Executive Director, Guitar Wars Inc.

David Dunavant is Arkansas’s highest-rated private guitar instructor and the founder of Guitar Wars Inc., the state’s only statewide amateur guitar competition and nonprofit for youth music education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) and a Master of Music in Jazz Guitar from Bowling Green State University. For 19 years, David has taught hundreds of students at four universities. He is known for expert instruction and mentorship.

He currently teaches private guitar lessons to adults and teens at Little Rock Music Academy. As the founder of Guitar Wars, David is dedicated to expanding music access for Arkansas youth through free instruments, music scholarships, and live performance opportunities.

A person with short, curly brown hair and glasses smiling while holding a French horn in one hand and a red electric guitar in the other. They are wearing a black t-shirt with yellow and white designs. Behind them are various posters and artwork on the wall, including a black and white collage and a colorful portrait.

Ryleigh Abbott

Chief Operating Officer, Guitar Wars Inc.

Ryleigh is the COO of Guitar Wars, she holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing from the University of UA Little Rock. She also studied abroad at one of Frances highest rated private business schools, KEDGE Business School where she pursued a Masters in Business. She also has musical abilities such as eight years of orchestra training with French Horn and is trained on many other instruments such as guitar and vocals.

As a member of Guitar Wars she oversees the daily aspects of the operation as well as assists David in running the yearly event at the Ron Robinson Theater. “Working for the Nonprofit is a dream come true, being able to give back to the community through music is an unexplainable joy. I am so grateful to be a part of the team!“

OUR VOLUNTEERS

Grant Coordinator
Jacqueline Mckisick

Scholarship Coordinator
Colin Frisby

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

Robert S Moore Jr
Anne Marie Doramus
Brady Aldy
Mike Speraw

2026 SPONSORS

Logo for David Duvant Guitar Lessons and Music Instruction on a light blue background.

David Dunavant

AY Media Group

Target

D’Addario

Stringjoy

Vinos

Commerce Title

Arkansas Community Foundation

CourtHouse Concepts

Conway Institute of Music

Jones and Son Fine Jewelry

Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

Edward Jones

Little Rock Music Academy

One Call Service Group

First Natural State Bank

Little Rock Regional Chamber

Saied Music Company

Hillcrest Ukelele Society

501st Legion

Meridien Psychology Services Inc.

A+ Insurance Center

Starling Music Studio

Casks-N-Que

Steven Reynolds

Scholarships

The Guitar Wars Educational Foundation proudly awards 5 kids in the state of Arkansas each year a scholarship that is valued around $750. The scholarship includes 4 months worth of free guitar lessons and a new guitar that is worth around $200.