Younce Guitar Duo is a Traverse City–based acoustic guitar ensemble featuring Ryan Younce and his father, Jerry Younce. Rooted in a shared lifetime of music, the duo blends deep musical intuition, seasoned experience, and a unique family connection into performances that feel both refined and personal.

Jerry Younce brings decades of professional musicianship to the duo. Born in Detroit, he became active in the city’s jazz scene as a teenager and went on to study Jazz Studies at Wayne State University. Over the course of his career, Jerry has performed across the Midwest in a wide range of styles including jazz, country, big band, and show band settings.

He has worked with numerous regional bands and touring artists, performed on the Midwest resort circuit, and spent years playing with professional show bands in Northern Michigan. In addition to his performing career, Jerry has served as the musical director for the Red Jacket Jamboree and continues to collaborate with a wide network of musicians.

Ryan builds on that foundation with over 20 years of professional experience as a guitarist, recording engineer, and faculty member in the Audio Technology Department at Northwestern Michigan College. Together, their contrasting yet complementary musical backgrounds create a dynamic musical dialogue rooted in listening, interaction, and feel.

Formed in 2008, the duo performs approximately 150 shows per year, delivering instrumental acoustic performances influenced by jazz, gypsy guitar, flamenco, Latin, and world music traditions.

What sets Younce Guitar Duo apart is their ability to communicate musically at a high level—something that comes naturally from a lifetime of shared experience. Their performances are defined by rich, layered guitar work, spontaneity, and an engaging, intimate connection with their audience.