Muriel Anderson, born in Downers Grove, Illinois, is a composer and award winning guitarist. Anderson studied classical music in college at DePaul University with Leon Borkowski. She later took master courses with classical virtuoso Christopher Parkening. In 1989 she became the first woman to win the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship. Her recordings have traveled as far as outer space, accompanying the astronauts on a space shuttle mission. Anderson is an Adjunct Faculty Instructor of guitar at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is founder & director of the Music for Life Alliance. She is also the founder and host of the All Star Guitar Night which donates its proceeds to the Music for Life Alliance.