ARTISTS

Eliot Fisk, a world-renowned guitarist, is celebrated for his virtuosic repertoire and innovative performances in unconventional venues. He has played with orchestras like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Houston Symphony, and across Europe. Known for his transcriptions of Bach and Scarlatti, Fisk has significantly expanded the classical guitar repertoire. He collaborates with chamber musicians and explores cross-over projects with jazz and flamenco artists. Fisk founded and directs the annual Boston GuitarFest.

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Hamilton de Holanda, a Brazilian mandolin prodigy, began his career at six. Known for his genre-transcending music and improvisational genius, he co-founded the first Choro School and initiated the petition for a National Choro Day. He added two strings to the traditional 8-string bandolin, inspiring a new generation of 10-string mandolinists. Hamilton has performed globally, winning Latin Grammys and Prêmio da Musica Brasileira, and supports music programs for economically disadvantaged communities.

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Sharon Isbin is an acclaimed guitarist, multiple Grammy award winner, and the first guitarist to receive the Musical America Worldwide Instrumentalist of the Year award. She has performed as a soloist with over 200 orchestras and has given sold-out performances in many world-renowned halls across 40 countries. Her catalog of over 35 albums reflects her remarkable versatility, from Baroque to jazz fusion. She has received numerous awards for her recordings, including several Grammys, the ASCAP Television Broadcast Award, and the Echo Klassik Award.

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SoloDuo, composed of Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli, is a world-renowned ensemble that has performed across Europe, Asia, the USA, Canada, and Latin America. They have received critical acclaim for their profound and unforgettable musicianship, and have explored Italian music from the XVII and XVIII centuries for baroque guitar and theorbo. They have recorded numerous CDs and are also the Editors of the "SoloDuo Collection" for the Canadian publisher Productions d'Oz. Matteo and Lorenzo teach at the Conservatoire Populaire in Geneva, Switzerland, and the University School of Music in Lugano, Switzerland, respectively. Since 2015, they are Artists in Residence at the University of Colorado Boulder.

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Adam Levin is an award-winning classical guitarist who has performed globally, including at top venues in the US and Europe. His acclaimed discography features albums like "In the Beginning" and "Fuego de la Luna." Levin has won numerous top prizes and is recognized for his Spanish music interpretations. He is the Artistic Director of the University of Rhode Island Guitar Festival and a member of the Great Necks Guitar Trio and Duo Mantar.

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Renowned worldwide for his musical integrity and effortless brilliance, Israeli mandolin player Jacob Reuven is one of the most sought-after virtuosos of his instrument. Reuven's broad musical horizons encompass everything from baroque to contemporary music, bringing an exuberance matched with uncompromising musical standards to all he does.

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Pasquale Grasso is an Italian-born guitarist based in New York City, renowned for his bebop-inspired technique and classical-guitar mastery. His new digital EP series highlights his solo skills. Grasso won the 2015 Wes Montgomery International Jazz Guitar Competition and honored Pat Metheny at the NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert. He teaches and performs regularly in New York. His brother, Luigi Grasso, is a celebrated alto saxophonist and global bandleader.

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Fareed Haque is a modern guitar virtuoso who blends classical and jazz traditions to create a unique sound. He was born in 1963 to a Pakistani father and Chilean mother, and his extensive travels exposed him to different kinds of music from a very early age. Haque has played with many legendary musicians, including Paquito D’Rivera, Sting, and Joe Zawinul. He has also led several groups of his own, including Garaj Mahal and Fareed Haque’s MathGames. Throughout his career, Haque has released many critically acclaimed albums and won several awards. Fareed Haque’s Quartet includes Alex Austin on bass, Greg Fundis on drums and Juan Pastor on percussion.

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Artyom Dervoed is a renowned classical guitarist known as the "Tsar of the guitar", with 16 international competition wins and an active recording career. He has performed at prestigious venues around the world and has expanded the guitar repertoire through collaborations with leading composers. Dervoed founded the Moscow Chamber Guitar Music Festival and is the artistic director of the Guitar Virtuosi Moscow International Festival. He teaches at the Gnesin Academy and has received several honorary scholarships from the City of Moscow, Vladimir Spivakov International Foundation, and the Russian Foundation for the Performing Arts. Artyom is also the first Russian classical guitarist endorsed by Yamaha.

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Elena Papandreou is an accomplished guitarist from Athens. She studied under the tutelage of Evangelos Boudounis and Oscar Ghiglia, and won the first prize in three international competitions, including the "Maria Callas" (Greece 1984) and "Gargnano" (Italy 1985) competitions. Elena has performed in various prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall in New York,  and has collaborated with notable musicians such as Leonidas Kavakos and Leonid Gorokhov. She has also been a professor at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki for several years and has had works dedicated to her by celebrated composers.

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Ekaterina Skliar, a mandolinist and domrist, won the 2019 Astral National Auditions and debuted with the Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra at age 11. She has performed with various ensembles and orchestras, winning numerous international competitions, including First Prize at “The Hope” and Third Prize at the International Music Competition of Folk Instrument Performers. She holds a Bachelor's degree from M. Glinka Novosibirsk State Conservatory and has a diverse repertoire spanning classical, original, and contemporary music.

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Mark Maxwell is a classical guitar instructor at DePaul University School of Music since 1986. He is part of the Waller and Maxwell Guitar Duo with his wife Anne Waller, a Northwestern University guitar professor. The duo has performed extensively in various concert venues and festivals across the United States and Italy. They have also been featured in live broadcasts on both commercial and public radio. The duo's newest recording, Grand Pot-Pourri, and a new CD titled Favorites: Tales of Love, Loss & Magic are available for purchase online.

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Anne Waller is a renowned guitarist who has performed solo and as part of the Waller and Maxwell Guitar Duo for over 30 years. She has toured across the United States and Europe, performing in festivals and concert venues, and has also lectured and taught master classes in colleges and universities. Waller and Maxwell hold the Diploma di Merito for their duo performances in Oscar Ghiglia’s master classes at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, and have released a new CD titled Favorites: Tales of Love, Loss & Magic.

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Matthew Rohde is a classical guitarist, educator, and film composer. He has performed globally with artists like Clarice Assad and Horacio Franco and is a member of The Great Necks guitar trio. He composed the score for the HBO documentary "It Will Be Chaos." Co-directing the Kithara Project, he supports classical guitar programs for at-risk youth. Matthew studied at Yale, the Conservatoire Nationale in Paris, and Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy.

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Scott Borg is an Australian classical guitarist and Augustine Artist known for his colorful and daring performances. He has won multiple international scholarships and prizes, including the Australian Music Examinations Board’s highest honor, the Fellowship in Music Australia (F.Mus.A). Mr. Borg has performed at various prestigious venues, including the Apollo Theatre, Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Ateneo de Madrid. He is also an accomplished conductor and director of the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society Orchestra. Scott is on the faculty at Montgomery College and is the Artistic Director of the Mid-Maryland Guitar Festival. He is also a member of the Great Necks Guitar Trio.

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The Great Necks Guitar Trio has enchanted audiences across the US with its whimsical, interactive, and daring performances. Founded by guitarists Scott Borg, Adam Levin, and Matthew Rohde, the trio, through its original madcap arrangements, stretches at the conventions — and at times, the physical limits — of the guitar. "These guys aren't afraid to shake things up and take chances," writes Classical Guitar Magazine.

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Adrián Montero began his musical studies in 2002 at the “Conservatorio Municipal de Alajuela.” In 2006 he was accepted into the Conservarorio de Castella. In 2018 he finished his Bachelor’s degree at the National University of Costa Rica and is currently completing his master’s degree in the studio of Adam Levin at the University of Rhode Island. Mr. Montero has two released albums, mainly composed by Contemporary Costa Rican composers, and is the winner of several international competitions.

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Dor Amran is an Israeli classical mandolinist, conductor, and pianist. He holds a bachelor's degree in mandolin performance from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (JAMD) under Jacob Reuven, where he also studied conducting with Prof. Eitan Globerson. Amran has worked with renowned conductors, performed as a soloist with major Israeli orchestras, and taught at the Beer Sheva Conservatory. In 2024, he recorded Paganini’s 24 Caprices for Solo Violin on mandolin under the Italian label Dynamic. He will begin his M.A. in Orchestral Conducting at Penn State University in fall 2024. Amran has won multiple awards, including the American Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship since 2016.

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Duke Robillard is a legendary blues guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, studio sideman, producer, label operator, and educator. He founded Roomful of Blues and has played with many notable artists throughout his career. He is known for his unsurpassed mastery of T-Bone Walker's guitar style, as well as his versatility in playing swing, standards, ballads, rockers, gutbucket Chicago blues, and rockabilly. Duke has received numerous awards and nominations for his artistry and recordings, including four Blues Music Awards for "Best Blues Guitarist." He remains based in Rhode Island and is a prolific force in the music industry.

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Duo Mantar is a unique chamber music pairing of American guitarist Adam Levin and Israeli mandolinist Jacob Reuven. They share a passion for Israeli music and Jewish songs, and have commissioned works from sought-after composers to expand the repertoire available for mandolin and guitar. Their album, "Music from the Promised Land," topped the Billboard Traditional Classical Albums Chart. They have toured internationally and have upcoming projects including the premiere of double concerti by respected Israeli composers and never-done-before arrangements of Beethoven and Bach pieces.

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The Hamilton de Holanda Trio 

features Hamilton de Holanda, Salomão Soares, and Thiago "Big" Rabello, blends jazz with Brazilian instrumental music, showcasing technical mastery and creativity. Multi-award-winning mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda, known for revolutionizing the 10-string mandolin, leads with improvisational brilliance. Pianist Salomão Soares adds sophistication with complex harmonies and innovative keyboard use, while drummer Thiago "Big" Rabello brings rhythmic precision and dynamic energy. The trio celebrates Brazil's musical heritage with an original repertoire, moving from lyrical melodies to virtuosic solos. Their performances around the world offer audiences a unique sonic journey driven by spontaneity and passion.

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The Hot Club of New England is a musical collective featuring the top swing, gypsy, and hot jazz musicians in the New England area. Founded when jazz power couple vocalist Atla DeChamplain and pianist Matt DeChamplain teamed up with violinist Jason Anick, guitarist Max O'Rourke, and bassist Greg Loughman. HCNE is on a mission to bring the elegant and classic style of the swing era and the roaring 20's to a modern audience. Their music contains music from popular Jazz influences including Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and other legends. The core instrumentation of voice, violin, piano, acoustic guitar, and upright bass works, has the power to captivate all audiences they play for.

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Born in 2003 in Turrialba, Costa Rica, Juan Pablo Salas began playing guitar at 8. He has performed in Mexico, Nicaragua, Germany, and Colombia, participating in prestigious festivals like the International Guitar Festival in Culiacán and Berlin. He won multiple categories in Costa Rica’s National Guitar Contest and international accolades, including first place in Paracho. He recorded albums with the Turrialba and UCR Guitar Orchestras. Juan Pablo is pursuing a bachelor's degree under Maestro Jorge Luis Zamora.

Kevin Loh, a distinguished guitarist, won multiple international guitar competitions in 2023, including 1st prize and 2nd place at the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition. Talent-scouted at 12 by the Yehudi Menuhin School, he studied there for seven years under Richard Wright and other renowned musicians. Kevin is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in Guitar Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with Prof. René Izquierdo.
 

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Lorenzo Micheli is an esteemed guitarist who has won several prestigious guitar competitions such as Alessandria and the Guitar Foundation of America Competition. He has performed over 600 concerts worldwide as a soloist and with orchestra. Since 2002, he has been performing as a duo with Matteo Mela, known as "SoloDuo," in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Sejong Hall. He has published solo and chamber works by composers such as Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Ferdinand Rebay and is responsible for a collection of guitar music for the Canadian publisher "d'OZ". He currently resides in Milan, Italy, and serves as an artist in residence at the University of Colorado.

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Internationally praised for her concerts and recordings, Marilynn Mair has established classical mandolin in chamber music circles worldwide, earning the title, “First Lady of the Mandolin”. Marilynn has performed at many prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and the White House. She also has performed internationally in Europe, Japan, and Brazil. Marilynn has released two dozen highly acclaimed solo and ensemble CDs and published her method book, The Complete Mandolinist, in 2007. She is a Professor Emeritus of Music at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, where she taught courses in music and cultural history. She travels to Rio de Janeiro each year, where she researches, performs, and writes Choro music.

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Mark T. Small is an internationally recognized musician and entertainer who has performed in numerous venues throughout the United States and Europe. He has played with well-known groups such as The Brown County Band and Lonesome Strangers. In addition, His CD was named BEST Acoustic Blues Album in 2014 and his recordings have reached the top 20 on National Music Charts. Mark is an extraordinarily accomplished guitarist, and his shows include Honky Tonk songs, Blues tunes, and compositions from some of America's greatest composers. All of the music is highlighted by Mark's blazing acoustic guitar work with a combination of the lightning-fast bluegrass style and his soulful blues playing.

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Matteo Mela is a renowned Italian guitarist born in Imperia in 1971. He studied musicology at the University of Cremona and learned from acclaimed musicians like Angelo Gilardino, Alirio Diaz, Oscar Ghiglia, David Russell, and the Assad brothers. Matteo has won several prestigious chamber music competitions with the Mela-Bandini duo and later formed a duo with Lorenzo Micheli that has performed worldwide. He is also a teacher at the Conservatoire Populaire de Musique in Geneva and has recorded for the labels Naxos, Mel Bay, and Stradivarius.

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Michal Shein is an Israeli-Mexican-American cellist, performer, and master educator. She is the Artistic Director of Cellisimo, a cello festival for Spanish-speaking cellists that includes masterclasses with world-class faculty. Michal is also a teacher at the Boston String Academy and serves on the faculty of the Longy School of Music of Bard College and the University of Rhode Island. Her students have received admission to top festivals and have been winners in competitions. Michal also maintains a career as a soloist, orchestral cellist, and chamber musician. She received her B.A. in Music from U.C. Berkeley and an M.A. at New England Conservatory.

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Thomas Spencer Ladd is a university professor, designer, and photographer. He has received MFAs from Cranbrook Academy of Art and Rhode Island School of Design. Prof. Ladd's research interests include typography, information design, photography, art history, communication theory, and environmental advocacy. His photographs have been exhibited internationally, and he has presented talks and workshops at national conferences. A professor at the University of Massachusetts, Thomas has also taught at Endicott College, Northeastern University, and Rhode Island School of Design. Currently, Spencer is developing a design and arts practice around the history, ecology, harvest, and use of tonewood.

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Franco Azzinari, born in San Demetrio Corone, Italy, on March 3, 1949, began his artistic journey at fourteen, inspired by Impressionist painters in Paris. He held his first solo exhibition in Lerici in 1974, marking the start of his career. Azzinari's work spans Europe, the Far East, the Americas, and Cuba, where he depicted notable figures like Fidel Castro, Compay Segundo, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Luciano Pavarotti, Francis Ford Coppola, Ernest Hemingway etc. He opened the Franco Azzinari Museum in Altomonte in 2002 and continues to explore cultural themes globally.

Jim Davidson, a southern New England guitarist and teacher, has performed at notable events like Boston GuitarFest and the Rhode Island Guitar Guild. Passionate about new music, he premiered Grammy-nominated Robert Beaser's Chaconne in 2018. Jim's diverse playing spans classical to heavy metal, contributing to the URI Sessions project in 2021. A founding board member of the Rhode Island Guitar Guild, he teaches at Bridgewater State University and Stonehill College. Jim holds an MMus from the New England Conservatory.

Raffi Donoian, an accomplished guitarist hailing from New England, has successfully transcended geographical boundaries and captivated audiences across the globe through his pioneering endeavors in exploring the potential of emerging digital media platforms. By pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and technological innovation, Raffi has effectively harnessed the power of these novel mediums to connect with diverse audiences worldwide.

Céili Connors is a Boston-based performer, teacher, and artistic administrator. She holds faculty positions at the New England Conservatory and Community College of Rhode Island. Céili earned her Master’s in classical guitar from the New England Conservatory and studied flamenco in Granada. She performs solo and chamber music across New England and internationally. Students can study with her through NEC Prep, the Kithara Project, or Community College of Rhode Island, with a studio in Quincy at EKS Music School.

Victor Main, an award-winning classical guitarist and composer from Warwick, Rhode Island, won the 2019 “Sounding Board” competition. He has released two self-produced albums and holds degrees from Mannes College and the University of Rhode Island. Victor performs widely, including at Carnegie Hall, and teaches Suzuki Guitar at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School. He also leads guitar ensembles through the Rhode Island Music Education Association and collaborates frequently with singer Ariel Bodman.

Richard Reynoso’s passion for classical guitar led him to lutherie after returning his first loaned instrument. He began formal studies in violin making in Santa Barbara and trained under renowned luthiers like Greg Brandt. Inspired by Antonio de Torres, Richard blends traditional Spanish techniques with his own style, emphasizing tonal beauty and sensitivity. Influenced by art deco, his guitars feature geometric shapes and natural colors. Based in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, Richard crafts a limited number of high-quality guitars.

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Danilo Prefumo, a Philosophy graduate with musicological studies, is a key member of Genoa's Centro Studi Paganiniani and artistic director at Dynamic Records. He specializes in 18th- and 19th-century Italian and European music, focusing on the Sammartini brothers and Niccolò Paganini. Prefumo has published extensively in Italian music journals and authored books on the Sammartini brothers, Franz Schubert, and Paganini—translated into English in 2022. In 2023, he lectured on Paganini at the University of Rhode Island and Stony Brook University, and joined the scientific committee for Paganini’s works in 2024.

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Gregory Miller, raised in Western Kansas, developed a passion for furniture building in high school, inspired by a skilled shop teacher. Initially learning residential construction, he realized his design skills needed refinement, leading him to earn a degree in Interior Architecture from Kansas State University. After 12 years of practice in Portland, he shifted to custom furniture building. In 2003, Miller’s interest in guitar making was sparked by meeting Jeffrey Elliott and Cyndy Burton. Today, he crafts guitars with a focus on balance, clarity, and aesthetics, working from home with his wife, artist Susan Boase.

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Jeffrey R. Elliott, born in Chicago and raised in Detroit, fell in love with classical guitar at sixteen. While studying Fine Arts at Michigan State University, he apprenticed with Richard Schneider for six years. In 1973, Elliott moved to Portland, Oregon, where he resides with luthier Cyndy Burton. A Guild of American Luthiers member, he has lectured, written for American Lutherie magazine, and organized Portland’s Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibition. His clients include Julian Bream and Leo Kottke, and he also restores historic instruments by masters like Torres and Hauser.

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Aaron Green, a skilled luthier from Groton, Massachusetts, began his guitar-making journey at 16 after meeting Alan Carruth at a folk music festival. He apprenticed with Carruth for three years before focusing on classical and flamenco guitars. His connection with the Boston Classical Guitar Society led him to mentor Dennis Koster, a renowned guitarist and close friend. Through Koster, Aaron studied historic guitars and gained insights from top performers, enhancing his craftsmanship. Despite his small-town base, his career thrives through connections with New York City’s elite guitarists and vintage instruments.

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