Adam Holzman, international performer, recording artist and teacher is hailed as “…polished and quite dazzling,” by The New York Times, “…brilliant!,” by De Gelderlander, Holland, and “…masterful!,” by The Toronto Star.

Five times a winner in major international competitions including: First Prize at the 1983 Guitar Foundation of America Competition held in Quebec, Canada and Top Prize at the Ninth Concorso Internazionale di  Interpretazione di Gargnano, Italy. Mr. Holzman has performed at the prestigious Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and distinguished New York venues such The 92nd St. Y, Merkin Hall, and Carnegie Recital Hall. He is also a frequent guest in music festivals and series around the globe. His extensive international performances have taken him throughout Europe, Canada, Mexico, Central and Latin America. Recent seasons performances had him appearing in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, Montreal, Mexico, Boston, Houston, Dallas and Milwaukee. He was also chosen by the 92nd street Y as one of 5 American artists to appear in a concert honoring Andres Segovia in fall 2013.

Mr. Holzman’s recordings for the Naxos label have been critically acclaimed. The first two are discs of the music of Fernando Sor and have been called “…irresistible” by Gramophone Magazine. Discs three and four contain the music of Manuel Ponce. Of the Sonata for Guitar and Harpsichord on Ponce Volume II Classical Guitar Magazine (England) says “It’s a fine and substantial work and here it receives the finest recording yet…” Of his Naxos release, The Venezuelan Waltzes of Antonio Lauro, the American Record Guide had this to say: “The landmark recording was David Russell’s 1980 LP.  Now, 20 years later, comes another masterly recording by Adam Holzman: in many ways it raises the benchmark still further.” His Naxos release Bardenklange, Opus 13, of Johann Kaspar Mertz is considered a seminal recording and has been praised by critics around the world. His recording debut, on HRH Records, was a collection of rarely or never before recorded selections. According to The American Record Guide this performance is “…so flawless he makes it all sound easy.” His recordings are all featured on the Adam Holzman channel on Pandora.

Mr. Holzman’s commitment to new music led him to co-commission Samuel Adler’s first Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra. He has also premiered works by composers Robert Helps, Roland Dyens, and Stephen Funk Pearson among others. In 2018 he was part of a Consortium Grant to commission the new concerto for Guitar and Orchestra Colours by Stephen Goss.

Adam Holzman, founder of the Guitar Department at the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music and the Austin Guitar Society, is considered one of America’s leading guitar pedagogues. He heads a thriving guitar studio and his students have won an astounding array of international prizes. He is also Program Director for Classical Guitar Studies at the Brevard Music Festival where he runs a four-week summer session (two, two-week sessions) focused on intensive study of all aspects of solo and chamber playing for students 14-29 years of age. He also directs the Adult Guitar Workshop for students 30 years of age and older.

From 1992-1994 Mr. Holzman held the title of “Maestro Extraordinario” given by the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico, where he served as artist-in-residence. He was awarded the Ernst von Dohnanyi Prize for Outstanding Achievement from Florida State University and has been named The Parker C. Fielder Regents Fellow in Music at the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Holzman has been featured on the covers of both Classical Guitar Magazine and GuitArt Magazine.

Mr. Holzman’s performance studies were with Bruce Holzman, Albert Valdes Blain, Eliot Fisk, and Oscar Ghiglia. He was chosen twice to perform in the historic Master classes of the legendary Andrés Segovia.

You can learn more about Adam Holzman at: https://www.adamholzman.net

Cuban-born René Izquierdo is a unique artist and passionate educator whose career has been dedicated to inspiring individuals and connecting communities. Whether passionately performing on stage, devotedly mentoring his students, fundraising, or leading community outreach, René’s multi-faceted approach endeavors to continue creating experiences that enrich people’s lives and add beauty to our world.

Through his “unforgettable versatility, sensitivity and sublime musicianship” (Classical Guitar Magazine), René has firmly established himself as one of the world’s classical guitar virtuosos. He is celebrated for his ability to weave an unparalleled technical command of his instrument with his gift of storytelling, accomplishing an intimate musical experience with his audience. 

With over seventy engagements per year, whether as a solo performer, chamber musician, or as a guest soloist with orchestras, he has performed to critical acclaim touring extensively throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He is frequently invited by renowned festivals and institutions, having played at stages such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Manaus Opera House in Brazil, and National Recital Hall in Taiwan. 

Self-described as a lifelong learner and explorer, his recording projects reflect his wide-ranging interests. Through his discography, René seeks to expand the guitar repertoire frequently performing new arrangements, lesser-known music of the 20th century as well as world premieres of concertos and new compositions.

As an educator, René is passionate about engaging the mind and the heart. Through his teachings all around the world, he shares his belief that the greatest musicians not only have the technical mastery to communicate effectively but also are deeply curious, and equally adept at analytical and emotional modes of thought.

Turkish-American guitarist Celil Refik Kaya has been a celebrated figure in the classical guitar world since making his concert debut at the age of six. Throughout his career, Kaya has garnered numerous accolades and recognition for his exceptional artistry. At just 20 years old, he became the youngest guitarist ever to win First Prize in the 2012 JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition with the Buffalo Philharmonic. He is also a prizewinner of several prestigious international guitar competitions, including those held in Sofia (Bulgaria), Naxos (Greece), Vienna (Austria), Istanbul (Türkiye), and across the United States. His achievements include top awards from the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA), the Indiana International Guitar Competition, the Boston Guitar Competition, the Texas International Guitar Competition, the Schadt String Competition, and the Philadelphia Guitar Competition. In 2017, he was honored with the Rising Young Musician of the Year award by the Donizetti Classical Music Awards in Istanbul.

Kaya’s debut recording, Jorge Morel Guitar Music, has been widely praised by critics. The American Record Guide describes his performance as “perfect, revealing the true heart in the pieces without over-embellishing.” His extensive discography also includes works by Carlo Domeniconi, Agustín Barrios Mangoré, Joaquín Rodrigo, as well as his own compositions, recorded for Naxos Records. His contributions to this label have garnered attention for future collaborations.

As an internationally renowned soloist, Kaya has performed extensively across the United States and Europe. He has collaborated with world-class orchestras including the Buffalo Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Presidential Symphony Orchestra in Türkiye, Istanbul State Symphony, Hilton Head Symphony, Brevard Festival Orchestra, Lake Placid Sinfonietta, and the Bilkent Symphony. His mastery of the guitar has earned him acclaim on the international stage, and he has led masterclasses at major music festivals and universities in both the U.S. and Europe.

Currently, Dr. Kaya serves as the Coordinator of Guitar Studies at both Kean University Music Conservatory and New Jersey City University.

American guitarist Andrew Zohn is recognized internationally for his work as a performer, instructor, and composer. He has performed concerts on five continents as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition to extensive touring throughout the United States, recent performances include venues in China, Argentina, Italy, Egypt, Malaysia, Germany, and the Netherlands. A recent critic has said, “Zohn…easily demonstrated how he is one of the most sought after performers on the classical guitar as his fingers deftly plucked some of the most subtle of tones on the instrument.”

Since 1999, Dr. Zohn has served on the faculty of the Schwob School of Music (Columbus State University) in Georgia, where he directs the annual CSU Guitar Symposium. He has performed and taught at many of the world’s most prestigious music festivals including the Festival of New Music (Central Conservatory of Music, China) the Guitar on the Mediterranean Guitar Festival (Italy), Sevilla Guitar Festival (Spain), Guitar Festival Changsha and Shenyang Festival (China), the Iserlohn Guitar Symposium (Germany), Borguitar Festival (Italy), the Guitar Foundation of America (USA), Festivale Emilia Romagna and Musica Ravenna (Italy), and GuitareMontreal (Canada). Students of Andrew Zohn have won prizes in dozens of international competitions including, among others, The Parkening International, The Guitar Foundation of America, The World Guitar Competition (Serbia), and The Asia International (Bangkok). Many of his students have been also been featured on the American National Public Radio program highlighting outstanding young musical talent From the Top.

Original compositions and transcriptions by Andrew Zohn are published through Les Productions d’Oz, Canada, Tuscany publications (Theodore Presser), and FJH Publications. His recordings for Clear Note and Centaur Records have received wide acclaim from American Record Guide, Classical Guitar Magazine, GuitArt Magazine, Soundboard, Guitarra Magazine, and Rosewood Review.