2025-2026 Season

9/26/25 @ 7:30 PM - Leonela Alejandro (Friday at 7:30pm)

Winner of the Rose Augustine Grand Prize in the 2024 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, Leonela Alejandro is a classical guitarist from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. She has garnered attention as a soloist, captivating audiences with her powerful and energetic performance style. She has been invited to perform in numerous venues in the United States and Europe, including the Latino Arts Guitar Festival, Northern Illinois University International Guitar Concert Series, Southern Guitar Festival, Florida Guitar Festival, Marlow Guitar Series, Louisville Guitar Society, Orange County Guitar Circle, and José Tomás Villa de Petrer Guitar Festival. Leonela has also placed in over a dozen competitions in the United States, with more than ten first-prize placements including the Louisville Guitar Festival, Appalachian State Guitar Festival, Columbus State University Guitar Symposium, Indiana Guitar Festival, and Chicago Guitar Festival, among others. She has also succeeded abroad as an international competitor, receiving prizes from the le Domaine Forget de Charlevoix guitar Competition, Ciudad de Coria International Guitar Competition, and the Iserlohn International Guitar Competition.

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CGG 4th Annual Guitar FESTIVAL 11/7-9 

 

11/7/25 @ 7:30 PM - Rene Izquierdo 

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.

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11/8/25 @ 7:30 PM - David Leisner 

 “Among the finest guitarists of all time”, according to American Record Guide, David Leisner’s career began auspiciously with top prizes in both the 1975 Toronto and 1981 Geneva International Guitar Competitions. His recent seasons have taken him around the US, including his solo debut with the Atlanta Symphony, a major tour of Australia and New Zealand, and debuts and reappearances in China, Japan, the Philippines, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, the U.K., Italy, Czech Republic, Greece, Puerto Rico and Mexico. A featured recording artist for Azica Records, Leisner has released 9 highly acclaimed CDs, including the most recent, Arpeggione with cellist Zuill Bailey, and Facts of Life, featuring the premiere recordings of commissioned works by Del Tredici and Golijov.  Mr. Leisner is also a highly respected composer noted for the emotional and dramatic power of his music. Fanfare magazine described it as “rich in invention and melody, emotionally direct, and beautiful”. South Florida Classical Review called him “an original and arresting compositional voice.”

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3/21/26 @ 7:30 PM - Kaleido Guitar Duo  (Kevin Loh and Hao Yang)

“Technical Wizard” (Chicago Classical), Hao Yang is a concert classical guitarist and Astral Artist from China. Hailing from Singapore, Kevin Loh is one of the leading classical guitarists of his generation.These two internationally celebrated artists come together as a new awe inspiring duo. Yang has appeared as a soloist with the Chusachsische Philharmonie in Germany, was a was guest soloist at the Cleveland, Panama, and Beijing International Guitar Festivals and has performed concerts in major venues such as the Carnegie Hall, Kimmel Center, New York Subculture, Kimmel Center, Miller Theatre at Columbia University, and Princeton Sound Kitchen. As a recording artist, Ms. Yang has worked with Grammy award winning label Bridge Records Inc. on multiple new chamber works by Paul Lansky and Poul Rouders. In 2021, Yang won the Astral Artists’ National Audition and her other competitive prizes include the top prize at the 54th Markneukirchen International Instrumental competition in Germany, fourth prize at the GFA Concert Artist

competition, first prizes at GFA International Youth Competition, CSU International Guitar Competition, and Andres Segovia 7th International Guitar Competition. 

 

Kevin’s international acclaim has led to multiple invitations from renowned orchestras and international guitar festivals in London, Hong Kong, and Calcutta amongst others.

He has also performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including London’s Wigmore Hall, the Berlin Konzerthaus, and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall. Kevin has also garnered numerous accolades, including his most recent 2nd prize at the 2023 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition. Kevin is also passionate about giving back to society. He actively visits schools to share more about the guitar and music education. He also raises funds in Singapore and in the region for various charities and initiatives such as ChildAid, to provide opportunities for underprivileged children to have exposure to the arts. 

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5/16/26 @ 7:30 PM - Duo Alterity

“Beautiful, expressive, hauntingly evocative...” (Phoenix Classical). Duo Alterity is a multi-award-winning guitar and flute ensemble that has performed extensively across the United States and is sought after for their performance of new music. They served as Artists-in-Residence for two seasons of the Connecticut Summerfest Contemporary Music Festival, where they worked closely with emerging composers and gave six world premieres. Duo Alterity has garnered a growing list of accolades, including First Prize in the 2017 Music of America’s Great Composers Competition, the 2016 Vivo International Music Competition, and the 2016 Hartt Chamber Music Competition. They have given performances at renowned venues including The Bushnell, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, and Carnegie Hall. Lauded for their performances which captivate their audience and present a “highly expressive and image-provoking” experience (Connecticut Guitar Society), the Duo is equally at home presenting both beloved standards and newly composed works, spanning many eras, cultures, and styles. Passionate about spreading connection and shared belonging through music, they present each selection with “a level of authenticity and emotional connection that is inspiring,” (The Guitar Journal).

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