2025-2026

Jason Vieaux


Jason Vieaux April 11 & 12, 2026


Dallas: Saturday Apr 11, 2026 7:30pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church
8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209
Fort Worth: Sun Apr 12, 2026 2:30pm
Kimbell Art Museum –
Renzo Piano Pavillion Auditorium
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux, “among the elite of today’s classical guitarists” (Gramophone), is described by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation”.

In appearances from New York’s Lincoln Center to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and the Seoul Arts Center, Jason Vieaux has cemented his reputation as an artist of brilliance and uncompromised mastery. Cited for his “eloquent and vibrant performances” on disc (Gramophone Magazine) he is hailed as “virtuosic, flamboyant, dashing and, sometimes ineffably lyrical” (New York Times) on stage.

Sought-after for his extensive concerto repertoire, Vieaux has performed with a long list of orchestras including Cleveland, Toronto, St. Louis, Houston, Columbus, and has made premiere recordings with the Nashville Symphony (Leshnoff Concerto) and the Norrköping Symphony (Beal Six Sixteen). He has worked with renowned conductors including Giancarlo Guerrero, Jahja Ling, Gerard Schwarz, and David Robertson. Vieaux’s passion for new music has fostered premieres from Jeff Beal, Avner Dorman, Vivian Fung, Pierre Jalbert, Jonathan Leshnoff, David Ludwig, Mark Mancina, and Dan Visconti, among many others.

Vieaux’s extensive discography includes his “Bach Volume 2: Works for Violin” released on Azica in 2022 to rave reviews for his “eloquent and vibrant performances” (Gramophone). Additional 2022 releases include “Shining Night” featuring his duo with acclaimed violinist Anne Akiko Meyers (Avie Records) and Michael Fine’s “Concierto del Luna” with flutist Alexa Still (Sony Classical), both enjoying strong critical acclaim. Vieaux recorded Pat Metheny’s “Four Paths of Light”, a solo work dedicated to him by Pat, for Metheny’s 2021 album “Road to the Sun”. Jason Vieaux won the 2014 Best Instrumental Classical Solo Grammy Award for “Play”. The Huffington Post declared PLAY is “part of the revitalized interest in the classical guitar”.

A busy touring performer, Jason Vieaux enjoys repeated invitations from distinguished series, including San Francisco Performances, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and the 92nd Street Y, among others. Festival engagements include Ravinia, Caramoor, Domaine-Forget, Music@Menlo, Round Top, and the Eastern Music Festival. Overseas performance venues include Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Seoul Arts Center, Shanghai Concert Hall, Sala Sao Paolo, and Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.

Jason Vieaux enjoys ongoing performing and recording collaborations with the Escher String Quartet, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, accordion/bandoneon virtuoso Julien Labro, and saxophone virtuoso Timothy McAllister.

In 2011 Vieaux co-founded the guitar department at the Curtis Institute of Music (with David Starobin). He has taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music for 25 years. Jason’s online Guitar School for Artistworks Inc. has hundreds of subscribers from all over the world. He plays a guitar by Gernot Wagner, 2013, made in Frankfurt.

 

…faultless delivery… even the arpeggiated chords resound as a solitary line.
DownBeat

…virtuosic, flamboyant, dashing and, sometimes ineffably lyrical.
The New York Times

…perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.
NPR

…spirited and expressive guitarist
The New Yorker

Vieaux … makes everything look and sound easy. An uncommonly relaxed figure onstage, he seems immersed entirely in the moment. Every note comes out fully formed, but nothing he does feels premeditated, and the music, just a little understated, speaks eloquently for itself.
Washington Post

This terrific guitarist, a Philadelphia favorite, worked wonders with Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez… he played with elegance and fine-tuned precision… a marvel.
The Philadelphia Inquirer

…masterful ease, and great panache.
San Francisco Classical Voice

Vieaux’s new recording Play is not only like pop iTunes, it is part of the revitalized interest in the classical guitar.
The Huffington Post

Vieaux [was] nimble-fingered in a Vivaldi Concerto that was remarkable for its variety of colors.
Boston Globe

The writing for the solo instrument was fantastic— lyrical, virtuosic, tender, and passionate all at once. Vieaux proved to be an ideal soloist. [Leshnoff Concerto, Nashville Symphony] American Record Guide

Vieaux excelled in its flamenco-style flourishes, ethereal high notes and spiraling passage work. [Villa-Lobos Concerto, San Diego Symphony] San Diego Union Tribune

Vieaux showed why he is among the most talented guitarists of his generation, a player whose effortless technique and fluidity gave the concerto a singing voice.
Tampa Tribune

…one of America’s premier guitarists… Vieaux’s performance spun magic. Rarely has a single instrument so clearly painted such cinematic vistas and searching introspection
Fort-Worth Star-Telegram

Vieaux was first-class. One movement of Ponce’s Concierto del sur made me want to hear more of his work, such was the range of sounds he drew from his instrument.
New Zealand Herald

…among the elite of today’s classical guitarists.
Gramophone

Bokyung Byun


Bokyung Byun  March 7 & 8, 2026


Dallas: Saturday Mar 7, 2026 7:30pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church
8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209
Fort Worth: Sun Mar 8, 2026 2:30pm
Kimbell Art Museum –
Renzo Piano Pavillion Auditorium
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Recipient of the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Bokyung Byun​ enjoys a reputation as one of the most sought-after guitarists of her generation. Bokyung holds the distinction of being the first female winner of the prestigious JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition, where Falletta herself described Bokyung’s performance as “stunning, showcasing her gorgeous tone, immaculate technique, and sophisticated musicianship.” Other recent honors include the grand prize at the 2021 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition and the Montreal International Classical Guitar Competition

A bevy of orchestras, festivals, workshops, and guitar societies look to Byun for solo performances and masterclasses. In recent seasons, Byun has performed as a soloist with orchestras, including the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Utah Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, among others. Her solo recital highlights include performances at the Philadelphia Guitar Festival, Aspen-Salida Concert Series, Toronto Guitar Weekend, Guitar Montréal, Ellnora | The Guitar Festival, and San Diego Guitar Festival. She was acclaimed for performing “eloquently through a diverse and challenging program,” by Michelle Fratus, president of the board of the Knoxville Guitar Society, and having “confidence, passion, excellent projection and great dynamic contrast” by Heather Morand Clark, president of the Guitar Society of Toronto.

Committed to expanding the role of a 21st-century musician, Byun’s concert program often features contemporary music alongside traditional repertoire. As Byun herself says, “it’s vital and exciting to audiences for concerts to join the new with the old. For guitar music to continue to grow, I believe that new works must actively be cultivated in programming, and it is my hope that audiences leave my performances with new experiences.” This skill at navigating both classic repertoire and fresh work has led her to co-found Sounding Board: The New Music Initiative for Guitarists and Composers. The project focuses on promoting collaborative relationships between composers and performers to create new works for guitar, and its inaugural festival in Besançon, France in 2019 has been praised as “extraordinary, in the strict sense of the word,” by La Presse de Gray in France.

Bokyung’s debut recording in 2020 has been praised by Soundboard Magazine as, “a very beautiful disc…We are treated to extraordinary musicianship, technical assurance, and beauty of sound.” In 2022, American Record Guide chose her Naxos Laurate Series recording as the Critics’ Choice Album, remarking her style as “very reminiscent of Andres Segovia.”

Born in Seoul, Korea, Byun began playing guitar at the age of six. At eleven, she took the stage for her first solo recital, leading to an early start in her teen years performing numerous concert tours around Korea, to enthusiastic response, including millions of views on YouTube. By her teen years, she had gained national attention for first-prize finishes in three renowned competitions: the Korea Guitar Association, the Music Association of Korea, and the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition.

Byun soon moved to the United States, where she briefly studied in Los Angeles before moving to New York City, where she entered The Juilliard School at the age of sixteen. She holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California. Teachers and mentors include Scott Tennant, William Kanengiser, Chen Zhi, Tae-Soo Kim, and Sharon Isbin.

In 2020, Byun co-founded Guitarlab which has provided an innovative online learning platform offering cutting-edge classes designed for young professionals around the world. Bokyung is currently on the guitar faculty of University of North Texas. She is an Augustine Strings artist and plays a guitar by Dieter Mueller (2019).

 

Reviews:

“Amazing technical abilities, a powerful and luscious sound, and a profound sense of musical interpretation.”

“The applause didn’t stop when the four chapters of ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ ended. Music lovers in the capital couldn’t help but admire Bokyung Byun’s talent. Ms. Minh Ha, an audience member, said: “I’ve been a fan of Bokyung Byun for a long time, and it’s fortunate that SSO brought her to Hanoi. Her performance today did not disappoint the audience who love guitar and love Bokyung Byun.”
-Vietnam Posts, 2022

“Here is a simple fact: with artistry such as Ms. Byun’s, the state-of-the-art of guitar performance has reached a new level.”
-Soundboard Magazine

“She showed off a thorough expressivity and impressive technical agility, seemingly without breaking a sweat…Byun went on to capture something supremely blissful, beautiful, and meaningful in this music.”
-ClevelandClassical.com

“Extraordinary, in the strict sense of the word.”
-La Presse de Gray

“Bokyung’s artistry and technique break the limits of conventional classical guitar.”
-San Diego Guitar Festival

“Bokyung Byun played the Villa-Lobos concerto with confidence, passion, excellent projection and great dynamic contrast.”
-Guitar Society of Toronto

“Bokyung’s confident and quite extraordinary rendition of Britten’s notoriously difficult Nocturnal after John Dowland…truly brought out the depth of its many tonal colors and shading”
-Classical Guitar Magazine

“What a joy it was for all in attendance at the Knoxville Guitar Society concert…to hear Bokyung Byun play eloquently through a diverse and challenging program!”
-Knoxville Guitar Society

Beijing Duo


Beijing Duo  February 14 & 15, 2026


Dallas: Saturday Feb 14, 2026 7:30pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church
8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209
Fort Worth: Sun Feb 15, 2025 2:30pm
Please note venue change for this concert.

University Christian Church
2720 S University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76109

The Beijing Guitar Duo has performed around the world in halls such as the Concertgebouw, Palau de Musica, Tchaikovsky Hall and the National Theatre in Beijing. This season will take them to a 12-city concert tour in the United States in February (Washington D.C., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Knoxville) as well as other performances in Europe and China. The duo regularly collaborates with orchestras, in ensemble with flutist Marina Piccinini, guitarists Grigoryan Brothers and with their mentor Manuel Barrueco touring in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Virginia Luque


Virginia Luque   October 4 & 5, 2025


Dallas: Saturday Oct 4, 2025 7:30pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church
8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209
Fort Worth: Sun Oct 5, 2025 3:15pm
Kimbell Art Museum –
Renzo Piano Pavillion Auditorium
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Virginia Luque plays classical and flamenco music in a Spanish romantic style, combining extraordinary technical virtuosity with beautiful tone and musicianship.

Ms. Luque has recently recorded Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. She has been awarded First Prize at several international competitions, including the “Manuel de Falla” Competition for Classical Guitar in Granada, Spain, and has received the Lincoln Center Scholarship among other awards.

Concerto performances have included the Concierto de Aranjuez with the New York Virtuosi Orchestra, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Riverside Symphony, the Seoul Symphony Orchestra, the Izmir Symphony Orchestra, Antalya Symphony Orchestra and she has premiered her own concerto with the Alexandria Symphony.

Recitals have included Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, The Metropolitan Opera House, The Frick Collection in New York City, and numerous concert halls throughout the United States. She was also invited by Christopher Parkening to do a special guest recital at the Christopher Parkening International Master Class at Montana State University.

A native of Algeciras (Cadiz), Spain, Ms. Luque began playing the guitar when she was four, started formal training when she was six, and gave her first concert at the age of seven. After hearing her play, Ms. Luque was invited by the legendary Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia to study privately with him.

She received her Master’s degree in Spain and at Segovia’s suggestion came to America where she also received a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.

Ms. Luque’s other pursuits have garnered her a First Prize in the International Competition of Poetry based in Puerto Rico and she has also graduated as “Chef” from the French Culinary Institute of New York.

Leonela Alejandro GFA Winner


Leonela Alejandro  November 8 & 9, 2025


Dallas: Saturday Nov 8, 2025 7:30pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church
8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209
Fort Worth: Sun Nov 9, 2025 2:30pm
Kimbell Art Museum –
Renzo Piano Pavillion Auditorium
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107

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.

Leonela formally began her musical education when she was seven years old. Following her work with various Puerto Rican teachers including Jomel Rivera, Julio Reyes, and Rey Nieves, she decided to dedicate her professional life to this passion. In 2016, she was accepted into the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico at just 16 years old, studying with world-renowned performer Maestro Iván Rijos. After two fruitful years in the Conservatory, she transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed her undergraduate degree with Cuban virtuoso René Izquierdo in 2020. Leonela recently completed her graduate studies with Dr. Andrew Zohn at Columbus State University in 2023.

Apart from her celebrated resume in competition settings, Leonela has established herself as a soloist in orchestral settings. She has performed multiple concerti with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Roselín Pabón including Antonio Vivaldi’s Lute Concerto in D major, RV 93, and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Guitar Concerto No.1 in D Major, Op.99. She was the soloist in the recent premiere of Atanas Ourkouzounov’s Concertino for Guitar, Percussion and Strings under the direction of Paul Hostetter. She also has appeared as a solo mandolinist with the Schwob School of Music Wind Ensemble as a soloist in Ottorino Respighi’s Roman Festivals under the direction of Jamie L. Nix.

Leonela is an Augustine Strings Ambassador and her string of choice are Paragon Reds. She performs on guitars built by luthiers Stephan Connor and Martin Blackwell.