American classical guitarist, Xavier Jara, is the 1st prize winner of the 2016 GFA International Concert Artist Competition. A native of Minnesota, Jara was a student of Alan Johnston at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis until 2011 when he moved to Paris, France to study with Judicael Perroy.
Jara studied in Paris for six years with Perroy. During this time he completed his Bachelor’s Degree at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he also studied with French guitarist, Olivier Chassain, and lute master, Eric Bellocq. He received 1st place in a number of international competitions including the Viseu International Competition (2014), the Boston Guitarfest (2014), the Gargnano, Italy Competition (2015), the Ciudad de Coria Competition (2015), and the Tokyo International Competition (2016). In 2016 Jara returned home to the United States to win the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America’s RoseAugustine Grand Prize.
During Jara's 2017-2018 GFA concert tour, he performed more than 60 concerts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala & Panama, including a concert at Carnegie Hall (April 5, 2018.)
Elegy Jeremy Collins (b. 1986)
A Closed World of Fine Feelings and Grand Design Graeme Koehne (b. 1956)
Sonata del Caminante Leo Brouwer (b. 1939)
1. Visión de la Amazonia
2. El Gran Sertao
3. Danza Festiva
4. Toccata Nordestina
Intermission
Suite in D Major Manuel María Ponce (1882-1948)
Prelude
Courante
Sarabande
Gavottes I and II
Gigue
Diferencias sobre la folia de España y fuga Manuel María Ponce (1882-1948)
