Florida Guitar Festival: Kithara Duo and Rene Izquierdo

The Kithara Duo’s (Olga Amelkina-Vera and Fernand Vera) playing has been described as “state-of-the-art” by American Record Guide and praised for its “admirably seamless level of musicality and technique” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The duo is home to an international award-winning composer, Olga Amelkina-Vera, and their first album is a world premiere recording of her music for guitar duo. In addition to Olga’s original compositions, Fernand and Olga regularly contribute to guitar duo repertoire through their arrangements and transcriptions.  We are actually having a WORLD PREMIERE performance of of Olga’s work “Étoiles Par Grand Vent (homage to Saint-Exupéry)”

Rene Izquierdo has been described as having, “virtuoso technique which allows him absolute command of the instrument giving him the independence of subtle phrasing, dazzling speed, beautiful tonal control… everything.” Mr. Izquierdo is a recipient of numerous awards. He is a winner of JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Competition in 2004, Extremadura International Guitar Competition, Schadt String competition, Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition among others. He is currently a professor of classical guitar at the Wisconsin State University in Milwaukee and an active solo performer and chamber musician.