ARTISTS
Eliot Fisk is known worldwide as a charismatic performer famed for his adventurous and virtuosic repertoire. He is also celebrated for his willingness to take art music into unusual venues (schools, senior centers, and even logging camps and prisons!). After nearly 50 years before the public he remains as his mentor Andres Segovia once wrote, "at the top line of our artistic world." Eliot Fisk has performed as soloist with orchestras around the world and at numerous music festivals, as well as with a dizzying array of chamber music colleagues. The repertoire of the classical guitar has been transformed through Fisk’s innumerable transcriptions, and he remains a prolific recording artist and artistic leader, founding and directing the Boston Guitar Fest and Salzburg Guitar Fest.
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Jorge Caballero has accrued wide recognition as one of the most important guitarists in history, being the recipient of several international awards, and performing in recitals, chamber music and as a soloist around the world. Mr. Caballero began his guitar studies at the age of ten at the National Conservatory of Music in Lima, Peru and gave his first solo concert at thirteen. Aside from the standard guitar literature he performs –which spans centuries of music from the Renaissance until the present, Mr. Caballero is notorious for adapting and performing masterworks originally written for piano or orchestra. One critic in Italy referred to Mr. Caballero as “standing on top of the repertoire’s Mount Everest,” while the New York Times called him “a masterly guitarist” with “chameleonic timbres.”
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Two-time Latin Grammy nominee guitarist, educator, and composer João Luiz began to play the popular music of his native Brazil professionally during his childhood and was later trained in classical guitar by his mentor Henrique Pinto. João has performed extensively across the world with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Carlos Prieto. João’s interests include bridging Classical, Jazz, and Latin American music, and discovering ways to make classical music education more accessible to minorities. One of João’s favorite projects was writing the guitar methods for beginners, designing the guitar curriculum and training instructors for an important music education initiative for underprivileged children in São Paulo, Guri Santa Marcelina.
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Antoine Boyer Antoine Boyer drank from the most authentic sources of Gypsy Jazz, studying with masters like Mandino Reinhardt and Francis-Alfred Moerman, with whom he recorded his first album in 2009. He gained recognition with Leské and Sita, earning awards from Jazzman and Guitarist Acoustic. A headliner at major Gypsy Jazz festivals, he has shared the stage with legends such as Philip Catherine, Stochelo Rosenberg, and many others...
Trained in classical guitar with Gérard Abiton, Antoine won the 2015 Montigny Competition and was named Révélation Guitare Classique 2016. His duo with flamenco guitarist Samuelito won the 2017 European Guitar Award, leading to the album Coincidence and global tours.
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Yeore Kim, a harmonica virtuoso, has been a prominent figure in the Korean jazz scene since her teenage years. A multi-instrumentalist, she is proficient in trumpet, drums, cello, and piano. Yeore holds a master's degree from Seoul Music University and has achieved victories at esteemed competitions such as the Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival, Seoul Harmonica Festival, and the World Harmonica Festival. She has lent her talents to diverse music groups, touring extensively in Korea, India, Japan and more recently Europe, across genres ranging from jazz and reggae to theater collaborations, tango, pop, and rock.
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Eleonora Strino is recognized by critics as one of the most promising young talents in the international jazz scene. Eleonora has numerous collaborations with some of the best jazz musicians and maintains an active international concert schedule. In addition to her performing career, she is actively involved in teaching. She has conducted workshops and seminars at the Conservatory of San Salvador in Brazil, Hemu (Conservatory of Lausanne) in Switzerland, Conservatoire Pierre Cochereau in Nice, France, the Conservatory of Tirana in Albania, and the Taller de Músics Conservatory in Barcelona. Currently, she serves as a jazz guitar Professor at the Conservatory of Cosenza.
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Vincent Beer-Demander appears to be one of the main mandolonists of his generation. He has quickly accumulated many diplomas and awards not only in France but also abroad. A versatile musician, he has performed all over the world solo or beside renowned musicians including Mike Marshall, Roland Dyens, and Ricardo Sandoval. Composer with multiple influences, his music is regularly played, recorded and has many times been commissioned by official institutions. He also teaches at the National Conservatory of Marseille as well as at the academy of mandolin of Marseilles where he is the art director. He also founded and runs the International festival "Mandol'in Ariege" with Grégory Morello (Duo Chitarrone).
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Fabio Gallucci collaborates with many national theaters and orchestras, and as a soloist and "chamber musician" he has performed in Italy, France, Malta, England, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Spain, Rep. Czech, Luxembourg, Estonia, Belgium, USA, Israel. He is a member of the international quartet "Kerman Mandolin Quartet", which brings together 4 soloists from different countries (Israel, Italy, France, Spain). He is currently a member and co-founder of the Quintette à Plectres de France.
As a pedagogue, he frequently gives mandolin and ensemble music courses in France and abroad with orchestras and mandolin festivals.
Currently, he is a mandolin teacher at Conservatoire Béziers Méditerranée (France).
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Ian Coury is a leading virtuoso of the 10-string mandolin, redefining choro and instrumental music. A Brasília native, Ian began playing mandolin at 8 and later attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, receiving the String Department Award. He has performed with Paquito D’Rivera, Claudio Roditi, and Toninho Horta, and has also taught workshops at Harvard, MIT, and UC Boulder and launched the first online Brazilian mandolin course in the U.S. on Peghead Nation. Ian has performed at NAMM and received accolades from Brazil’s House of Representatives. He continues pushing the mandolin's boundaries, captivating audiences with his technical mastery and innovative style.
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Adam Levin is an acclaimed classical guitarist, educator, and recording artist whose dynamic performances span four continents. A Fulbright Scholar and champion of new music, he commissioned over 30 works for his 21st Century Spanish Guitar series on Naxos, with multiple volumes charting on Billboard. Levin co-founded acclaimed ensembles including Duo Sonidos and The Great Necks, and directs Classical Guitar Studies at the University of Rhode Island. His artistry continues to shape the future of classical guitar.
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Jacob Reuven is one of Israel’s foremost mandolin virtuosos, renowned for his masterful interpretations of classical, baroque, and contemporary repertoire. A soloist with orchestras such as the Israel Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic, Reuven is acclaimed for his expressive tone and innovative transcriptions of violin works by Bach and Paganini. A passionate educator and chamber musician, he co-founded the Kerman Mandolin Quartet and performs on a custom Arik Kerman mandolin, redefining mandolin artistry worldwide.
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Duo Mantar—featuring American guitarist Adam Levin and Israeli mandolinist Jacob Reuven—is a trailblazing ensemble renowned for its virtuosity and visionary programming. United by a passion for Israeli music and Jewish heritage, they commission and perform bold new works that expand the mandolin-guitar repertoire. Their acclaimed Naxos debut, Music from the Promised Land, topped the Billboard Classical chart. With performances across three continents, Duo Mantar delivers a compelling blend of tradition, innovation, and expressive synergy.
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Israeli-Mexican-American cellist Michael Shein is a performer, educator, and cultural leader dedicated to empowering young musicians across the U.S. and Latin America. She is the Artistic Director of Cellisimo, a festival that has trained over 68 Spanish-speaking cellists from underserved communities through world-class instruction and wellness-based programming. A sought-after pedagogue, her students attend top conservatories and festivals. She performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, most recently with guitarist Adam Levin in the Shein-Levin Duo. Michal has spoken at the Sphinx Conference and major conservatories, and teaches at NEC, Boston String Academy, and the University of Rhode Island.
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Duo Sonidos—violinist William Knuth and guitarist Adam Levin—has redefined the violin-guitar duo with their dynamic interpretations and innovative repertoire. Since forming at the New England Conservatory in 2006, they’ve earned international acclaim for their expressive synergy and genre-spanning programs. Their Naxos album Wild Dance debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Classical Chart, and they’ve premiered numerous works by contemporary composers. As Fulbright Scholars and educators, Duo Sonidos brings passion, precision, and fresh vision to the chamber music stage.
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William Knuth violinist and Fulbright Scholar, has earned recognition for his artistry as a solo and chamber musician. He is an assistant professor of violin and string department coordinator at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music and has a private teaching studio in Syracuse, New York. Knuth has taken the role of assistant concertmaster of the AIMS Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria, and associate concertmaster of the vibrant Boston-based chamber orchestra Discovery Ensemble. He is a member of the esteemed New York City-based new music group Ensemble Signal and long-standing member of the Boston Philharmonic. A member of Duo Sonidos with guitarist Adam Levin, Knuth has performed and recorded extensively around the world.
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Alexey Shabalin has been serving as Music Director and Symphony Conductor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestras since 2003 and has led the orchestra’s performances at Carnegie Hall in 2005 and 2017. Alexey Shabalin was the Artistic Director of the Thames Valley Youth Symphony from 2015-2017 and is happy to be returning this fall. Throughout his career he has been teaching at several institutions of higher education, such as Brown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Providence College, Rhode Island College, and URI.
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Joseph Bentley is an accomplished double bassist, educator, and music director from Rhode Island, known for his dynamic presence across New England’s classical and contemporary music scenes. A faculty member at the University of Rhode Island, Bentley has performed with ensembles including the Rhode Island Philharmonic and London Firebird Orchestra. His versatile artistry spans symphonic, jazz, and popular genres, while his dedication to education and outreach reflects a deep commitment to cultivating the next generation of musicians.
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Gillian Gallagher studied chamber music with the Juilliard, Guarneri, Emerson, and Tokyo String Quartets. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at The Juilliard School and has been on faculty at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, New York’s Center for Arts Education, and the Berklee College of Music Summer String Program. Well-versed in many different styles of music, Gillian has performed and recorded with a broad variety of ensembles. Recent performances include concerts at the Park Avenue Armory, National Gallery of Art, and the Philharmonie de Paris with the new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound. Originally from Saratoga Springs, NY, Gillian currently lives in Providence, RI.
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Suzuna Takahashi was born in Wako City, Japan. She started playing mandolin at Jumonji Junior and Senior High School Mandolin Club, and studied solo mandolin with Masataka Hori. She placed 1st in the solo section of the 2018 Tohoku Mandolin Competition as well as the 27th All Japan Solo Mandolin Competition in 2021. Suzuna also won first prize at the 2025 Jacob Reuven Mandolin Competition at the URI Guitar & Mandolin Festival
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Sotiris Athanasiou, explores a vast repertoire spanning from the 17th century to the avant-garde. In his quest to expand the guitar’s horizons, he has collaborated with composers globally, commissioned new works, pushing the instrument's boundaries. His solo career began at the age of ten; today, he performs across four continents as both a soloist and a dedicated chamber musician. Sotiris regularly collaborates with the leading orchestras of his native Greece and is a frequent guest on France Musique, Arte, and Greek National Television (ERT). In 2024, he made a landmark debut at the Philharmonie de Paris, performing Henri Tomasi’s Guitar Concerto with the Paris Mozart Orchestra for La Maestra.
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Adrián Montero Moya stands among the most internationally acclaimed Costa Rican musicians, praised for his passionate playing, dazzling technique, and boldly innovative programming. A winner of over fifteen prizes in competitions across Europe and the Americas, he is an active recording artist and a tireless advocate for new music. Deeply committed to the future of the instrument, Montero combines performance with mentorship and artistic leadership. He serves as co-director of Costa Rica’s Festival and Concurso Nacional de Guitarra, continuing a legacy of excellence while opening new paths for emerging generations of guitarists.
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Dr. Scott Borg is an acclaimed Australian classical guitarist, educator, and President of the Jury for the 2025 competition. A graduate of Yale, Juilliard, and New England Conservatory, he has performed at major venues including the Kennedy Center and Alice Tully Hall. Known for his bold artistry and academic excellence, Borg directs guitar orchestras in Boston and Baltimore and teaches at Montgomery College. His leadership and vision continue to shape the next generation of classical guitarists.
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Matthew Rohde is a classical guitarist, educator, and film composer. He has performed globally with artists like Clarice Assad and Horacio Franco and is a member of The Great Necks guitar trio. He composed the score for the HBO documentary "It Will Be Chaos." Co-directing the Kithara Project, he supports classical guitar programs for at-risk youth. Matthew studied at Yale, the Conservatoire Nationale in Paris, and Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy.
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Dr. Celil Refik Kaya, a Turkish American guitarist and composer, debuted at age six and became the youngest winner of the 2012 JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition. He earned awards across Europe and the U.S., including the 2017 Donizetti Rising Young Musician of the Year and a Harvard Dumbarton Oaks fellowship.
Kaya has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, the Frick Collection, major festivals, and on radio broadcasts. His Naxos debut of Jorge Morel’s guitar music was highly praised, and he’s also recorded works by Domeniconi, Barrios Mangoré, and Rodrigo. He currently coordinates guitar studies at New Jersey City University and Kean University.
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Ekaterina Skliar is an internationally acclaimed mandolinist and domrist known for her dazzling versatility across classical, contemporary, and jazz genres. A prizewinner of the Astral National Auditions and Global Music Awards, she has performed worldwide with leading orchestras and ensembles. Her dynamic artistry and genre-blending collaborations—especially through her mandolin-domra duo—have earned critical acclaim and top honors in international competitions. Skliar’s performances captivate audiences while expanding global appreciation for plucked string traditions.
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Dor Gidon Amran is a rising Israeli mandolinist, conductor, and pianist celebrated for his virtuosity and artistic vision. A prizewinner in the International Mandolin Competition in Modena, he gained acclaim for his bold recording of Paganini’s 24 Caprices on mandolin. A student of Jacob Reuven, Amran is also an award-winning arranger, educator, and upcoming orchestral conducting graduate student at Penn State. His work bridges performance and innovation, redefining the possibilities of the classical mandolin.
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The Atlantic Mandolin Quartet is dedicated to advancing the art of classical mandolin chamber music in the 21st century. With a shared passion for both tradition and innovation, the ensemble brings new energy to a rich repertoire that spans classical, romantic, and contemporary works. Hailing from the United States, Israel, and Russia, the members of the quartet are active as soloists, educators, and chamber musicians. The group was formed after the four artists met at the University of Rhode Island Guitar and Mandolin Festival, where they connected over a shared vision: to create a top-level mandolin ensemble based in the United States and to elevate the visibility of classical mandolin performance.
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Duke Robillard is a Grammy-nominated American blues guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer, and educator, renowned for his versatility across blues, jazz, swing, and R&B. Born on October 4, 1948, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, he co-founded the influential band Roomful of Blues in 1967, which played a pivotal role in reviving jump blues and R&B. Robillard's career spans over five decades, during which he has released numerous solo albums, collaborated with iconic artists, and earned multiple accolades. Beyond performing, Robillard is a respected producer and educator. He has produced albums for various artists and has been involved in music education, sharing his knowledge and passion for blues and jazz.
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Amanda Kaya is a multifaceted classical guitarist and violist whose performances and teaching reflect a rich blend of tradition and innovation. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s in anthropology and philosophy, she has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Round Top Festival, and won numerous awards as both a violist and guitarist. She is currently studying for her Master's of Music Performance at New Jersey City University with Grammy Award-winning electric violist Martha Mooke. Now based in New Jersey, Kaya teaches and performs widely, known for her classical interpretations and creative arrangements—including collaborations with her husband, guitarist Celil Refik Kaya.
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Céili Connors is a Boston-based classical guitarist, educator, and artistic administrator, recognized for her dynamic performances as both a soloist and chamber musician. Céili earned her Master's degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Eliot Fisk and Jerome Mouffe. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Rhode Island, obtaining a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance. Her passion for Spanish music led her to Granada, Spain, where she attended the University of Granada and immersed herself in the study of flamenco and traditional Spanish guitar.
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Victor Main is a classical guitarist, composer, and educator based in Rhode Island, where he directs the Rising Stars youth guitar program with passion and expertise. An award-winning musician, he serves as guitarist-in-residence at Pumphouse Music Works and is president of the Rhode Island Guitar Guild. Through performances, masterclasses, and community outreach, Main is dedicated to inspiring young artists and fostering a vibrant guitar culture across southern New England.
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Rachel Rosencrangtz is a luthier based in Providence, Rhode Island. Born and raised in France, Rachel studied Design in Paris where she was exposed to both fine arts and applied arts. Her understanding of construction through her industrial design years as well as her understanding of music as a performer are two strong assets forming a stable backbone to her art-making today.Rachel works her lutherie by exploring the combination of both traditional and new styles and techniques and tries to bring a unique perspective to her work with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.When not at her workbench or classroom, Rachel is beekeeping and performing music.
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Gef Fisher is a guitar maker, musician, and instrument fanatic working with Master Luthier Alan Chapman in Amherst Massachusetts. His first love is the Guitar, but he has also studied and performed Hindustani and Chinese traditional music on the Sitar, Guqin, and Zhongruan. Since joining Alan in 2018, Gef has built or been involved in building over 50 guitars in addition to doing numerous repairs and adjustments on instruments by a variety of renowned luthiers. He is currently refining his own composite lattice-top guitar design, as well as a more traditional all-wood fan-braced model.
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Thomas Spencer Ladd is a university professor, designer, and photographer. He has received MFAs from Cranbrook Academy of Art and Rhode Island School of Design. Prof. Ladd’s research interests include typography, information design, photography, art history, communication theory, and environmental advocacy. His photographs have been exhibited internationally, and he has presented talks and workshops at national conferences. A professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Thomas has also taught at Endicott College, Northeastern University, and Rhode Island School of Design. Currently, Spencer is developing a design and arts practice around the history, ecology, harvest, and use of tonewood.
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Yu Wu's musical journey spans multiple continents and has captivated audiences around the world. A versatile artist, he maintains an active career as a recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral soloist.
Wu earned his Bachelor of Music degree with distinction from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He completed his undergraduate studies under the guidance of Brazilian guitar legend Sergio Assad.
Wu is now a faculty member at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in China. As a young pedagogue, his passion and dedication have led his students to significant success across the globe. HIs students have secured top honors in prestigious international competitions.
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Heybrajan Tamariz is a young Costa Rican classical guitarist who studied in Costa Rica under the tutelage of the Maestros: César Azofeifa, Andrés Saborío and Jorge Luis Zamora. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Guitar Performance at the University of Rhode Island with the Maestro Adam Levin.
Heybrajan was awarded the 2026 Frank Wallace Fellowship by the Boston Classical Guitar Society, and will be performing at concert series in the greater Boston area over the next year.
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Andrew Ozwinkle, a Baltimore native, graduated from The Conservatory of the Peabody Institute in 2020 with his masters in Classical Guitar Performance and Pedagogy under the direction of Julian Gray and has received top prizes at the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition and the Southern Guitar Competition after beginning to compete in 2019. Since completing his master's, Andrew has been a regular performer in various venues around Baltimore, DC, Philadelphia, New York, and across Maryland. He is currently studying at URI with Adam Levin.
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Festival Team
Adam Levin
Founder and Director, URI Guitar Festival; Artistic Director, Rhode Island Guitar Guild
Jacob Reuven
Mandolin Director
Mark Conley
Music Chair, URI
Jessica Peabody
Fiscal Clerk, URI
Jacob Wolf
Concert Hall Manager, URI
Ethan Hicks
Production, URI
Gerard Heroux
Coordinator of Music Resource Center. URI
Ian Maysmith
Administrative Director
Amanda Kaya
Social Media Director
Evelyn Mahon
Production Manager
Raffi Donoian
Production Coordinator
Jaqui Drobnis
Production Coordinator
Loraine Craig
House Manager
Spencer Ladd
Graphic Design
Gef Fisher
Luthier Expo Coordinator
Braulio Falas
Videographer
Diego
Assistant Videographer
Previous Artists & Lecturers
2025
Tommy Emmanuel Meng Su Texas Guitar Quartet (Isaac Bustos, Alejandro Montiel, Jay Kacherski, Joseph Palmer) Curtis Stewart Mathias Duplessy Purbayan Chatterjee Mark Lettieri Amit Kavthekar Michal Shein Caterina Lichenberg & Mike Marshall The CC Duo (Adam Cicchillitti & Steve Cowan) The Great Necks Guitar Trio (Adam Levin, Scott Borg, Matthew Rohde) Duo Mantar (Adam Levin & Jacob Reuven) Duo Sonidos (Adam Levin & William Knuth) Thatcher Harrison Joseph Bentley Peter Hand Freddie Bryant Dave Zinno Quentin October Enoc Leiton Kostis Zachariadis Francesco Russo Dr. Nicole O'Malley Amanda Kaya Dr. Çelil Refik Kaya Kenny Hill Garrett Lee Marshall Brune
2024
Eliot Fisk Sharon Isbin SoloDuo (Lorenzo Micheli & Matteo Mela) Artyom Dervoed Hamilton de Holanda Pasquale Grasso The Great Necks Trio (Adam Levin, Scott Borg, Matthew Rohde) Duo Mantar (Adam Levin, Jacob Reuven) Kevin Loh Ekaterina Skliar Dor Amran
2023
Jeremy Jouve Mathias Duplessy Amit Kavthekar Juan Falú Elisa la Marca Mauro Zanatta Pierre Bibault Jay Azzolina Luca Stricagnoli Jontavious Willis The Great Necks Guitar Trio (Adam Levin, Scott Borg, Matthew Rohde) Nicoló Spera
2022
Simon Shaheen Andy McKee René Izquierdo Andrea Gonzalez Caballero Eglise Gutierrez Bridget Kibbey Jacob Reuven Adam Levin Matthew Rohde William Knuth Chinnawat Themkumkwun Narragansett Bay Symphony Orchestra
2021
Kaki King Badi Assad Gohar Vardanyan Katarzyna Smolarek Jerome Mouffe The Maharajah Flamenco Trio David Veslocki
2020
Redmond O'Toole Corey Harris Eliot Fisk Zaira Meneses Pierre Bibault Bokyun Buyng Raphael Feuillarte Luther Enloe Duo Sonidos David Veslocki
2019
Gaelle Solal Grisha Goryachev Clarice Assad Redmond O'Toole Great Necks Trio (Adam Levin, Scott Borg, Matthew Rohde) Dimitris Kotronakis Maarten Stragier An Tran David Veslocki Connecticut Suzuki Academy Providence Mandolin Orchestra Boston Guitar Orchestra l’Esperance Mandolin Ensemble Dr. Regina Campbell Dr. Eric Zillmer
2018
Derek Gripper Frank Wallace Fareed Haque Goran Ivanovic Peter Janson Robert Bekkers Nancy Knowles
2017
Sorting through the old programs...List coming soon!
2016
Sorting through the old programs...List coming soon!