Born in 1990 in Sonora, Mexico, Misael Barraza-Diaz is one of the most outstanding Mexican guitarists of his generation. He graduated “Summa Cum Laude” from the Master Guitarra Alicante, a special program where he studied with world-renowned musicians David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Ignacio Rodes, Paul O’dette, Hopkinson Smith, Fabio Zanon, Roberto Aussell and Shin Ichi Fukuda. As of December 2014, Misael holds both the Master’s degree from the Master Guitarra Alicante (Spain) and a second Master’s degree from the University of Arizona (U.S.A.) where he continues to study with Thomas Patterson, David Russell, and Sergio and Odair Assad.
Misael has been presented as the guest solo guitarist at the “Gala Importantes” in Alicante, Spain, one of the most important journalistic events of the region. He was also invited to perform at the first “Día de la Guitarra Española en Alicante”, a special event in which Manuel Barrueco, Ignacio Rodes, Edmon Colomer and Christian Haimel where also featured. Misael was the featured solo guitarist for the World Premiere of Passionately, Piazzolla! the musical, a collaboration between Tucson Desert Song Festival, Ballet Tucson, and the Tucson Guitar Society. He was also recently presented as part of the concert series of the Danish Guitar Society, performing at one of its most important and historical venues, the Rundetaarn Tower. Mr. Barraza has been featured twice as a guest artist at the Science Lecture Series that takes place at the University of Arizona every year.
Mr. Barraza has been awarded first place at numerous international guitar competitions, including:
At the international competition in Finland, Misael was awarded a special prize that consisted of a CD recording with the European company Alba Records. In addition, Misael has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards for his trajectory in music during his stay at the University of Arizona, including the Schulman Award, Northern Trust Distinguished Graduate Student Award, the Honors Research Grant and the Medici Scholars Award. Misael is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Arizona, where he has held a teaching assistant position since 2012.
Viktor Đuknić was born in 1992 in Valjevo (Serbia). At age 8 he started to play guitar. Finished elementary and secondary music education in the class of prof. Milkica Ponjavic. In 2011 enrolled into the Faculty of Arts in Novi Sad (Serbia) in the class of Mr. Zoran Krajisnik. Finished Masters studies in the class of prof. Srdjan Tosic with the highest marks on the same faculty. He worked with renowned professors like Ernesto Bitetti, Roman Viazovskiy, Ištvan Roemer, Johannes Moller, and others...
During his music education, he won numerous international and domestic awards.
Tiit Peterson
