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“In the figure of Leonela Alejandro I see a great player. She is bold and unique as a musician and as a person.”
“Her artistry brings fresh perspectives to classical guitar performance, and she is poised to become one of the leading guitarists of her generation.”
Leonela Alejandro’s artistry thrives on contrast—precision balanced by spontaneity, power tempered by lyricism. Her performances reveal a performer unafraid to take risks, yet always in command of her sound. Each piece she plays becomes a study in dynamic color and expressive architecture, drawing the listener into her world rather than merely displaying her skill. Known for her adventurous programming and magnetic stage presence, she has quickly emerged as one of the most engaging voices of a new generation of classical guitarists. This concert offers the rare chance to witness an artist at the point where virtuosity meets genuine creative curiosity. Her presence will remind us why the GFA winner’s tour is among the most anticipated events every season.
Works to be performed by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Bellinati, Miranda, Takemitsu, Egúrbida, Sorroche, Cordero, Reinhardt, and Brouwer.
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MASTERCLASS
4/11/26: Leonela Alejandro will be teaching a masterclass in the afternoon, April 11th at 1:00 pm in the West Room of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. The masterclass is free to observe and open to the public, but registration is required. Register as an auditor to sit in and hear what Ms. Alejandro has to teach our guest performers, or register as a performer for your chance to perform for Leonela and have her critique your performance (a small tuition fee applies). Register as either an auditor or performer in our Online Store.
Leonela Alejandro is an award-winning classical guitarist from San Juan, 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, 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 Guitar Foundation of America International Artist Competition, 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 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 under the direction of Roselin 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 a 2019 Stephan Connor guitar and a 2023 Martin Blackwell guitar.
Instagram @Leonelaguitar
Guitarist Keith Calmes has been performing and teaching guitar for over three decades. His performance credits include a Carnegie Hall recital debut as Winner of the Artists International Competition, concerti with the Monmouth Symphony, a performance with Maestro Carlos Barbosa-Lima and many concerts and recordings with flautist Marjorie Koharski. Keith’s passion for new music has led the following composers to write for him: Roger Aldridge, Will Ayton, Timothy Broege, Leo Brouwer, Frank Campo, Ruben Delgado, Jurg Kindle, Chiel Meijering, Jean-Maurice Mourat, Maximo Diego Pujol, Stepan Rak, Kevin Siegfried and Jim Scully. Keith has several solo recordings and duo recordings with Chiel Meijering available at CD Baby and iTunes.
Although usually considered a classical guitarist, Keith’s musical diversity can be attested to. He has studied with Jazz master Jim Hall and opened for Surf legend Dick Dale. A deep interest in Indian rhythms led to studies and performances with percussion virtuoso Selvaganesh Vinayakram and his family band. Keith has also played in a wide variety of Jazz and Rock bands.
A natural teacher, Keith currently teaches at Perkins Center for the Arts in Moorestown and Collingswood, New Jersey. He was presented with an Outstanding Teacher Award from The College of New Jersey during his 19 years of work as a music teacher at Wall High School. Keith has also been on staff or taught at University of Southern California, Drury University, Monmouth University, Kean University, Brooklyn College, Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, Harford Community College and Ocean County College. He has also given presentations on guitar history and pedagogy at the national conventions of the Guitar Foundation of America and the American String Teachers Association. He has conducted classes at Salisbury University, California State University Bakersfield and The Kimmel Center,
Keith’s compositions, arrangements and performance editions are available from Mel Bay Publications and Guitar Chamber Music Press. An award-winning composer, Keith has written commissioned works for Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Company and the California State University Bakersfield Guitar Ensemble.
