Introducing the tutors
Berta Rojas
Berta Rojas is an acclaimed classical guitarist and Latin Grammy-winning artist, recognized for her extraordinary talent and dedication to promoting classical guitar. She is an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music and has received international praise, with The Washington Post calling her a "guitarist extraordinaire."
Rojas won the Latin Grammy for ‘Legado’ (2022) as Best Classical Album and for ‘Anido’s Portrait’, composed by Sergio Assad. She has also been nominated three other times for albums ‘History of Tango’ (2015), ‘Salsa Roja’ (2014), and ‘Día y Medio’ (2012). Her performances have graced prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and London's Shakespeare’s Globe.
In 2011, she and Paquito D’Rivera embarked on the ‘In the Footsteps of Mangoré’ tour, retracing the journey of Paraguayan guitarist Agustín Barrios across Latin America. Beyond performance, Rojas is committed to promoting Paraguayan and Latin American music, supporting young guitarists through initiatives like the Barrios WorldWideWeb Competition and Jeporeka.
Her education includes studies with renowned masters in Paraguay, Uruguay, and the U.S., culminating in a master’s degree from the Peabody Institute. Rojas has been honored globally, receiving Paraguay’s highest distinctions, multiple honorary doctorates, and the 2022 Golden Guitar Award in Milan. In 2023, she was awarded Paraguay’s National Order of Merit in the Grade of "Grand Cross," the country's highest recognition.
Marián Budoš
https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/budos-marian
Award-winning composer, guitarist, conductor, and educator Marián Budoš began his musical journey in Slovakia, studying guitar under Prof. Ján Labant. He earned a Bachelor of Education from Matej Bel University before relocating to Canberra in 1992, where he pursued composition studies at the Australian National University. He is currently the Head of Music at Narrabundah College in Canberra.
Marián has performed as both a soloist and ensemble musician alongside esteemed artists, including guitarists Ján Labant, Tonie Field, and John Couch; soprano Ivana Troselj; flutists Sally Walker and Jane Rayner; harpist Alice Giles; cellists Monika Leskovar and David Pereira; and saxophonist Niels Rosendahl.
His compositions have been performed worldwide by renowned artists and ensembles, including John Couch, LaBarre Duo, the New Zealand Guitar Quartet, Perth Guitar Quartet, Silver Sands Guitar Quartet, Rupert Boyd & Laura Metcalf, Ziggy & Miles Johnston, Karol Samuelčik, Ondrej Veselý, Rémi Boucher, Peter Remeník, Slovak Sinfonietta, Lublin Philharmonic, Slovak Chamber Orchestra, and Canberra Youth Orchestra. His works are frequently broadcast on ABC Classic, Radio NZ, Slovak Radio, WQXR NYC, and Classical Guitar Alive and have been featured in film and television.
In 2021, his book-concerto ‘Adria’s Confessions’, inspired by Jaume Cabré’s ‘Confessions’, premiered at Barcelona’s Palau de la Música. In 2026, it will be performed in Australia by the Orquestra del Reial Cercle Artístic de Barcelona, featuring guitarist Jacob Cordover.
Gerald Garcia
Gerald Garcia, a guitarist, composer, and conductor, studied Chemistry at Oxford University and now resides in Oxford. His diverse career has taken him to perform in locations as remote as Borneo and the Arctic Circle.
A prolific composer, his ’25 Etudes Esquisses’ has been recorded for NAXOS, and his works have been performed and recorded by world-renowned musicians, including David Russell, Craig Ogden, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, and John Williams. His *Lorca Concerto*, based on themes by García Lorca, has become a staple of the guitar duo repertoire and has been widely performed across Europe. His ‘Concerto Romantico’ for violin, guitar, and strings was premiered in 2013 by the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra.
Garcia’s compositions extend beyond guitar music, including orchestral and choral works performed at the Festival for Youth and Music. His music has been published globally by Mel Bay, Holley Music, and Cramer. He has worked extensively in music education, leading workshops for organisations such as Kent Opera and English National Opera.
As musical director of the National Youth Guitar Ensemble, he mentors young guitarists across the UK. He is a regular tutor at international guitar festivals and an adjudicator at global music events. A sought-after session guitarist, he has contributed to numerous film scores and recorded over 14 CDs, selling more than 50,000 copies worldwide. He has performed with legendary guitarists like Paco Peña and John Williams and has toured China, performing and teaching at prestigious conservatories.