Skaneateles Library
49 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles

Gonzalo Peñalosa Biedma (Seville, 2002) began studying guitar at the age of five with his father, José Antonio Peñalosa. He later received instruction from Serafín Arriaza, Miguel Arriaza, Lola Montes, María Esther Guzmán, and Álvaro Toscano. He completed his studies at the Francisco Guerrero Professional Conservatory of Music in Seville, graduating in 2019 with the Honorary End-of-Studies Award. In 2018, he was granted the Academic and Personal Achievement Award by the City Council of Seville. Most recently, he graduated with Highest Honors and the Extraordinary Award from the Conservatory of the Balearic Islands, where he worked under the guidance of Pedro Mateo.

Skaneateles Library
49 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles

Liamna Pestana Roche is a Cuban-American musician whose artistry spans a remarkable array of plucked string instruments, including the Renaissance and Baroque guitars, 6-course and 19th-century guitars, classical guitar, medieval citole, vihuela, Renaissance lute, oud, archlute, and the Cuban tres.

She is also an accomplished soprano and has performed with vocal and instrumental ensembles across Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, and the United States.?

A passionate interpreter of early music, Liamna directed the ensemble Cantiga Armonica, with whom she toured extensively, appearing in concerts and festivals throughout Cuba, Mexico, Sweden, Argentina, and Colombia. As a concert guitarist, she has earned awards and recognition in festivals and competitions in Mexico and Cuba.?

Skaneateles Library
49 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles

Prior to becoming the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in 2023, Matthew Ardizzone served as Eastman's Associate Dean of Admissions & Enrollment Management for 13.5 years. He is the inaugural Marie Rolf Dean of Graduate Studies, and was the first guitarist to receive the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Eastman ('97). A student of Nicholas Goluses, his doctoral coursework focused on the history of performance and interpretation, and the influences of Chopin and the bel canto tradition on the guitar repertoire. His lecture-recital was on the Mazurka in the guitar repertoire, and included his transcriptions of works by Chopin and Granados, as well as guitar works of Barrios, Tárrega, and Sagreras. This became the basis of his first CD, titled Mazurka!, which was released on the AMP Recordings label, and received a 2001 Communicator Awards 'Crystal Award of Excellence.'