The School of Music will host a 2025 international guitar series from Sept. 26 to April 21, where guitarists from different countries will perform at NIU. 

All concerts will be free of charge and take place in the NIU Recital Hall in the Music Building unless indicated otherwise. 

Nicaragua: Isaac Bustos 

The series will commence with a concert from Isaac Bustos from Nicaragua at 5 p.m. Friday.

Bustos is an award winning classical guitarist and teacher who has performed in Canada, Central America, Europe, China and the U.S.

Some of the festivals he has been invited to play are the Guitar Foundation of America Annual Convention, Panama Guitar Festival, Festival Internacional de Guitarra Monterrey and Festival del Noreste in Mexico.

The guitarist has been featured as a soloist with distinguished ensembles including the Orchestra of New Spain, the Baytown Symphony Orchestra and the Nicaraguan National Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro JoAnn Falletta.

His Latin American roots show in his musical style features in both his albums: “Caprichos y Sonatas” (2008) and “Canciones A Mi Madre” (2016).

Italy: Sara d’Ippolito Reichert 

Next in the series is Calabrian born Sara d’Ippolito Reichert who will perform at 5 p.m. on Nov. 1. 

Reichert is an award-winning performing artist, composer and educator whose work blends classical tradition and influences from different musical genres. 

Originally from Lamezia Terme, Italy, Reichert studied classical guitar at the prestigious “Santa Cecilia” Conservatory in Rome and has participated in masterclasses with world-renowned musicians like Roman Vlad. 

Her performance career includes solo and ensemble appearances across Europe and North America, including collaborations in theatrical and ballet productions such as “Two Gentlemen of Verona” at the Globe Theater in Rome and “Giselle” with the Milwaukee Ballet.

Reichert currently leads the duo “Sara and Kenny.” 

She is also an advocate for female composers, through performances like “Pipitule: Roots,” celebrating their contributions to classical and contemporary music. 

Russia: Grisha Goryachev

Continuing the series is Grisha Goryachev who will visit NIU at 5 p.m. on Feb. 24. 

Goryachev is a virtuoso flamenco and classical guitarist renowned for his mastery of solo flamenco performance.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, he began playing guitar at age six and quickly gained recognition as a child prodigy performing across the Soviet Union. 

Influenced heavily by pirated copies of music from flamenco legends like Paco de Lucía and Sabicas, Goryachev learned flamenco primarily by ear in his youth.

He has performed internationally, including notable appearances at the Festival de Música Española de Cádiz and the Festival de Música de Jimena de la Frontera in Spain.

Goryachev is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and has recorded albums such as “Alma Flamenca”(2006)  and “Homenaje a Sabicas” (2007). 

China: Duo Chinoiserie

After that is Duo Chinoiserie, who will perform at 5 p.m. March 21 at the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall. 

Formed in 2016, the duo features Chinese guzheng virtuoso Xia Jing and classical guitarist Hu Bin, blending Eastern and Western musical traditions.

Their innovative approach has earned recognition from critics, with Grammy-winning guitarist David Russell describing their work as a “moving and impressive combination.” 

Duo Chinoiserie has performed on stages across Spain, China and the U.S., including a world premiere double concerto at Carnegie Hall and a collaboration with Ballet Tucson.

Their debut album, “Chinoiserie: Building New Musical Bridges,” has received international acclaim for its artistry and originality. 

France: Gaëlle Solal

Ending the 2025 series is Gaëlle Solal who will perform at 5 p.m. on April 21.

Raised in a musical family, Solal began studying classical guitar at age five and quickly advanced to the Marseille Conservatoire. At age 16, she entered the Paris Conservatoire. 

She continued her studies in Cologne, Germany, while competing internationally, becoming the first French woman to win the prestigious City of Alessandria competition in 1998.

In the early 2000s, Solal taught at conservatories in Córdoba and Seville. 

In 2006 after she spent a decade performing as a part of the Astor Duo, she returned to solo playing, earning second place in the Guitar Foundation of America.

Solal performs styles from classical to contemporary and co-founded the Guitar’elles association, advocating for women guitarists. 

Solal currently has seven albums out with the most recent being “Tuhu” (2020).