Congratulations to first-year Eastman DMA student and classical guitarist Bruno Guedea ’25E (MM) for being accepted into the Guitar Foundation of America’s (GFA) 2026 Mentorship Program. As a mentee, he will participate in virtual career development workshops with leading figures in the classical guitar community, and attend the Guitar Foundation of America’s 2026 Convention and Competition, happening in late June in Denver, Colorado.
Bruno receives a standing ovation after his solo concert at the Taranaki Classical Guitar Summer School. Photo Credit: Ingrid Riollot
Bruno was also awarded the 2025 New Zealand Aspiring Guitarist award, a prestigious honor presented by the Taranaki Classical Guitar Summer School that supports emerging guitar professionals in New Zealand. This award funded Bruno’s recent trip to New Zealand, where he attended the Taranaki Classical Guitar Summer School, performing solo and in masterclasses and participating in diverse ensembles. He also had the opportunity to perform solo concerts for both the Auckland and Wellington Classical Guitar Societies. In addition, Bruno has earned competition prizes in Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States, is a recipient of the highly competitive Kiwi Music Scholarship, and recently received funding through Creative New Zealand in support of an upcoming professional development project this summer. Having earned his Master of Music degree in guitar performance, Bruno continues his studies with Professor Nicholas Goluses while pursuing his doctoral degree, and serves as a Teaching Assistant at the Eastman School of Music and as a guitar Student Teacher at the Eastman Community Music School.