Saturday, April 26, 2025
Dr. Koh Kazama, Host
New World School of the Arts Guitar Faculty
DR. ISAAC BUSTOS
DR. KOH KAZAMA
Welcome to NWSA GuitarFest 2025! GuitarFest is a FREE day-long event of masterclasses, workshops, and performances for the Miami community. Events are centered around the students, providing guitar learners with information and experiences that will further advance their playing. Open to the public, and all levels are welcome!
this event is free
If you plan to attend the concert ONLY: Registration is NOT required
If you plan to attend any non-concert events (masterclasses, lectures): Registration IS required
If you would like to PLAY in one of the masterclasses: Registration IS required by April 1st (space is very limited, so try to apply early!)
All events are free and open to the public
schedule of Events
10:00AM - 11:45AM
Technique Workshop, Guitar Ensemble Rehearsal and masterclass with
Dr. Koh Kazama
Join us to learn about technical exercises that will help with you take your playing to the next level!
Participate in our ensemble rehearsal to prepare for the NWSA GuitarFest concert at 4:00pm. Students of all levels and ages are welcome, but ability to read music is required.
Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus, Auditorium (Room 1261), Building 1 (2nd floor)
300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132
12:00PM – 1:30pm
Masterclass with Dr. Isaac Bustos
Guest artist Dr. Isaac Bustos will teach a masterclass to select students
Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus, Auditorium (Room 1261), Building 1 (2nd floor)
300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132
1:30Pm – 2:30PM
Lunch break
2:30Pm – 3:30Pm
Luthier Lecture and Expo
Learn about the art of classical guitar making and try out handmade guitars by local luthiers ROLDÁN PEREZ CHATELOIN & ANTONIO DE AGUIRRE!
Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus, Auditorium LOBBY (Room 1261), Building 1 (2nd floor)
300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132
4:00PM – 5:00PM
NWSA GuitarFEst Concert
Featuring GuitarFest Student Ensemble, Dr. Koh Kazama, and Dr. Isaac Bustos
Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus, Auditorium (Room 1261), Building 1 (2nd floor)
Learn more about our featured artists!
about the artists
DR. ISAAC BUSTOS
“Virtuosic yet effortless flair” hails the San Francisco Classical Voice, and the Boston Globe writes, “In warm, round tones, the notes of Bach cascaded from the guitar, every note correct and played without hesitation.” GRAMMY™-nominated Classical guitarist, pedagogue, and educator, Dr. Isaac Bustos, enjoys an extensive performing career that has taken him to Canada, Central America, Europe, China, and all over the US. Bustos has made several Radio and Television appearances and is in demand as clinician and master class teacher invited to perform in some of the most prestigious festivals around the globe including the Guitar Foundation of America Annual Convention, Panama Guitar Festival, Festival Internacional de Guitarra Monterrey and Festival del Noreste in Mexico. Isaac has appeared as soloist with the Orchestra of New Spain, The Baytown Symphony Orchestra, The Nicaraguan National Symphony Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro JoAnn Falletta.
Dr. Bustos has acquired an impressive number of top prizes in over 12 major international competitions, 7 of which are first prizes. Isaac has premiered new guitar works by composers Nico Muhly, Blas Atehortúa, Samuel Zyman, Frank Wallace, Mark Cruz, Peter Lieuwen, and Joe Williams II. In the Spring of 2019, he premiered a new concerto for guitar and orchestra, commissioned and dedicated to him, by American composer Peter Lieuwen under the baton of maestro Franz Anton Krager and the University of Houston Symphony Orchestra. Isaac has recorded for the Delos, MSR, Vgo Recordings, and Frameworks labels.
Chamber music collaborations have included performances with the Grammy award-winning ensembles Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and Conspirare Choir, the Turtle Creek Chorale and legendary Mexican cellist Carlos Prieto. Bustos is also a founding member of the award-winning Texas Guitar Quartet and has released two critically acclaimed discs with the group. Highlights of the 2022-23 season included performances with the Chattanooga Symphony, Austin Classical Guitar, and Southwest Symphony.
Isaac holds a Bachelor of Music degree in guitar performance from the University of New Hampshire, where he was the only guitarist to ever hold a full scholarship, a Master of Music degree and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked under the guidance of renowned American guitarist Adam Holzman.
As an educator, his commitment to teaching is reflected in the success of his students whose prize-winning performances have included victories in the Eastfield Guitar Festival and competition, Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Competition, “Classical Minds” Guitar Competition, Houston Young Artist, East Carolina University Competition, Rosario Competition, Appalachian State Competition, Boston Guitar Fest International Competition and Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition. Dr. Bustos serves on the faculty at the University of Texas – San Antonio School of Music, where he is head of guitar studies and artistic director of the Southwest Guitar Symposium.
*Dr. Bustos is an Augustine Strings Sponsored Artist and plays on a 2020 Martin Blackwell Double-top cedar guitar*
Dr. Koh Kazama
A New York City native, Koh Kazama is a concert guitarist and educator exposing audiences to the endless possibilities of the classical guitar. He started his guitar studies at the age of six, after being inspired by a Japanese rock musician. His diverse repertoire ranges from early music played on period instruments to contemporary music using electronic effects.
Dr. Kazama has performed in renowned venues, festivals, and concert series, including Carnegie Hall, Miami International GuitART Festival, Long Island Guitar Festival, Killington Music Festival, Symphony Space, Webster Hall, WNYC New Sounds Live series, Morse Hall (Juilliard), Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Society, and Yale Guitar Extravaganza. He has also premiered works by a wide range of prominent composers, including Michael White (Juilliard), David Lang (Yale), William Anderson (Queens College), Paula Matthusen (Wesleyan), and Kendall Williams.
Dr. Kazama holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University, where he was a scholarship student and teaching assistant of the guitar department. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in psychology, Master of Music, and Artist Diploma at Yale University. He received a full scholarship to attend Yale, and he was the recipient of the Eliot Fisk Prize, which was awarded to an outstanding guitarist whose artistic achievements and dedication have contributed greatly to the department. He attended LaGuardia Arts High School in New York City, where he majored in cello and was part of the LaGuardia Symphony Orchestra. His major teachers have included Jerry Willard, Benjamin Verdery, Simon Powis, Liam Wood, Nadav Lev, and David Gonzalez.
Dr. Kazama is also a dedicated teacher who has experience teaching guitar to students of various levels and ages. He is currently on the faculty at New World School of the Arts, a partner of Miami Dade College, University of Florida, and Dade County Public Schools in Miami. He has previously taught as a guitar instructor at Yale University and Stony Brook University. He is also a former faculty member and alumnus of Third Street Music School Settlement, the longest-running community music school in the United States.
In addition to his teaching and performing, Dr. Kazama has contributed publications and learning resources to the guitar community. He co-founded Monologue Publications, which is dedicated to creating solo and chamber music arrangements for guitar that include thoroughly researched historical and stylistic information for the player. He is also the co-founder of Leyenda, an online graded classical guitar database.
In his spare time, Dr. Kazama enjoys playing soccer, snowboarding, and eating Japanese food.
Artist website: www.kohkazama.com
Click below to view our past editions!