Isaac Bustos
Born in Managua, Nicaragua Isaac Bustos began playing popular Latin-American music on the guitar by ear at age 11. By age 12, he was accepted into the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica in Managua where he received top honors in guitar performance. Isaac immigrated to the United States with his family in 1988 and continued his studies with the late Cuban guitar virtuoso Juan Mercadal. An extensive performance career has taken Bustos to Canada, Central America and all over the US. He has gained critical acclaim and is quickly becoming recognized as one of the top young guitarists of his generation. “Soulful and virtually flawless,” hails the Portland Oregonian and the Boston Globe writes, “In warm, round tones, the notes of Bach cascaded from the guitar, every note correct and played without hesitation.” He has made several Radio and Television appearances and has been invited to perform in the Portland Guitar Festival, the St. Joseph Guitar Festival, the Eastfield College Guitar Festival and the Texas Guitar Festival.
An impressive array of top prizes include: First Prize – 2005 Texas International Guitar Competition, Dallas, TX; First Prize – 2004 Lachine International Guitar Competition, Lachine, QC, Canada; First Prize – 2004 St. Joseph International Solo Guitar Competition, St. Joseph, MO; First Prize – 2004 Portland Solo Guitar Competition, Portland, OR; First Prize – 2004 East Carolina University Solo Guitar Competition, Greenville, NC; First Prize – 2002 University of New Hampshire Concerto Competition, Durham, NH; Top Prize – 2003 Appalachian State University Solo Guitar Competition, Boone, NC; Semifinalist – 2000, 2001 and 2004 Guitar Foundation of America International Solo Guitar Competitions.
In addition to guitar study, Bustos has performed in several premieres. Most recently works by composers Peter Askim for solo guitar, Andrew Dickinson for four guitars, a work for two guitars and electronic sound effects by Jeremy Cumbo and “After Sylvius” a solo guitar work written for him by composer/guitarist Frank Wallace.
Isaac has participated in Masterclasses of international world-renowned performing artists such as Manuel Barrueco, David Russell, Paul Galbraith, Fabio Zanon, Ricardo Iznaola, Odair Assad, Elliot Fisk and Jason Vieaux. He was also one of three performers chosen to play in the Pepe Romero Master class held at the prestigious Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in guitar performance from the University of New Hampshire, where he held a full-music scholarship, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin where he was the teaching assistant under the tutelage of world-renowned guitarist Adam Holzman. He is currently on the faculty at Texas A&M University Department of Performance Studies.