Brasil Guitar Duo, winners of the 2006 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, are noted for their outstanding technical virtuosity and mature musicianship. With full touring schedules on two continents and critically acclaimed recordings, they are regarded as one of the pre-eminent guitar duos of their generation. Their busy schedule includes concert and recital performances at many venues in the US ranging from the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York's River to River Festival, Columbia University's Miller Theatre with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, to an evening of works by Cuban-born composer Tania Leon at Symphony Space, Orange County Performing Arts Center in California.

The artists have developed a broad repertoire of classical guitar duos, and in recent years have broadened the aesthetic to encompass the traditional music of Brazil (samba, maxixe, choro and baiao). These diverse influences come together in the duo's programming: a seamless blend of traditional and Brazilian works.

Joao Luiz and Douglas Lora met in São Paulo as teenaged guitar students, and have been performing together for more than 10 years, during which time they have perfected sublime synchronicity and effortless performance style. Senor Lora holds a Master's degree from the University of Miami, and Senor Luiz is a member of the guitar quartet, Quaternaglia.

Andrew York is the rare combination of a virtuoso classical and jazz guitarist. He is also one of today's most visible and innovative classical guitar composers, winning a Grammy during his 16-year partnership with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

His compositions have been recorded by many guitar luminaries, including John Williams, Christopher Parkening, Scott Tennant and William Kanengiser. His discography is extensive, including recording with Atlanta Symphony. 'Ainadamar' (Deutsche Gramophone) won two Grammy Awards.

Mr. York appears in the documentary, 'Primal Twang' with such artists as Eric Johnson, Albert Lee, Mason Williams and others. His concert touring schedule over the past decade covers more than 30 countries, including Turkey, Colombia and Japan. The holder of a University of Southern California Master of Music degree, he is the only graduate in its history to twice receive the 'Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award', once as the sole recipient.

Steven Crawford is from Glasgow, Scotland. His interest in the guitar began at age 15 when he listened to recordings of his favourite rock music, and jammed with friends in a local youth group.

Later, he studied seriously with James Polland, and participated in master classes in Scotland, England and the US with such guitar 'greats' as Scott Tennant, Andrew York and Manuel Barrueco at Bath University.

Following his debut concert at St. Theresa's Cathedral in 1998, Mr. Crawford has given concerts in England, Scotland and Bermuda, including the 2002 Bermuda Festival.

He gained his Associated Board of Music's Advanced Certificate examination with a Grade A in Performance in 1999, and in 2001 became a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM).

David France grew up in Connecticut, where he studied violin in the pre-college division of the Hartt School of Music. Later he was a soloist in many major European cities, including London, Amsterdam, Munich and Cologne, as well as the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. His US teaching posts include Wichita State University in Kansas. A co-founder and conductor of the Summer String Shocker festival in Wichita, he has also performed with the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, the La Crosse, Hartford and Wichita symphonies, as well as the Minnesota Orchestra, where he was guest principal second violinist.

Mr. France is the featured soloist with Dave Lubben and Casey Golden on his soon-to-be-released CDs, 'Pedlin' Music' and 'Conspiracy Among Friends'. A member of the Bermuda School of Music faculty, he simultaneously records with producer Will Taubin in Brooklyn, New York.

Oliver Grant is British born, but from age eight to 28 lived with his family in Spain. Piano lessons began at age nine, and from age 18 he studied for six years at the Katarina Gurska Piano Academy. At age 19, he taught piano privately between lessons. Returning to the UK in 1999, Mr. Grant attended Bath University for the last two years of a BA (Hons) degree, plus completion of a Fellowship in Performance. He first taught at Derby, after which he completed a post-graduate Diploma in Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Returning to Derby, he taught piano, performed in concerts, and continued as church organist in Quarndon before joining the faculty of the Bermuda School of Music in 2002, where he teaches piano and accompanies its Chamber Choir. He has given public performances here, and in addition to classical music is a fan of rock music and the Beatles. His other interests include reading, astronomy, movies, swimming and sailing. He is also the organist at Christ Church, Warwick.

Louise Southwood is Paris-born but grew up in Britain. She began playing guitar at an early age, with many competition successes and performances throughout the UK to her credit. Private studies with eminent guitarist Carlos Bonnell began at age 12, and he has been a major, lasting influence on her musical career. She holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree from the Royal College of Music, where she worked with Gary Ryan on solo guitar and guitar accompaniment, as well as taking master classes with some of the world's most renowned guitarists during an intense performing and collaborative period.

Having travelled and performed throughout Australia for a year, Miss Southwood returned to London and formed an acclaimed guitar and flute duo with Daniel Chandler, fulfilling performance engagements in the UK. A classical guitar teacher at the Bermuda School of Music, Miss Southwood is fully involved in the Island's musical scene. Her debut CD is entitled 'Emergence'.