Jeff LaQuatra
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Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jeff LaQuatra has been described as "a guitarist of enormous talent, both musically and technically" (Classical Guitar Magazine). Jeff performs throughout Colorado as a soloist and as a member of various chamber music ensembles. In 1996, Jeff was awarded first prize in the Oswald Rantucci Guitar Competition in Buffalo, New York. He has also won top prize in competitions sponsored by The Fortnightly Music Club of Cleveland and The Three Arts Club of Lakewood (Ohio).
Jeff holds degrees from The Cleveland Institute of Music (B.M.) and The University of Denver (M.M.) where he served as a graduate teaching assistant. His primary teachers were Mary Lou Roberts, John Holmquist and Ricardo Iznaola. In 1996 and 1997, Jeff received a full tuition scholarship to participate in the Rome Festival (Italy), studying with the renowned guitar duo of Michael Andriaccio and Joanne Castellani.
An in-demand chamber musician, Jeff has appeared in concert with flutist Laura Shulkind, Denver guitar virtuoso Masakazu Ito, and is a member of the newly formed Mountain Chamber Music Society. He has also performed with Colorado’s Central City Opera and the Boulder Philharmonic.
In 2002, Iznaola Guitar Works released Jeff's debut solo guitar recording entitled Twilight: Guitar Music at the End of the Century, which includes world-premiere recordings of works by Ricardo Iznaola, James McGuire and Štepán Rak. In a review of Twilight, Classical Guitar Magazine's Steve Marsh stated, "his technical abilities [are] strong enough for him to control every nuance and phrase to perfection. This is a first-class debut album and a name to watch out for." Currently, Jeff serves on the faculties of Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colorado and at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
