American classical guitarist, Xavier Jara (1993), is the 1st prize winner of the 2016 GFA International Concert Artist Competition.  A native of Minnesota, Jara was a student of Alan Johnston at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis until 2011 when he moved to Paris, France to study with Judicael Perroy.

Jara studied in Paris for six years with Perroy.  During this time he completed his Bachelor’s Degree at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he also studied with French guitarist, Olivier Chassain, and lute master, Eric Bellocq.  He received 1st place in a number of international competitions including the Viseu International Competition (2014), the Boston Guitarfest (2014), the Gargnano, Italy Competition (2015), the Ciudad de Coria Competition (2015), and the Tokyo International Competition (2016).  In 2016 Jara returned home to the United States to win the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America’s Rose Augustine Grand Prize.

Jara's 2017-2018 concert tour begins in September 2017.  He will perform more than 40 concerts in the United States, Canada and Guatemala, including a concert at Carnegie Hall (April 5, 2018.)