Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jeff LaQuatra has been described as “a guitarist of enormous talent, both musically and technically” (Classical Guitar Magazine). 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).

An avid chamber musician, Jeff has performed as a member of Denver’s Mountain Chamber Music Society and has appeared with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and Colorado’s Central City Opera. Jeff maintains a busy concert schedule as a member of the flute and guitar duo, Quatra Duo with flutist Michelle Stanley.

 

In 2002, Iznaola Guitar Works released Jeff’s debut solo recording entitled Twilight: Guitar Music at the End of the Century, which includes world-premiere recordings of works by Ricardo Iznaola, James McGuire and Štěpán 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.” In 2014, Twilight was included in Enrique Robichaud’s publication, Guitar’s Top 100 – A Guide to Classical Guitar’s Most Recorded Music.

Jeff has earned degrees from The Cleveland Institute of Music (BM) and The University of Denver (MM) where he served as a graduate teaching assistant. His primary teachers were Mary Lou Roberts, John Holmquist and Ricardo Iznaola. Jeff resides in Fort Collins, Colorado and directs the newly-developed guitar program at Colorado State University.