Gabriel Guillén Navarro, born in Maracay, Venezuela, is one of the world’s most distinguished classical guitarists and educators. He began studying guitar at age six with Mario Vidalin and continued his training under renowned teachers including Leopoldo Igarza, José Gregorio Guanchez, and Alberto Espinoza. In 1988, Guillén received a scholarship to study in Europe with Prof. Walter Würdinger in Vienna and Prof. Konrad Ragossnig in Zurich. He completed his studies with the academic degree Magister artium and was honored with the Recognition Award from the Austrian Ministry of Education. In 1992, in recognition of his outstanding career, he was granted Austrian citizenship. An internationally acclaimed concert guitarist, Guillén has been recognized by the U.S. press as one of the ten best guitarists worldwide. He has performed in more than 54 countries, captivating audiences with repertoire ranging from Baroque masterpieces to Latin American traditions. Guillén is also a distinguished educator, teaching at the Joseph Haydn Music University in Eisenstadt and the Richard Wagner Conservatory in Vienna, and has served as Artistic Director of the International Guitar Festival Rust in Austria since 1998. His achievements have earned him honors including the Artinger Prize, the Kery Prize, and the City of Fiuggi Honorary Award in Italy, as well as awards in Mexico, Argentina, and Austria.
Diana Guillén Navarro was born in Lviv, Ukraine. She studied classical guitar at the Lviv National Music Academy and has since performed in Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine, gaining recognition for her expressive style and technical precision.
She has given important performances in Portugal, including televised appearances for Portuguese television in Madeira, further enhancing her international profile.
Until 2016, she worked as a music teacher in Ukraine, where her dedication and guidance led her students to win around 35 national prizes in guitar competitions. Her excellence as a pedagogue has been widely acknowledged.
In addition to her teaching and performance career, Diana has served as a jury member at several prestigious guitar competitions across Europe, contributing her expertise to the development of young talent.
Since 2020, she has been a lecturer in classical guitar at the Franz Schubert Conservatory in Vienna.
As a composer, Diana is a registered member of AKM and Austro Mechana in Austria. Several of her original compositions have been published and are noted for their lyrical melodies and unique fusion of Eastern European and Western classical influences.