AC to Host Master Class with Acclaimed Guitarist

Amarillo College will host a guitar master class with internationally acclaimed guitarist JIJI from 2–3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15 at the Amarillo College Concert Hall. The event is part of a collaboration with the Amarillo Symphony and provides a unique educational opportunity for AC music students and the community.

Praised by The Washington Post for her “mesmerizing” and “stirring” performances, JIJI is recognized as one of today’s most innovative classical guitarists. In 2021, The Washington Post named her “one of the 21 composers/performers who sound like tomorrow,” and she made history as the first guitarist in 30 years to win first prize in the prestigious Concert Artists Guild Competition.

JIJI has performed at many of the world’s most distinguished venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, 92nd Street Y, and the National Gallery of Art, and has appeared on PBS, NPR, and other national broadcasts. Equally fluent in classical and contemporary repertoire, she is known for her virtuosity, adventurous programming, and commitment to new music.

“This master class allows our students to learn directly from an artist who is shaping the future of classical guitar,” said Camille Day Nies, professor of music and chair of the Department of Music and Theatre at Amarillo College. “JIJI’s artistry, versatility, and commitment to education make this an extraordinary experience for our guitar students and music community.”

The master class precedes JIJI’s appearances with the Amarillo Symphony, where she will perform Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez during the Symphony’s Friday and Saturday evening concerts. In conjunction with those performances, AC guitar students will perform in the lobby prior to each concert

“Opportunities like this connect education and professional performance in a powerful way,” said Homero Campos, AC instructor of music. “Our students not only learn from a world-class musician, but also share the stage—literally and figuratively—with the broader arts community.”

JIJI is also a dedicated educator, serving as Associate Professor of Guitar at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, and has presented master classes at leading institutions including Yale University, Eastman School of Music, and the Peabody Institute.

The master class underscores Amarillo College’s commitment to experiential learning and to bringing internationally recognized artists to campus for the benefit of students and the region.