Juan Alpizar

Juan José Alpízar is a guitarist from San José, Costa Rica, with a passion for solo and chamber music. He began his studies at the Escuela Municipal de Artes Integradas and the Universidad de Costa Rica, earning Bachelor’s and Licentiate degrees in Music Performance under Maestro Jorge Luis Zamora. In 2024, he completed a Master’s degree in Music Performance with a Minor in Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi, studying with Dr. Nicholas Ciraldo.

Alpízar has received several awards, including First Prize at the Troy University Guitar Competition (2023), Second Prize at the Mountain View College Guitar Competition (2025), First Prize and Best Interpretation of Obligatory Works in the Intermediate Division of the Costa Rican National Guitar Competition (2017), and Second Prize in the same competition’s Open Division (2021).

He has participated in festivals such as the Festival de Música de Santa Catarina (Brazil), the International Festival of Guitar Orchestras (Colombia), and the International Baroque Music Festival (Costa Rica). From 2017 to 2019, he served as concertino of the Universidad de Costa Rica Guitar Orchestra, performing in venues including the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica and Sala Xochipilli in Mexico.

He is currently pursuing a DMA in Guitar Performance at the University of North Texas under the guidance of Dr. Bokyung Byun and performs on a guitar crafted by Costa Rican luthier David Chaves Barrantes.