As guitar soloist and composer, Dr. José Manuel Lezcano has captivated audiences on four continents. In programs of standard repertoire, Hispano-American composers, and original works, he has appeared in major venues and festivals, including Carnegie Recital Hall, the NYC North-South Consonance Series, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Spain, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, China, Germany, and the Czech Republic as recitalist and concerto soloist. Dr. Lezcano is thrilled to recently join the School of Music at the University of Southern Maine (Gorham) as the new Artist Lecturer in Guitar. He continues to serve as Professor Emeritus at Keene State College, directing & coordinating the nationally acclaimed and NASM accredited guitar program there. Described by Fanfare Magazine as “an excellent guitarist as well as an imaginative composer,” Jose has earned numerous professional recognitions, including first prize in the MTNA National Guitar Competition, the NHSCA Individual Artist Fellowship, NHMTA Composer of the Year(twice), KSC Distinguished Research Award, and a Fulbright Award to Ecuador, where he pursued research on the guitar as ritual instrument in indigenous / mestizo summer solstice festivals, and taught courses at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador.