By Eugenio Amézquita Velasco
SAN JOSÉ DE ITURBIDE, GTO. – With the objective of strengthening ties between the academic sector and the region's cultural wealth, the Municipal Government of San José de Iturbide has announced a world-class musical evening. In a strategic collaboration with the Autonomous University of Querétaro (UAQ), renowned artist María Sardo (Marisa Sardo) will perform in concert.
The event seeks to offer citizens a high-quality recreational space, highlighting the talent and interpretive feeling that characterizes Sardo. According to municipal authorities, this initiative is part of a joint effort to promote artistic expressions born and developed through links with prestigious educational institutions in the area.
The cultural gathering will take place in the administrative heart of the municipality, transforming the government space into an artistic stage for the enjoyment of all families in Iturbide.
-Venue: Municipal Presidency Auditorium.
-Date: Friday, May 22.
-Time: 7:00 PM (19:00 hours).
True to its policy of cultural proximity, the municipal administration confirmed that admission will be completely free, extending an open invitation to residents of the main town and surrounding communities.
This encounter is expected to be not only a display of vocal and instrumental talent but a celebration of local identity and institutional commitment to the arts. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure a seat for what promises to be a unique musical experience in the region.
Marisa Sardo: Virtuosity and feminist revolution
The contemporary classical guitar scene is undergoing a period of profound redefinition, driven by a generation of performers who possess not only impeccable technique but also a critical vision of identity, gender, and cultural management. At the epicenter of this transformation is Marisa Sardo, an Italian-American guitarist whose career, at age 28, already spans five continents and a catalog of international awards that place her as one of the most influential figures of her generation. Her approach, which she calls the "feminine sound," proposes a break from traditional execution canons, integrating physical ergonomics and interpretive sensitivity into an artistic proposal that seeks to heal and connect cultures through the strings.
Origins and formation: A multicultural identity
Marisa Sardo's story is one of cultural symbiosis. Born in the United States to Italian parents, she holds dual citizenship, allowing her to navigate fluidly between the musical scenes of Europe and America. This duality manifests in her ability to interpret European Romantic repertoire with the same depth as complex South American rhythms or avant-garde contemporary works.
Music was the native language in her home. Sardo began her classical guitar training at the age of four, and by age six, she was already performing before international audiences.
Academic excellence
Sardo’s training is a testament to her constant search for specialization across the world's most prestigious institutions:
-Northwestern University (2020): Bachelor of Music.
-Civica Scuola di Musica, Milan & Accademia Chigiana, Siena (2018): Specialized studies and Diploma di Merito.
-Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University (2022): Master of Music and Associate Instructor.
-New England Conservatory (2023): Performer Diploma.
-Royal Conservatory of Brussels (2024): Postgraduate studies with Raphaella Smits.
Teachers and pedagogy
Her interpretive quality results from a lineage of modern masters, including Eliot Fisk (technical ambition), Sergio Assad (rhythmic vision), and Raphaella Smits (dynamic subtlety).
The competition circuit: A meteoric rise
With over 20 international awards, Sardo has won both guitar-specific and general classical music competitions. Key victories include:
-First Prize: New York Laureate International Music Competition (2022).
-First Prize: Twisted Spruce International Music Competition (2021).
-First Prize: Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition (2019), leading to performances at the Concertgebouw and the Mozarteum.
The "Feminine Sound": aesthetics and activism
A pillar of her identity is the exploration of the "feminine sound"—a philosophy born from her struggle to find a voice in a gender-imbalanced environment. In 2021, she reinvented her technical approach, discovering that traditional technique is often based on male ergonomics. Her style prioritizes elegance and subtle dynamics over brute force. This crystallized in her project "The Reign of Her," which explores works exclusively composed by women.
Discography and entrepreneurship
-Beyond Reach (2023): Debut album under Frameworks Records.
-The Reign of Her (2025): An exploration of female composers like Amelkina-Vera and Clarice Assad.
-Sardo Art Management (2025): Founded to empower other artists through professional management, representing clients like the Texas Guitar Quartet.
Technical specifications
Sardo plays custom instruments built by respected luthiers, including a short-scale (610 mm) guitar by James Baur for better ergonomics, and instruments by Marshall Brune and Wilson Burnham. She uses Savarez Alliance strings and a Woodside support.
Critical recognition
Featured on the cover of MusiCurate Magazine in October 2025, critics unanimously praise her impeccable technique and sensitivity. Marisa Sardo is an architect of a new musical paradigm, transforming classical guitar through technical excellence and social mission.
Links:
-About Me - marisasardoclassicalguitarist - Jimdo, https://marisasardoclassicalguitarist.jimdofree.com/menu/bio/
-Daily Inspiration: Meet Marisa Sardo - Voyage LA Magazine | LA ..., https://voyagela.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-marisa-sardo/
-Twisted Spruce Guitar Festival Winners: Marisa Sardo and Thomas Aquino in concert - Instituto Cervantes, https://cultura.cervantes.es/chicago/en/Twisted-Spruce-Guitar-Festival-Winners:-Marisa-Sardo-y-Thomas-Aquino-en-concierto/152536
-Marisa Sardo | Robin's Nest Music, https://www.robinsnestmusic.org/our-instructors/marisa-sardo
-Marisa Sardo - imka classical music & dance competition and concert series, https://internetmusiccompetition.org/2022/07/11/marisa-sardo/
-Marisa Sardo Classical Guitar Concert (in Toronto, ON) - Eventbrite, https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/marisa-sardo-classical-guitar-concert-in-toronto-on-tickets-1981450492763
-The Ideal Guitar #124 Marisa Sardo | Men and women play differently, guitar technique tips, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAnaXO9C2_U
-Marisa Sardo - Stagetime, https://app.stagetime.com/artists/marisa-sardo
-Marisa Sardo | Festival Internacional de Guitarra - Cartagena de Indias, https://www.festiguitarras.com/artistas/marisa-sardo
-Newsletter 11-2021 – Composition Department - IU Blogs, https://blogs.iu.edu/jsomcomposition/newsletter-11-2021/
-Marisa - Guitar tutor in Chicago - 60$/h - Superprof, https://www.superprof.com/since-establishing-virtuosic-career-marisa-has-emerged-one-todays-exciting-concert-artists-she-teaches-english.html
-Marisa Sardo - marisasardoclassicalguitarist, https://marisasardoclassicalguitarist.jimdofree.com/
-Shop - marisasardoclassicalguitarist - Jimdo, https://marisasardoclassicalguitarist.jimdofree.com/menu/shop/
-The Reign of Her: An Exploration of the Feminine Sound, https://nempacboston.org/event/the-reign-of-her-an-exploration-of-the-feminine-sound/
-“Marisa Sardo en concierto” | Cultural Arequipa - Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano, https://cultural.edu.pe/eventos/%F0%9F%8E%B8-concierto-marisa-sardo-en-concierto/
-Marisa Sardo - Apple Music, https://music.apple.com/us/artist/marisa-sardo/1711804448
-Macunaíma by Clarice Assad | Marisa Sardo - YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCBv4JgH1b0
-Lessons - marisasardoclassicalguitarist - Jimdo, https://marisasardoclassicalguitarist.jimdofree.com/menu/lessons/
-Meet Marisa Sardo – CanvasRebel Magazine, https://canvasrebel.com/meet-marisa-sardo/
#MetroNewsMx #GuanajuatoDesconocido
