Laura L. Mazon Franqui

Laura Mazon Franqui is one of the leading Cuban and Latin American classical guitarists of her generation. Praised as “An accomplished guitarist of Hispanic Latino descent” (Digital Journal), “A fine player from whom great things can be expected” (Albert Kunze, Soundboard Magazine), an “Evocative and passionate classical guitarist who draws the audience into her performances with engaging musical interpretations” (Federico Musgrove, Florida Guitar Foundation Executive Director / Guitar Foundation of America Director or Regional Symposia), and a performer who “Plays the guitar with majesty and sensitivity to color and nuance” (Adam Levin, XXI Century music specialist, guitar virtuoso), Laura is a Cuban born Internationally awarded guitarist determined to explore the guitar possibilities into the contemporary context, by offering a unique musical perspective of the guitar, infused by the rich cultural heritage of her Cuban roots, the best of the classical traditions, and the contemporary trends and influences of the 21st Century.

Recently endorsed by Augustine Strings, Laura was also awarded the Guitar Salon International award, and a merit scholarship to begin her Doctoral Studies in Classical Guitar at USCThorton, under the guidance of guitar virtuoso Scott Tennant, starting in Fall 2021.

Laura enjoys an active performing career that started since age 10 and has taken her artistry to  hundreds of venues around the world; such as: Mid-Manhattan Library, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela’s Auditorium, the Guild of Boston Artists, Gusman Concert Hall, Victor E. Clarke Recital Hall, Vanderbilt Theater, Capilla de los Reyes,  Teatro Auditorium Amadeo Roldan, Teatro Nacional de Cuba, Basilica Menor del Convento San Francisco de Asis, ArtistTree Community Arts Center, Perez Art Museum, Koubeck Center, among others, in countries like Cuba, Spain, Ecuador, Portugal and the United States.

She has also engaged in multiple recording collaborations for the music industry as well as television and cinema (Autorretrato con Arbol, International Festival of Latin-American Cinema), and participated at numerous festivals and competitions (Rhode Island International Festival, New Orleans International Guitar Festival, Musica en Compostela, Musicalia Festival, Havana International Guitar Festival, Havana International Chamber Music Festival, Havana Contemporary Music Festival, Rising Stars Competition, Florida Guitar Foundation Competition, and Issac Nicola National Competition), and has participated in masterclasses with renown guitarists such as Leo Brower, Ana Vidovic, Manuel Barrueco, Adam Levin, Meng Su, Victor Pellegrini, Martha Masters, and Victor Rodriguez.

Committed to take the instrument to a higher level of reception and discover new audiences, Laura is a Spotify Artist whose music can be found in the platform as well as in iTunes and other streaming platforms all over the world. As a recording artist, her musical interests move towards raising awareness about the Cuban and Latin-American repertoire, the music of Women Composers, the Contemporary Music for Guitar (which includes recording collaborations with Grammy winning composers such as Claudia Montero and Yalil Guerra), and innovative partnerships with electronic music creators and musicians from diverse tendencies and styles as well.

Consecrated to the study and expansion of the guitar in the 21st Century while remaining true to her Hispanic roots, Laura also enjoys supporting the development of the classical guitar in Cuba and Latin America by engaging in numerous artistic projects. As part of this quest, she recently signed as a recording artist and ambassador for Caoba Records, an Independent record label that promotes the classical guitar music in Latin America.

Laura envisions music performance as part of a holistic Art expression. Committed to innovation and the latest contemporary trends, she has grown a relevant presence on social media, where she shares her guitar insights and journey with more than 15k followers in the hopes of connecting, inspiring, and broadening the guitar appreciation in the new generation across the globe. As a Music Influencer she has worked with brands such as Soundbrenner, Tomplay, and The Soundfile; and engaged in meaningful collaborations with other musicians around the globe.

Laura is also a Hispanic Scholar (Hispanic Scholarship Foundation), a Florida Guitar Foundation and Guitar Foundation of America member, as well as a member of the American Musicological Society. She has served as Head of Guitar Jury at the National Federation of Music Teachers guitar Competition in Miami, having taught for several years at the University of Miami Frost Preparatory Program, and regularly gives lectures, workshops, and masterclasses at renowned institutions, non-profits, and guitar programs in the United States and Latin America.

As a performer, recording artist, and teaching artist, Laura Mazon envisions Innovation and Art integration as the words that drive her mission.