ALEIA GONZALEZ

Classical guitarist Aleia Gonzalez was born in Paraguay and started her guitar studies at the age of 8. Aleia proceeded her music studies at the conservatory Clave de Sol in Asuncion, where she graduated with the diploma of Classical Guitar Instructor. Aleia holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Catholic University Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Paraguay, and a Master of Music degree in classical guitar performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she studied with Dr. Bráulio Bosi.

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Aleia is a recipient of several prizes and awards. In 2021, Aleia had the opportunity to record videos for the Guitar Salon International in Santa Monica, California. Aleia also received a grant through the UMKC Women’s Council in 2019 for her participation and collaboration at the Cortona Sessions for New Music in Cortona, Italy. In 2016, Aleia was selected to be part of the Pu Rory ensemble, a twenty-five-guitar ensemble that performed in Paraguay under the direction and coaching of Paraguayan classical guitarist Berta Rojas. Aleia has also participated at the Momento Musical international competition in Paraguay in two occasions, where she placed second in the solo guitar category in 2011 and received an honorable mention in the chamber music category in 2010.

Throughout her career, Aleia has participated in several masterclasses with renowned guitarists including Leo Brouwer, Berta Rojas, Siqueira-Lima guitar duo, and Brad DeRoche. As an active performer of the Kansas City metropolitan area, Aleia is constantly collaborating with singers, instrumentalists, and ensembles of the region. Some of Aleia’s recent collaborations include a program with the Kansas City Chorale, a duo program with Dr. Alejandro Avila presenting music from South America, and a chamber music program with Jopara Ensemble, an instrumental group that performs arrangements of Paraguayan classical and folk repertoire.

Internationally, Aleia has performed at the Vocal Academy of Opera in Bodrum, Turkey as part of the orchestra in the production of Carmen. In Italy, Aleia premiered two chamber music pieces at the 2019 Cortona Sessions for New Music, a contemporary music festival. Locally, she has been featured at the Ruel Joyce Recital Series, the Kansas Paraguay Partners annual meeting, the Benny C. Morgan Concert Series, and several concerts at different universities in the Midwest region.

Aleia is a board member of the Kansas City Guitar Society since 2020 serving as Treasurer and Membership Chair and she enjoys performing for their Casual Concert Series each season. In 2023, Aleia has joined the Salt Creek Song Festival as a board member and Treasurer; Salt Creek is an art song festival held in Ashland, Nebraska each Spring, where she performs with singers and instrumentalists of the Midwest region.

Currently, education plays an essential role in Aleia’s musical life. Based in Great Bend, Kansas, Aleia is serving as the guitar Instructor at Barton Community College and Kansas Wesleyan University. Previously, she taught at Washburn University in Topeka, Rockhurst University in Kansas City, and MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe. In her free time, Aleia likes cooking, shopping, and just being outdoors enjoying the sunshine.