10th Annual Texas Guitar Competition and Festival

Congratulations to the 10th Annual Guitar Competition Finalists

1st Place
Adam Kossler: North Carolina native Adam Kossler began his musical studies with his father at a very young age. Throughout high school, Adam performed and taught professionally in his hometown of Winston-Salem, and continued his musical studies by attending East Carolina University and earning a bachelor’s degree in classical guitar performance. In his time at ECU, Adam taught professionally and performed regularly with many local, regional and national bands, including The Shakedown, Mac and Juice and The Carolina Beach Club. Upon finishing his degree, Adam received his master’s degree in classical guitar performance at Appalachian State University, where he held a teaching assistantship and taught classes at the University. In 2008, he won first prize in the Music Academy of North Carolina International Guitar Competition and second prize in the Appalachian State Guitar Competition. This is not Adam’s first time at the Texas Guitar Competition and Festival—he won fourth prize in 2007 and second prize in 2010. Adam is currently pursuing a doctorate in guitar performance at Florida State University and teaches privately and professionally in Tallahassee.

2nd Place
Janet Grohovac: Janet Grohovac began her music studies at the age of 5 in Victoria, British Columbia. Following extensive training in piano, musicianship and theory, she began guitar lessons at the age of 15. Shortly after enrolling at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Janet played her first guitar competition at age 16, winning top prize in the youth division of the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival. In 2007, Janet graduated from the University of Victoria, obtaining a Bachelor of Music degree with distinction, studying under Dr. Alexander Dunn. In May 2009, Janet received her Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied with Adam Holzman. Janet enjoys attending music festivals throughout North America and has played in master-classes for world-renowned artists such as Pepe Romero, Roland Dyens, Scott Tennant and Eliot Fisk. She has performed with the Austin Classical Guitar Society, at the Northwest Guitar Festival and Victoria Conservatory Summer Music Academy. Most recently, Janet received first prize in the 2009 Northwest Guitar Competition and was a finalist in the Classical Minds Guitar Competition 2010. Janet is now pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts at UT Austin, where she enjoys playing, studying, performing and teaching. Chad

3rd Place
Chad Ibison: Chad Ibison was born in Houston, Texas in 1974. He has a BM from The University of Texas. He has studied under Valorie Hartzell, Andrew Zohn and Adam Holzman. Chad won first place at the Texas A&M Guitar Symposium and Competition in 2010 and the Columbus State University Guitar Symposium and Competition in 2009. In 2007, he was a semi-finalist at the Guitar Foundation of America Competition. Chad has performed in the Austin Classical Guitar Society Cactus Series and in the Fort Worth Guitar Guild Library Recital Series.

4th Place
Andrew Rohwedder: Andrew Rohwedder is currently pursuing a guitar performance degree from the Herberger College of Arts from Arizona State University, studying under Frank Koonce. One of the youngest competitive performers across the nation, Andrew has been playing guitar for over nine years. He has played at several national competitions, including the Youth Guitar Foundation of America and the Sierra Nevada Competition, where he earned a semifinalist position. When not focusing on school and competitions, Andrew frequently spends time writing compositions and performing across the Phoenix area. Andrew has performed in several concerts at the Katzin Concert Hall and Organ Hall at ASU, as well as numerous events at local establishments. He also gives lessons in most styles of guitar, including classical and electric, to aspiring musicians.