Born in Managua, Nicaragua Isaac Bustos began playing popular Latin-American music on the guitar by ear at age 11. By age 12, he was accepted into the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica in Managua where he received top honors in guitar performance. Isaac immigrated to the United States with his family in 1988 and continued his studies with Juan Mercadal, Carlos Molina and Rene Gonzalez. An extensive performance career has taken Bustos to Canada, Central America, Europe and all over the US. He has gained
critical acclaim and is quickly becoming recognized as one of the top young guitarists of his generation. “Soulful and virtually flawless,†hails the Portland Oregonian and the Boston Globe writes, “In warm, round tones, the notes of Bach cascaded from the guitar, every note correct and played without hesitation.†He has made several Radio and Television appearances and has been invited to perform in the Portland Guitar Festival, the St. Joseph Guitar Festival, the Eastfield College Guitar Festival, Texas Guitar Festival, and the Classical Minds Festival. Isaac has appeared as soloist with the Orchestra of New Spain, The Baytown Symphony Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro JoAnn Falletta.
An impressive array of top prizes include: First Prize – 2006 Miami International Guitar Competition, Miami, FL; First Prize – 2005 Texas International Guitar Competition, Dallas, TX; First Prize – 2004 Lachine International Guitar Competition, Lachine, QC, Canada; First Prize – 2004 St. Joseph International Solo Guitar Competition, St. Joseph, MO; First Prize – 2004 Portland Solo Guitar Competition, Portland, OR; First Prize – 2004 East Carolina University Solo Guitar Competition, Greenville, NC; First Prize – 2002 University of New Hampshire Concerto Competition, Durham, NH; Top Prize – 2003 Appalachian State University Solo Guitar Competition, Boone, NC; Top Prize – Second International JoAnn Falletta Concerto Competition, Buffalo, NY; Top Prize – 2006 Columbus State University Solo Guitar Competition, Columbus, GA; Top Prize – 2007 Southwest International Guitar Competition, San Antonio, TX; Top Prize – 2008 IX Concurso Internacional Guitarras Alhambra, Valencia, Spain; Semifinalist – 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005 Guitar Foundation of America International Solo Guitar competitions.
In addition to guitar study, Bustos has performed in several premieres. Most recently works by composers Peter Askim for solo guitar, Andrew Dickinson for four guitars, a work for two guitars and electronic sound effects by Jeremy Cumbo and “After Sylvius†a solo guitar work written for him by composer/guitarist Frank Wallace.
Isaac has participated in Masterclasses of international world-renowned performing artists such as Manuel Barrueco, David Russell, Paul Galbraith, Fabio Zanon, Ricardo Iznaola, Odair Assad, Elliot Fisk, Jason Vieaux and Pepe Romero. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in guitar performance from the University of New Hampshire, where he was the only guitarist to ever hold a full scholarship, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin where he is also currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree under the tutelage of world-renowned American guitarist Adam Holzman. Isaac is currently on faculty at Texas A&M University Department of Performance Studies.
