Ioanna Kazoglou – A Rising Classical Guitarist from Weimar
Weimar-based guitarist Ioanna Kazoglou has achieved remarkable success at the completion of her bachelor studies, earning top prizes at international competitions across Europe and the Caribbean. Most recently, she won the First Prize at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra in Málaga, Spain, receiving 5,000 euros and five concert engagements.
Competition Achievements and Artistic Maturity
In the final round, Ioanna performed works by Vicente Asencio, Leo Brouwer and Joaquín Rodrigo, impressing the jury with her refined tone and expressive control. Competing against more than twenty participants from ten countries, she secured the top position.
“The experience in Málaga was deeply emotional for me,” says Ioanna Kazoglou. “I didn’t expect to win first prize. When my name was announced, I was overwhelmed. I chose to enter the competition shortly after my grandfather passed away – this award is my gift to him.”
Studies and Musical Training
Just months earlier, Ioanna, a student of Professor Ricardo Gallén at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar, won the First Prize at the 38th Athens International Guitar Festival in Greece and the Second Prize at the Festival Mundial de la Guitarra in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
After completing her bachelor’s final recital in June 2025, she will begin her master’s studies in October 2025 at the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf with Professor Joaquín Clerch, who was also a student of her current teacher, Ricardo Gallén.
Background and International Career
Born in Greece in 2003, Ioanna received her first guitar diploma at the age of fifteen in Thessaloniki. In 2023, she made her debut in South Korea, becoming the first classical guitarist to perform in several of the country’s major concert venues.
Her international career has brought her to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Chile (Santiago, Viña del Mar), Puerto Rico (San Juan) and many European countries, including Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, Norway, Belgium, Slovenia and Greece. She has appeared at major festivals such as Arroyo de la Luz in Spain, where she also taught masterclasses, and the Patras Guitar Festival in Greece.
Artistic Profile and Recognition
Ioanna Kazoglou is a Knobloch Strings Artist and has been invited to record for renowned platforms such as Siccas Guitars and Altamira Guitars. Her performances are admired for their depth of tone, clarity and emotional presence – qualities that establish her as one of Europe’s most promising young guitarists.
