Jeff LaQuatra

Biography

A 2022 recipient of Colorado State University’s Excellence in Teaching Award, Jeff LaQuatra has been described as “a guitarist of enormous talent, both musically and technically.” (Classical Guitar Magazine) In 1996, Jeff was awarded first prize in the Oswald Rantucci Guitar Competition in Buffalo, New York. He has also won top prize in competitions sponsored by The Fortnightly Music Club of Cleveland and The Three Arts Club of Lakewood (Ohio).

An in-demand chamber musician, Jeff has performed as a member of Denver’s Mountain Chamber Music Society and has appeared with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and Colorado’s Central City Opera. Jeff maintains a busy concert schedule as a member of Quatra Duo with flutist Michelle Stanley. Released in 2020, their debut recording Painted Music was released on Parma records and includes works by Osvaldo Golijov, Phillip Houghton, and world-premiere recordings of commissioned pieces by Bryan Johanson and James McGuire. Gramophone Magazine stated, “The performances throughout are immaculate. LaQuatra and Stanley are first-rate players individually but have great ensemble and mutual understanding – A rewarding listen.” In 2019, Quatra Duo completed a six-concert tour of China.

Jeff’s debut solo recording entitled Twilight: Guitar Music at the End of the Century was released by Iznaola Guitar Works and includes world-premiere recordings of works by Ricardo Iznaola, James McGuire and Štěpán Rak. In a review of Twilight, Classical Guitar Magazine’s Steve Marsh stated, “his technical abilities [are] strong enough for him to control every nuance and phrase to perfection. This is a first-class debut album and a name to watch out for.” In 2014, Twilight was included in Enrique Robichaud’s publication, Guitar’s Top 100 – A Guide to Classical Guitar’s Most Recorded Music.

Jeff has earned degrees from The Cleveland Institute of Music (B.M.) and The University of Denver (M.M.) where he served as a graduate teaching assistant. His primary teachers were Mary Lou Roberts, John Holmquist and Ricardo Iznaola.

Jeff resides in Fort Collins, Colorado and directs the guitar program at Colorado State University where he teaches applied music, chamber music, guitar classes for music therapy majors, and history of rock and roll.