Guitar Day

Maya Lončar

Maya Lončar is a competition-winning Croatian-American guitarist who has been revered for her “virtuosic technique,” “capacity for fiery sensitivity” and “deep artistic control.” She began her studies at the age of six with her father and has since been invited as a guest artist for multiple concerts and festivals throughout Europe and America. She has performed as a guitarist and a violinist in a multitude of prestigious venues, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Music Center at Strathmore, the National Institute of Health and the Croatian Embassy.

Under her belt are also a variety of top prizes and awards including first place at the Appalachian State Guitar Festival Competition and the Southern Guitar Festival Competition. She is also a published musical artist through Doberman Musique and her debut album, “Danse Rythmique,” is available on all streaming platforms. Lončar completed her Doctor of Musical Arts at the prestigious Eastman School of Music with Nicholas Goluses in Rochester, New York, where she was awarded the Performance Certificate in recognition for demonstrating outstanding performance ability.

Now, Lončar is an active teacher and advocate of music in her community of Loudoun County, Virginia. She teaches guitar and orchestra at Riverside High School, and is a board member of Aguado Guitar Concerts, a charity organization dedicated to enriching the Loudoun community through classical guitar performances and educational events.

Candice Mowbray

Candice Mowbray is an internationally recognized guitarist, scholar and recording artist. Appearing as a soloist, collaborative musician and guest lecturer, she has been a featured artist for numerous series such as the Guitar Foundation of America International Convention, International Guitar Competition Ida Presti, Boulanger Initiative, Peabody Fretfest and John E. Marlow Guitar Series. She has performed classical, electric and steel-string guitar with ensembles such as Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Wolf Trap Opera, Satori and Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington. Her CD, “Reverie,” has been featured on radio shows such as “In Tune” (BBC Radio 3) and “G-Strings” with Tom Cole (Washington, D.C.), and Blair Jackson of Classical Guitar Magazine called the release “A revelation!” and named it among the Top 10 CD releases of the year. In 2020, she was honored with the Independent Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council for her career achievements.

Mowbray is an active music researcher, widely recognized for her scholarship and advocacy for women in the history of the guitar. She has been featured on numerous podcasts, including “Classical Guitar Heroines,” and her writings have appeared in Soundboard, the journal of the Guitar Foundation of America. After dedicating years of research and writing to “Legado,” a remarkable recording project by world-renowned guitarist Berta Rojas, it was a deeply special moment to witness the album win two Latin GRAMMY Awards, including Best Classical Album.

An advocate for wellness among musicians and artists, Mowbray has studied Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction with Mindfulness Sussex and holistic approaches to instrumental music performance with Musicians Wellness of North America and The Till Approach. She is currently pursuing the pedagogy certificate with The Till Approach and offers A Musicians’ Meditation, a 30-minute online monthly guided meditation created especially for musicians.

Mowbray earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in classical guitar performance from Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia. She has held teaching appointments with Shenandoah Conservatory, Shepherd University and Hagerstown and Frederick Community Colleges. She also works with nonprofit organizations in areas of grant writing and reviewing, development, communications and education.