Lazara Diaz

Classical guitarist and pedagogue Lazara Luisa Diaz was born in Havana, Cuba in 1973. A graduate of the Universidad de las Artes in Cuba, Ms. Diaz was awarded the first place in  the entrance exam of that institution in 1992. Presently,  a United States citizen, she is the first Cuban American guitarist to be awarded in the 2022 Redi Marku International Guitar Competition based in Albania. With her Duo Bona Fide has won silver medal in the Global Music Awards 2024 in Rosenberg, Texas, United States, platinum medal in The Global International Music Competition 2024 organized by Concours de Musique et des Beaux Arts, Canada and the second prize in Charleston International Music Competition 2024 in South Carolina, United States. Previously, she received the first prize distinction and best Cuban Music Performance award in the Amadeo Roldan Guitar Competition of Havana,  in 1987. Additionally, Ms. Diaz won a special award in the National Guitar Competition of Cuba in 1989.

Ms. Diaz obtained her Bachelor 's Degree of Music in classical guitar, awarded by Universidad de las Artes, Havana in 2013. Additionally, she completed a Postgraduate course of  La Ergonomía de la Guitarra, instructed by Dr. Martin Pedreira, in Havana in 2012. Former professors of Ms. Díaz include: Jorge Luis Triana, Alejandro Coira, Roberto Kesser and Esteban Campusano. She has also participated in the master classes of Leo Brouwer, Eli Kassner, Victor Pelegrini, Antonio Rodriguez, John Williams, Steve Goss, Luigi Attademo in addition to other renowned guitarists.

Ms. Diaz performs and tours with the classical guitar Duo Bona Fide alongside her husband Carlos Vazquez. Duo Bona Fide has performed in live performances and national radio throughout Cuba, and throughout the United States, including live concerts transmitted via local radio stations in  Milwaukee Wisconsin. Duo Bona Fide’s first album Doce Cuerdas, was produced by the eight time Latin Grammy nominated and Grammy award winner, composer, and producer Yalil Guerra. Ms. Diaz also participated in the Leo Brouwer Complete Guitar Works  EGREM recording: Vol VII, Ensemble of Guitar Paisaje Cubano con Rumba under the direction of Jose A Perez Puentes.

Ms. Diaz has been a supporting member artist of the Board of Commissioners of Union City, New Jersey since 2013. She has performed as a soloist and with her Bona Fide Duo at the William Musto Cultural Center of Union City, New Jersey. Ms. Díaz obtained a Masters in Music in Classical Guitar Performance from New Jersey City University. From 2021 to 2023 she has also performed as part of the New Jersey City University alumni association including events during Hispanic Heritage Month in 2022 at New Jersey City University and the Public Library of Jersey City Earl Morgan Branch in 2023.

Ms. Diaz has  performed in various seminars at New Jersey City University, participated in two international competitions in Albania, performed in Concert Night and in master classes at the 2023 New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes School of Music. She performed at the Guitar Society of Upstate New York as well as in a master class for her former professor Dr. Celil Refik Kaya at Anselmo Academy of Music, New York.

In May 2024 she performed with Duo Bona Fide at the Classical Guitar Society in New York and at the Andrew York Festival in New Jersey City University. In June 2024 with her duo performed for the Brooklyn Guitar society and in a full sold out concert at the Cuban Cultural Center of New York, also performed in the New York Guitar Seminar at the Hunter College of Music. With Bona Fide duo she has concluded a series of concerts for the community of Union City, New Jersey in 2024. The duo performed in a private event in the context of The Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, LACO 2024.

From 1993-2013 Ms. Diaz worked as a full-time guitar professor at the Alejandro Garcia Caturla Conservatorium of Music in Cuba. As an educator she recruited  talented students for academic insertion into the National School of Art (E.N.A) in Havana during the years 1997– 2013. During this time she served as the assistant director of the Havana Guitar Ensemble and the Cuban Youth Guitar Orchestra. Ms. Díaz was a member of the first guitar ensemble of Havana from 1988-1991. Between the years 2013-2020 she taught guitar, piano and voice at Paganini Institute of Music and at the Multi-Art Academy, Newark, New Jersey.  A former tutor at New Jersey City University, New Jersey from 2021-2023 and substitute teacher at the Board of Education of Union City, New Jersey from 2019-2021, her profile as a professor includes classical guitar, piano , Music Theory, Solfege, Guitar Ensemble and Choir Director. Since 2019, she is a music professor at Outschool International Program, California and a private guitar tutor in Superprof, US.

In 2022, Lázara Luisa Díaz and Carlos Vazquez founded the Bona Fide Music Studio in Newark, New Jersey.

Lázara Luisa Díaz and Carlos Vazquez are presently preparing their second album as the Dúo Bona Fide.  .

Ms. Diaz completed her Master's degree in 2023 under the guidance of Dr. Celil Kaya and was the recipient two talent competitions awards from New Jersey City University.