Berta Rojas has been praised as a “guitarist extraordinaire” by The Washington Post and “ambassador of the classical guitar” by Classical Guitar Magazine. She is widely recognized as one of the most influential guitarists of her generation, with a career marked by artistic excellence, cultural advocacy, and international acclaim.
In 2022, Berta received a Latin Grammy for her album ‘Legado’ in the category of Best Classical Album. The same album earned a second Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Anido’s Portrait, composed by Sergio Assad. She had previously been nominated for a Latin Grammy on three occasions: for History of Tango (2015) in the category of Best Tango Album, recorded with Camerata Bariloche; Salsa Roja (2014) for Best Classical Album; and Día y Medio – A Day and a Half, her duo with Paquito D’Rivera (2012), in the category of Best Instrumental Album.
Her expressive performances have captivated audiences at venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Centre’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, 92Y in New York, London’s South Bank Centre and Shakespeare’s Globe (as guest of John Williams), the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C., and Flagey Studio 4 in Brussels with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra.
From 2011 to 2015, Berta toured twenty countries across Latin America and the Caribbean
with Paquito D’Rivera in the project In the Footsteps of Mangoré, honouring the life and legacy of Paraguayan composer Agustín Barrios. The tour concluded at the National Theatre in El Salvador, Barrios’s final resting place.
In addition to her performing career, Berta serves as Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, where she mentors a new generation of guitarists from around the world. She is also deeply committed to promoting Latin American music and supporting young artists through educational and cultural initiatives such as the Barrios WorldWideWeb Competition, Ensemble Pu Rory, Instrumentoteca, and Jeporeka.
Berta has received numerous honours for her contributions to the arts, including the title of Illustrious Ambassador of Musical Arts from the Paraguayan Senate, multiple honorary doctorates, and Paraguay’s National Order of Merit in the Grade of “Grand Cross,” the country’s highest recognition.
It was a rare chance that on a visit to Paraguay a BCGS member should unexpectedly find himself chatting to Rojas’ ex-press officer, and that back home, an afternoon of phone calls to UK guitar societies led to Chris Gilbert and Tony Lewis of the BCGS jumping at the opportunity to host one of the world’s most talented guitarists. A solid friendship has ensued, and we continue to delight in each of Berta’s visits to the UK and her continued patronage of our Society.