Baltazar Benitez

Uruguayan Classical Guitarist

Uruguayan guitarist, born in Durazno, 1944. Baltazar Benítez began guitar studies at age 12 with Pedro Machin and later worked with Abel Carlevaro at the National Conservatory of Montevideo. In 1968 he was chosen by the Uruguayan Jeunesses Musicales to tour his nation, and he was since been honored by many of his country's most important musical awards. In 1970, he received a grant from the Spanish Cultural Institute to study in Santiago De Compostela, Spain, with José Tomás, teaching assistant to Andrés Segovia; in 1971, Mr. Benítez won First Prize at the annual international guitar competition held there. Since 1972, he has taught at the Brabant Conservatory in Tilburg, Holland.