Igor Klokov and Hao Yang Receive the 2026-2027 GSI Foundation Classical Guitar Scholarship!
We are happy to announce the newest recipients of the GSI Foundation Classical Guitar Scholarship at the USC Thornton School of Music - Igor Klokov and Hao Yang.
Russian classical guitarist Igor Klokov was born in the city of Yelets, southeast of Moscow, and began playing guitar at the age of fifteen. He completed his bachelor's degree with Professor Vladislav Blaha at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno, then went on to finish his studies with the highest distinction under Professor Hubert Käppel at the Hochschule für Musik Mainz, earning both his Master's degree and Konzertexamen. Igor has won more than twenty international competitions, including first prize at the Koblenz International Guitar Competition and the Guitar Art Festival and Competition in Belgrade, and was recognized for his interpretation of Bach at the Iserlohn Guitar Festival and Competition. He is regularly invited as a performing artist, pedagogue, and jury member at festivals around the world, and released his debut album, "Hommage," featuring works by Bach, Giuliani, and Rodrigo.
Chinese classical guitarist Hao Yang has been praised as a "technical wizard" for performances full of color and character. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music and a Master of Music from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, and most recently pursued an Artist Diploma at the Yale School of Music. Hao is the First Prize winner of the 2024 Koblenz International Guitar Competition "Hubert Käppel" and the second prize winner of the 2024 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, with additional top prizes at the Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition and the Andrés Segovia International Guitar Competition. She has appeared as a soloist with the Chusachsische Philharmonie in Germany and performed in venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center, and Miller Theatre, and made her Carnegie Hall debut premiering Paul Lansky's "Talking Guitars" alongside fellow guitarist JIJI.
We hope that the GSI Foundation scholarship will help Igor and Hao with the costs of their classical guitar education, as it did in previous years for our scholars in the past: Mei Yin Steadman, Juri Yun, Ashley Lucero, Mircea Gogoncea, Tomasz Fechner, Laura Mazon Franqui, Grygorii Koval, Robert Wang, Pietro Ruscigno, and Eduard Hrmushyan. We'd like to thank countless donors who helped us by donating their guitars or cash to help raise funds for this and other purposes. If you'd like to learn how to help, please visit the GSI Foundation section of our website.
We are looking forward to supporting Hao and Igor this year, and to recording these artists in our showroom.
Support us in our mission
The work of the GSI Foundation is made possible only through the generous support of individuals who have contributed over the years. If you'd like to join in helping future musicians, here's how:
Many people have guitars at home that are no longer in use. The GSI Foundation provides an easy way to give these instruments a second life, supporting music education and raising funds for our programs. If you have a guitar you'd like to donate, we'll help you pack and ship it and cover all expenses. You'll also receive a tax-deductible donation letter.
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