Remembering Roberto Aussel (1954–2026)

The guitar world mourns the passing of Roberto Aussel, an extraordinary Argentinian musician and educator who passed away last week.

A former student of Jorge Martinez Zarate, Aussel rose to international prominence after winning top prizes at the Radio France and Alirio Diaz competitions. His illustrious career took him to the world's most prestigious stages and included a dedicated tenure as a professor at the Musikhochschule in Cologne from 1995 to 2021.

Aussel was a vital champion of 20th-century music. In 1981, Astor Piazzolla famously wrote his first works for the instrument, Five Pieces for Guitar, specifically for Aussel. Beyond his performances and recordings, such as his 2019 release Tangos y Milongas, he served the community as a curator for Editions Henry Lemoine and l’empreinte mélodique.

We were deeply honored to have featured in the past one of Aussel's significant instruments: a 1988 Daniel Friederich, which served as his primary guitar from 1988 to 1994.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, students, and colleagues.