About Sonia

Sonia Hernández is a classical guitarist known for her ability to connect with audiences, her beautiful sound and her expressiveness. She is considered one of the best Peruvian classical guitarists today. She is currently playing Latin American music, in particular the music of Peru.

Sonia Hernández began her musical education at the age of 6 under the supervision of her parents, and learned to play several instruments at an early age, including piano, violin, cello and viola, as well as guitar. She studied classical guitar at the National Superior Conservatory of Music of Lima, Peru, where she won First Prize Honors. In 1992, she continued her studies in classical guitar at the Royal Superior Conservatory of Music of Madrid, where she also won First Prize Honors. At the same time she studied viola at the Conservatory of Music Teresa Berganza. In 2000, Sonia moved to New York to complete her musical education at Mannes College of Music, where she earned her Masters Degree in classical guitar under Michael Newman.

Sonia has also received master classes at prestigious guitar festivals from the world’s foremost guitarists, including David Russell, Pepe Romero, Eduardo Fernández, Manuel Barrueco, Elliot Fisk, Sharon Isbin, Carlos Barbosa Lima, Carlo Domeniconi and Alvaro Pierri. She has also been awarded scholarships by the Municipality of Madrid, Mannes College of Music and the New York Foundation for the Arts, among others.

Among her most important performances, Sonia gave a solo recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in 2004. Also in New York, she performed at Merkin Hall, New School University’s Tishman Auditorium, Columbia University, Rutgers University and Americas Society. In Spain, she performed at the American Museum of Madrid, Casa de America, Madrid, and at the Ateneo of Barcelona, as well as giving concerts in Peru, Canada and Austria.

She also gave concerts and master classes in prestigious guitar festivals such as the 10th New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes College of Music, the XVII International Guitar Festival, Peruvian-North American Cultural Institute (ICPNA), Lima, Peru, and master classes in the Superior Conservatory of Music of Lima and the José María Arguedas National Superior School of Folk Music and Dance in Lima, Peru.

She currently lives in Vienna, Austria.