110th Anniversary of Isaac Nicola, Master of Cuban Guitar

April 11, 2026

April 11, 2026 marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of Isaac Nicola Romero, one of the most influential guitarists and pedagogues in Cuban musical history. Born in Havana on April 11, 1916, Nicola left an indelible mark on Cuban classical guitar as a performer, teacher, and champion of the instrument on the island.

He began studying guitar in 1931 under the guidance of his mother, Professor Clara Romero de Nicola, and graduated as a professor in 1934 at the Conservatorio Laura Rayneri, sponsored by Pro-Arte Musical. His diploma was among the first officially issued by Cuba's Ministry of Education in that specialty. He continued his training in Europe with masters Emilio Pujol and Andrés Segovia, two of the most important figures in classical guitar worldwide.

As a pedagogue, Isaac Nicola trained generations of top-level Cuban guitarists, including Leo Brouwer, who would go on to become one of the most celebrated composers and guitarists in the world. He passed away in Havana on July 14, 1997, at the age of 81, leaving a legacy that lives on in every string of the Cuban guitar.