''Alfonso Aguirre Dergal performed one of the most brilliant graduation recitals in my twenty two years of teaching at Yale'' Benjamin Verdery. Degree Recital Report. Yale School of Music. April 11, 2008.

Alfonso Aguirre-Dergal, Classical Guitarist.

          Still in his twenties, Mexican guitarist Alfonso Aguirre-Dergal has been described as “a consummate and captivating performer with an astonishing technique” and “one of the most gifted guitarist of his generation”. He holds a Bachelors degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Masters of Music degree from Yale University. While at Eastman he was also awarded the coveted Performer’s Certificate granted to students who "demonstrate outstanding performing ability".

            Alfonso has been awarded top prizes in over a half-dozen prestigious competitions in the United States and Mexico including First Prize in the 2006 Appalachian Guitar Competition, First Prize in the 2001 Paracho Classical Guitar Competition, and the Prize for the best interpretation of the music of composer Simone Ianarelli in the 2006 Taxco International Guitar Festival & Competition. In addition he has been a recipient of numerous awards including the honorary 2007  Premio Pedro Sarquis Merrewe (Mexico), the  Howard Hanson Scholarship from the Eastman School of Music, and the George W. Miles (full tuition) scholarship from Yale University.

            Alfonso has been a soloist with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco performing Manuel M. Ponce's Concierto del Sur, and with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra with  whom he toured the United States  performing the guitar concertos by Enrique Santos and Blas Galindo. With this orchestra he also made the world premiere recording of Enrique Santos' Guitar Concerto in collaboration with conductor Robert A. Boudreau.

            As a solo recitalist he has performed internationally in concert halls that include Sprague Hall (CT), 92^nd Street Y (NY), Howard Hanson Hall (NY), Broyhill Music Center (NC), Sala de Cámara del Teatro Degollado (Guadalajara, México), Sala Manuel M. Ponce del Palacio de Bellas Artes (México D.F.), Universidad Michoacana de Bellas Artes (Morelia, México), Sala Higinio Rubalcaba (Guadalajara, México), Teatro Jaime Torres Bodet (Guadalajara, México), and the Centro para el Desarrollo y la Investigación de la Guitarra (CIDEG) (Paracho, México).

           Alfonso is the youngest artist to have his biography appear in the book La Guitarra Classica en Guadalajara published by the Cultural Promotion Department of Jalisco, Mexico, and he was invited to perform on an educational DVD for WW. Norton & Company.

            His primary teachers include David Mozqueda, Nicholas Goluses, and Benjamin Verdery. While at Eastman he also attended a class on Baroque Performance Practices given by renowned lutenist Paul O’Dette. In addition, he has been a performer in master classes with Manuel Barrueco, Leo Brouwer, Eliot Fisk, Odair Assad, David Tenenbaum, Adam Holzman, Ricardo Cobo, Eduardo Fernandez, Roberto Aussel, Ivan Rijos, Raphaella Smits, Maria Esther Guzmán, and the members of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

             Alfonso is currently a full-time faculty member at the Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas School of Music where he is also chair of the Guitar Department.