The Helios Guitar Quartet takes a new look at the potential for this now well-established instrumental ensemble. Grand Prize winners at the 2010 Pacific Guitar Competition, all four members are current or former students of William Kanengiser, founding member of the Los Angeles Guitar Guitar Quartet. The Helios Guitar Quartet extends the range of the ensemble by including two unusual guitars: one, a seven string guitar allowing for extremely low bass notes, and also a soprano guitar, restrung so as to give notes in a much higher register than guitars are usually capable of. This expanded range of pitch allows the Helios Guitar Quartet to embark on their current project, a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental work “The Well-Tempered Clavier”, originally for keyboard, but here arranged for Helios by quartet member Michael Kudirka. The ensemble is preparing this work for several concerts commemorating Bach’s 325th birthday in the coming year (March 31st, 1685 - March 31st, 2010).

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Albert Diaz, Adam Pettit, Jack Cimo, and Michael Kudirka

Michael Kudirka is a member of the current generation of performers who specialize in both Early Music and Contemporary Music. He has toured extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Japan. Michael has been awarded the first prize in several guitar competitions including the American String Teachers Association (1999), the Portland Guitar Festival (2000), and the USC Concerto Competition (2003). He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Southern California while working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Classical Guitar Department.

Jack Cimo is known for his powerful presence, beautiful tone, and lyrical interpretations. In 2003 he received first prize in the Harper College competition and in 2009, he won second prize in the California ASTA competition. He is currently in the studio of Grammy Award-winning musician William Kanengiser at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music for completion of a Bachelor of Music in classical guitar performance.

Albert Diaz is a twenty-one year old classical guitarist presently living in Los Angeles, California.  In addition to performing with the Helios Guitar Quartet, Mr. Diaz's solo accomplishments as a finalist and top prizewinner in a variety of competitions include the Northwest Guitar Festival (2008), the ASTA/Aaron Green Classical Guitar Competition (2007, 2008) and the WIAA/WMEA State Solo and Ensemble Contest (2003, 2005 & 2006).

Adam Pettit, a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Southern California, has Bachelor and Master degrees from the Peabody Conservatory.  In addition to ensemble and solo performances, he enjoys studying flamenco guitar.  He has won top prizes in various competitions including the University Interscholastic League Competition (1997), the National MTNA Competition (2003-04), and the Donald Miller Classical Guitar Concerto Competition (2007). Currently, Adam serves as an adjunct professor classical guitar at Cypress College and Orange Coast College.