American classical guitarist Xavier Jara is the first prize winner of the 2016 GFA International Concert Artist Competition. A native of Minnesota, Jara was a student of Alan Johnston at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis until 2011 when he moved to Paris, France, to study with Judicael Perroy. He received first place in international competitions including the Boston Guitarfest (2014) and the Tokyo International Competition (2016). In 2016, Mr. Jara returned home to the United States to win the Guitar Foundation of America's Rose Augustine Grand Prize.