Petar Jankovic is Associate Professor of Music in Guitar at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. A native of Serbia, he began his guitar studies at age eight and later earned a degree from the prestigious Belgrade Music Academy. As a young musician, he won multiple medals in national competitions and gave his first professional performance at 16. By the age of 20, he was already teaching at the Community College in Belgrade, launching a distinguished dual career as a performer and educator.

Jankovic moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies, earning a master’s degree and later an Artist Diploma at IU under the mentorship of Ernesto Bitetti. He went on to develop the guitar program at Franklin College and taught at the University of Indianapolis from 1999 to 2006.

He has released five albums, including Romantico, Bogdanovic, Brouwer, and Dyens, and Leyenda, earning international acclaim for his expressive style and interpretive depth. Critics have described his playing as orchestral, poetic, and emotionally resonant—“a natural poet” with “a unique, artistic, and highly expressive style.”

Jankovic has received top prizes in major competitions around the world, including awards in Madrid, Mexico City, and Bloomington. He continues to perform and teach internationally, with regular tours throughout the U.S. and Europe and an upcoming tour in Taiwan. In addition to his academic and artistic achievements, he leads a community outreach guitar program in Serbia that now serves 19 cities.

Known for his lyrical phrasing and refined technique, Petar Jankovic brings to the stage not only virtuosic skill but a rare ability to communicate the emotional core of the music he performs.

Daniel Duarte is a Senior Lecturer in Guitar at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. An accomplished guitarist, arranger, conductor, and lecturer, Duarte has garnered numerous prizes in guitar and chamber music competitions across the United States, Europe, and Latin America. As a versatile multi-instrumentalist, he performs on various types of guitars and as a flutist.

Duarte studied under esteemed guitarists Henrique Pinto and Ernesto Bitetti and earned his Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University. His research was supported by the Presser Foundation through the Outstanding Graduate Music Student Award, and his scholarly accomplishments have been recognized with the prestigious Joan C. Edwards Distinguished Professor of Arts Award from Marshall University. He was further distinguished for his pedagogical excellence with the Trustees Teaching Award at Indiana University, Bloomington. Duarte has made significant contributions to music education across the United States, offering master classes and lectures at numerous institutions. While his domestic influence remains paramount, he has also shared his expertise on the international stage through Teaching Residencies at Mahidol University in Thailand, as well as engagements in Latin America, including EMESP Tom Jobim in Brazil and Universidad Nacional de Música in Lima, Peru.

At Indiana University, Duarte founded and directs the Jacobs Guitar Ensemble, comprising both undergraduate and graduate students. This ensemble performs essential repertoire from the guitar tradition, alongside newly commissioned works and Duarte’s innovative arrangements specifically crafted for the group. His arrangements, which expand the scope of guitar ensemble performance and reimagine the role of guitar ensembles in music education, have been performed by professional and student ensembles worldwide.

Furthermore, Duarte is the founder of Indiana University’s Electric Guitar Orchestra (EGO), a groundbreaking contemporary ensemble featuring eight electric guitars, bass, and drums, dedicated to exploring diverse musical genres. He also directs the IU All Campus Guitar Ensemble and teaches general education courses that address broad historical topics related to music and the guitar. His collaborative work includes serving as an ensemble director with the Latin American Music Center at the Jacobs School of Music.

As a touring artist, Duarte frequently performs throughout the United States and internationally, offering a refined, modern approach to the classical guitar repertoire. His concerts and master classes often feature premieres of new works commissioned by him, alongside performances of traditional repertoire. His most recent album, Samboro, a collaboration with colleague Petar Jankovic, is a bold exploration of diverse musical landscapes. The album seamlessly fuses elements of traditional Latin American and Eastern European styles with contemporary classical and innovative improvisational techniques.