Carles Pons i Altés is a well-known Spanish recording artist and broadcaster, and is head of the guitar program at Irun Conservatory of Music in Spain. He began his music studies at the age of five, continuing to obtain the highest qualifications in advanced guitar courses at the Liceu Higher Conservatoire in Barcelona, under the direction of Jaume Torrent. He won a series of scholarships, and was finalist in the T.I.M. Competition, organized by the Italian Musical Youth Association in 1997. His acuity on the guitar has offered him numerous opportunities to record for radio and television in places including Bahrain, Euskadi, Turkey and Brazil. He has also offered numerous live performances in Spain, Bahrain, Turkey, Bulgaria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Brazil. In addition to his teaching and performance schedule he has presented master classes in the Persian Gulf, Turkey and Brazil, and has been a jury member at prestigious competitions including the International Guitar Competition of Zarautz, the Caxias Competition (Brazil) and Aranda Duero Competition.

"The delicate nuances in the musical details and the sound production both surprise professional musicians and create a response of joy and pleasure." Gregory Popov, Bulgarian composer.

Pons will also be at Cal State Northridge on March 29, 2003.