Fans of the classical guitar will get to indulge their musical appetites when Friends of the Guitar Hour presents four performances during its upcoming concert series.

The shows will feature three solo artists and one duo act: Martha Masters, South Hill Guitars, John Goulart and Mak Grgic.

"These are all really top-end guitarists that aren't your run-of-the-mill people that you usually get to hear," said Leon Atkinson, series organizer and host of local National Public Radio show "The Guitar Hour."

Martha Masters will perform Jan. 26 at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center. Masters, who is the president of the Guitar Foundation of America, won first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition in 2000. That same year she also won the Andres Segovia International Competition in Spain and was named a finalist in the Alexandre Tansman International Competition of Musical Personalities in Poland. She is on the guitar faculty of Loyola Marymount University and California State University Fullerton.

South Hill Guitars comprises guitarists James Reid and John Paul Shields, who share a love of South American music and contemporary compositions. Reid is the founder of the Northwest Guitar Festival and directs the guitar program at University of Idaho. Shields has performed in a variety of locales, including Peru and Seattle, and teaches guitar at Spokane Falls Community College and Holy Names Music Center in Spokane. The duo will perform Feb. 17 at Holy Names Music Center in Spokane.

Prominent Canadian guitarist John Goulart will perform at the JACC on March 24. Goulart has appeared with several of Canada's leading orchestras including the Calgary Philharmonic, The Regina Symphony and the Northern Chamber Orchestra. He has performed across the United States, Canada, South America and Japan. He won first place in the Great Lakes International Guitar Competition in 1992. Also that year, he was a finalist and prize-winner in the Guitar Canada and Guitar Foundation of America competitions. 

On May 12, Slovenian guitarist Mak Grgic will play the Holy Names Music Center in Spokane. Grgic was a Young Artist in Residence at the Da Camera Society of Los Angeles. He has performed Arvo Part's "Fratres" and the "Concierto de Aranjuez" of Rodrigo with the Maribor Opera Orchestra, he joined the Spokane Symphony for The Festival at Sandpoint and he has performed with the festival orchestra at Lancaster Festival. He has appeared among many music societies and other festivals.

"I intend to attend all four," said John Sahlin, a Friends of the Guitar Hour supporter and former student of Atkinson's. "Leon is so generous in his time and enthusiasm in guitar events. People who have attended know that Leon aspires to high quality musicianship and entertainment for the public. It's just great that he continues to do these events in this area in an effort to bring classical guitar-related performance to this area, which I think is welcome and needed."

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

The JACC is located at 405 N. William St. in Post Falls. Holy Names Music Center is located at 3910 W. Custer Drive in Spokane.

Season tickets for all four concerts are $100 and available until Jan. 20 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2729491. Single tickets will be $35 at the door at each concert.