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What does it mean when two classical guitarists, known the world over as one-of-a-kind鈥攅ven life-changing鈥攑erformers and teachers, choose to call Boulder their U.S. home-base?

鈥淚t means we are a great college of music.鈥�

That鈥檚 how Nicol貌 Spera describes the reason Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli鈥攂etter known worldwide as听鈥攁re now permanent visiting artists as part of the CU-Boulder College of Music鈥檚 Ritter Family Classical Guitar Program.

Spera is perhaps being modest. Since founding the program within the string department four years ago, he鈥檚 helped solidify classical guitar鈥檚 place in Boulder culture. In 2013, the program expanded to put on the bi-annual听University of baby直播app International Guitar Festival, attracting guitarists and guitar lovers from听all over the world.

Then last fall, a gift from two CU alumni, Mikhy and Mike Ritter, resulted in an听endowment听and a new name for the program. Together with Spera鈥檚 work, the gift helped put CU-Boulder on the worldwide classical guitar map.

And the endowment made it possible for Nicol貌 to bring on his old teacher, Lorenzo Micheli, on a long-term basis.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no one like Lorenzo and Matteo. Anyone who鈥檚 taken a class of theirs will say that,鈥� Spera, a native of Milan, says of his teacher from school in Italy. 鈥淓veryone is amazed at their insightful comments and what you can learn from them in just a half hour.鈥�

"Nicol貌 has transformed the guitar program at CU-Boulder into one of the most important and attractive programs for the classical guitar in North America," Micheli explains.

Micheli and Mela, his performing partner of 11 years, travel the world teaching classes and giving performances. Hailing from Italy, they鈥檙e based at two of the most prestigious music conservatories in the world鈥擬ela at听Conservatoire Populaire de Musique in Geneva and Micheli at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, Switzerland.

They鈥檙e preeminent. Global masters of their craft. That鈥檚 why Spera says bringing them on as visiting artists at CU-Boulder is such an achievement for the College of Music.

鈥淭his is the only college in the U.S. where they will be regular artists and teachers. When they tour the country, they will call Boulder their home. The community will be like family,鈥� says Spera.

Mela explains that Boulder is like a second home to the duo. "It's a place where you can breathe a deep and genuine love for art, music and the humanities. We look forward to that experience again that extraordinary feeling of being so far from our native Europe, yet so close to everything that we love."

The pair, who has already performed and lectured at CU, will spend up to two weeks every semester in Boulder, working with individuals and ensembles on the graduate and undergraduate levels, and performing with students and baby直播app.

鈥淭heir presence is a response to the vision and the mission of the program,鈥� Spera says.

Micheli says this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for he and Mela as well. "This residency will give us the unique chance to work with Nicol貌 and his students and to share with them ideas, experiences, knowledge and all the invisible insights that turn music into a living thing."

Having Micheli and Mela at the college, Spera adds, will also do much to help broaden the musical culture at CU.

鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 hard to create an international environment, and bringing these successful performers and teachers to the program brings a richness to the community and the students.鈥�

SoloDuo鈥檚 residency will begin in October 2015, at which time Spera says the Boulder community can look forward to 鈥渨ondrous鈥� performances, and students of the Ritter Family Classical Guitar Program can expect what he says is the most encouraging and positive lesson you can learn.

鈥淟orenzo and Matteo are the only teachers I鈥檝e ever met who leave any student鈥攁t any level and any age鈥攆eeling better, happier and more motivated to practice after every single lesson.鈥�