Luis Francisco Venegas

Luis Francisco Venegas is a Colombian guitarist, composer, and educator serving as Performance Manager in the School of Music at Oklahoma City University. He previously held professorships in guitar studies at Southern Nazarene University and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Venegas also manages the Oklahoma Youth Orchestras and serves as Vendors Manager and Luthier Showcase Director for the Guitar Foundation of America Convention and Competition.

His work spans Guitar Performance, Music Composition, and Music Education with deep integration of Colombian Music and Latin American Folklore traditions. For a decade, he led El Sistema Oklahoma's composition lab, creating platforms for young composers that resulted in a world premiere with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall collaborations. His artistic output consistently incorporates traditional Latin American musical elements.

Venegas has received ensemble recognition including:

• First prize at Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Competition (Oklahoma City University Guitar Ensemble)
• Second prize at Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Competition (Oklahoma City University Guitar Trio)

As an educator, he has mentored emerging musicians through structured programs while maintaining an active performance career as soloist, Prairie Guitar Duo member (with Carey Morrow), and Celtic band performer with Lady & The Rovers. His professional development includes master classes with Jason Vieaux, Manuel Barrueco, The Romeros, and Brazil Guitar Duo.