Liss Alva & Xiao Shang Guo
In 2022, LISS and XIAO met at the HASPA Guitar Cup in Hamburg – initially as opponents in the same preliminary round. Later, in the final, LISS broke a string, and it was XIAO who stepped in to help quickly change the string. At that time, no one suspected that this would eventually lead to the formation of a guitar duo.
Three years later, their studies brought them back together at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music Dresden: Liss has been studying there since 2021 and is now in the master’s program, while Xiao began his bachelor’s studies in acoustic guitar in the fall of 2025.
For about a year, they have been joyfully working on a shared sound that is now also making its way onto concert stages.
The special aspect of this interplay is the combination of two sound worlds:
The warm, singing classical guitar with nylon strings and the brilliant, rhythmic acoustic guitar with steel strings. Between delicate melodies, spontaneous musical conversations, and lots of joy in playing, a sound emerges that naturally connects both instruments.
On their program are works by Sönke Meinen/Philipp Wiechert, Stephan Bormann, original compositions by Liss Alva, as well as music transcribed specifically for the duo by Pat Metheny.
Xiao Shang Guo
Fingerstyle Guitarist
Xiao Shang Guo is currently studying at the University of Music in Dresden. His artistic focus is on fingerstyle.
In his concerts, he combines groovy arrangements of well-known pieces with music influenced by Chinese traditions. His playing is characterized by rhythmic precision, tonal variety, and a direct connection to the audience.