Paraguay
Daiana
Ferreira Da Costa
Building bridges for Paraguay: through diplomacy, law, culture and music.
- International Classical Guitar Concert Artist and former Miss Paraguay
- Lawyer specialized in international law, government and diplomacy
- Master in Government and Culture of Organizations (University of Navarra)
- Professional leader in the legal and diplomatic fields
- Sports executive at Club Cerro Porteño and former Vice President of Club Pirayú Sport
- 19 countries with performances
- Since 2008 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the National Government of Paraguay
- 6 languages
Profile
Daiana Ferreira Da Costa is a Paraguayan professional whose career brings together Law, Diplomacy, Professional and Sports Leadership, Cultural Management and Classical Music, built over more than two decades of training, public service and artistic work in Paraguay and on international stages.
Secondary education
From her school years she showed an early calling for leadership. She studied at Colegio Apostólico San José, where she was named Best Graduate of Basic Schooling (2001), and later Best Graduate, Best Student and “Distinguished Student” of the Class of 2004 “Maestro José A. Flores”. At 16 she began taking part in student leadership, and in 2003 she was elected Vice President of the Student Council of Colegio Apostólico San José.
Other facts
- Place of birth
- Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay
- Full name
- Daiana Nathalia Ferreira Da Costa Villalba
- Music schools
- Escuela Musical Miranda (2004 - 2006) · Escuela de Guitarra Clásica “Agustín Barrios” (2002 - 2004) · Conservatorio de Arte de la Prof. Esther Villasanti (1998 - 2002)
- Stage debut
- At age 10, at the Manzana de la Rivera
- Orchestra soloist debut
- December 2005, Teatro de las Américas of the CCPA, with the Camerata Miranda
- Official international debut
- November 18, 2008, Rome, Italy
- Favorite composers
- Agustín Barrios and Nancy Luzko (Paraguayan), Fernando Sor and Francisco Tárrega (international)
Diplomacy and Law
Lawyer, graduated from the Faculty of Legal and Diplomatic Sciences of the Catholic University of Asunción, Class of 2010.
She has been a career official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay since 2008. Throughout her professional career she has held positions representing Paraguay in political, economic, multilateral, bilateral and cultural-diplomacy affairs, and in the Paraguayan foreign service.
She currently serves at the Consulate of Paraguay in Ponta Porã, Brazil, where she works with the Paraguayan community and promotes Paraguay's national interests in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Languages Spanish, Guaraní, English, Italian, French, Portuguese (advanced level). Mandarin Chinese (basic level).
Education
- Master in Government and Culture of OrganizationsUniversity of Navarra, Spain
- Master in Business AdministrationUniversidad Americana, Paraguay
- Specialization in Political Strategies and LeadershipHarvard University
- Diploma in Parliamentary DiplomacyUniversidad Austral, Buenos Aires
- International Law Course of the Organization of American Statesheld by the Inter-American Juridical Committee in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Musica calling since childhood
Music holds an essential place in her life. She received her first guitar at the age of four, inspired by her father, who in his youth sang and played guitar in a band.
From then on she followed an artistic path that led her to become a Senior Music Teacher and a Classical Guitar Concert Artist.
Her guitar training in Paraguay was shaped by teachers such as
- Luis González Allen
- Violeta De Mestral
- Javier Aquino
- Felipe Sosa
Later complemented by master classes with leading international figures of the classical guitar, including
- Sharon Isbin
- David Russell
- Eduardo Fernández
- Víctor Villadangos
- Walter Ujaldón
- Carlos Barbosa-Lima
Her professional work also includes serving on the jury of international classical guitar competitions, as well as lectures and master classes at academic institutions in several countries, including Harvard University (USA).
On stage
Leadership and cultural management
Her calling for leadership and service also extends to institutions and professional associations. Since 2024 she has been President of the Network of Paraguayan Women in Diplomacy and International Relations, which brings together Paraguayan women working in diplomacy and international relations.
In September 2026 she also became Vice President of the Association of Women Lawyers of Amambay, where she promotes initiatives for the professional and institutional development and the leadership of women.
Her commitment to society also reaches sports and social work. She volunteers as an executive of Club Cerro Porteño, especially in projects related to Women's Football and the club's Foundation, and has been an active member of the club for more than two decades.
Alongside her career as a performer, she has stood out as a promoter, producer and artistic director of cultural projects with international reach:
- 2008 and 2009 International Festival and Seminar Guitarras Sudamericanas — she took on its organization; in the 2009 edition she was Producer and Artistic Director. The event brought together masters and young musicians from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.
- 2010, 2014 and 2015 International Festival and Seminar of the Guitarras Latinas — Artistic and Executive Director for several editions, bringing masters from Latin America and Europe to Paraguay.
- 2011 World Guitar Festival — Artistic and Executive Director, as part of the celebrations of the Bicentennial of Paraguay's Independence. It brought together Ana Vidovic, Xuefei Yang, Berta Rojas and Sharon Isbin.
This side of her work reflects one of her main callings: building bridges between Paraguay and the world through culture, education, diplomacy and art.
A Paraguayan in the world
- Germany
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Chile
- Cuba
- Egypt
- Spain
- United States
- France
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Peru
- Portugal
- Russia
- Sweden
- Venezuela
Throughout her artistic career, Daiana has brought Paraguayan and Latin American music to stages in America, Europe, Asia and Africa, with performances in Germany, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and Venezuela.
Highlights of her career include Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Palácio Foz in Lisbon (Portugal), the Instituto Cervantes in Cairo (Egypt), Frankfurt am Main (Germany) and Paris (France); the Royal Monastery of El Escorial (Spain), the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil in Rio de Janeiro and the Casino of Sanremo (Italy), among other important cultural venues.
As a performer, she has represented Paraguay at many international guitar festivals and gatherings in Latin America and Europe.
Chronology of her most important concerts
Show 61 earlier performances (2004 – 2023)
2004
- 2nd National Guitar Tour – Asunción – Ciudad del Este – Encarnación and San Juan Bautista de las Misiones - August 2004
2005
- 5th Youth Orchestras Gathering - Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina – October 2005
- National debut as Orchestra Soloist with the Camerata Miranda – Vivaldi's Concerto in D Major. Teatro de las Américas, Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano - December 2005.
2006
- Concert in Tribute to Mangoré – Sala Ruy Díaz de Guzmán, Manzana de la Rivera – May 2006
- Mujer Latinoamericana – Interdisciplinary Concert - Teatro de las Américas, Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano – May 2006
- Concert with String Quartet “Un viaje por las cuerdas” – Paraguayan premiere of Boccherini's Quintet in D Major. Auditorio Manuel de Falla, Centro Cultural Juan de Salazar. August 2006.
2007
- Performances for Bolivian print and television press – Santa Cruz de la Sierra. April 2007.
- Performance at the Teatro Reina Victoria – Madrid – Spain. September 2007.
- Performance at the Welcome Reception Party of Miss International 2007 – Tokyo – Japan. October 2007.
- Performances in San Marcos – Sincelejo – Corozal and Cartagena de Indias. Colombia. December 2007.
- Outstanding Young People Awards of the Municipality of Asunción – Teatro Municipal “Ignacio A. Pane”. December 2007.
- Outstanding Border Citizens Awards. International Parliament of Brazil. Ponta Porã – Brazil. December 2007.
2008
- 1st Guitarras Sudamericanas Festival – Auditorium of the Rectorate, National University of Asunción. July 2008
- Acordes Latinoamericanos – Concert shared with the renowned pianist Nathaly Gustafson. Teatro Tom Jobim, Cultural Center of the Embassy of Brazil. November 2008.
- Serata Musicale. Concert shared with soprano Cristina Vera Díaz and baritone Ricardo Domínguez. Auditorium of the Church of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, Salesian University – Rome. Italy. November 2008
- Agustín Barrios International Guitar Competition. 2008 edition. Nuoro – Italy.
2009
- Miss Universe Paraguay 2009 pageant – Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel, Asunción. July 2009
- 2nd International Festival and Seminar “Guitarras Sudamericanas” - Teatro Tom Jobim, Cultural Center of the Embassy of Brazil. August 2009.
- 2nd International Festival of Academic Guitar – Caracas, Guarenas and Guatire. Venezuela. November 2009.
2010
- Solo concert in the “Seis Cuerdas” concert series. Buenos Aires – Argentina. September 2010.
2011
- Concert organized by the Embassy of Paraguay, Auditorium of the Faculty of Law – Universidad Garcilaso de la Vega, Lima – Peru. March 2011.
- Ixtlahuaca International Guitar Festival – Mexico. April 2011.
- Andes Guitar Festival – Mendoza, Argentina. October 2011.
2012
- Concert during the Paraguayan Week in Murcia – Spain. April 2012
- Concert for the Independence of Paraguay, organized by the Embassy of Paraguay in Portugal. Palácio Foz, Lisbon – Portugal. May 2012
- Concert for the Independence of Paraguay, organized by the Embassy of Paraguay in Portugal and the Luso-Paraguayan Association. Centro Cultural de Cascais, Cascais – Portugal. May 2012
- Harp and Guitar Concert (with harpist Ismael Ledesma), organized by the Embassy of Paraguay in Spain, at the Centro Cultural de los Ejércitos, Madrid – Spain. May 2012.
- Solo concert organized by the Embassy of Paraguay in Egypt. Instituto Cervantes, Cairo – Egypt, June 2012.
- GuitarFest Peru 2012, Cultural Center of Spain. Lima – Peru. July 2012.
2013
- Museo de Arte Decorativo (Buenos Aires – Argentina). July 10, 2013
- Royal Monastery of El Escorial. (San Lorenzo de El Escorial - Spain). July 13, 2013
- Cathedral of Alcalá de Henares (Alcalá – Spain). July 14, 2013.
- Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (Rio de Janeiro – Brazil) August 15, 2013
2014
- Guitarras Latinas International Festival (Asunción, Paraguay) May 2, 2014.
- Northeast International Festival (Saltillo, Mexico) July 2014
- “Entrecuerdas” International Festival (Santiago de Chile and Isla de Maipo – Chile). October 2014.
- Música en Acción concert series. Sala Molière, Alliance Française of Asunción (Paraguay). November 2014.
- Concert and solo debut in the United States, organized by the Embassy of Paraguay to the U.S., at the Millennium Stage of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington D.C. – U.S.) October 3, 2014
- Solo concert at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall (New York, U.S.). October 5, 2014.
2015
- 25th Morelia International Guitar Festival - Mexico (February 2015)
- 12th Querétaro International Guitar Gathering – Mexico (June 2015)
- Guitarras Latinas International Festival, Teatro Municipal de Asunción - Paraguay (July 2015).
- Cochabamba International Festival (Bolivia). July 2015
- Solo concert at the Instituto Cervantes (Paris – France). November 2015
- Sanremo International Festival (Italy). November 2015.
2016
- Tour of Portugal. Solo concerts
- April 20, 2016 – Cine Teatro Almeirim (Almeirim – Portugal)
- April 21, 2016 – Cine Teatro Almeirim (Almeirim – Portugal)
- April 22, 2016 – Casa da Cultura Fazendas de Almeirim (Almeirim – Portugal).
- April 23, 2016 – Auditório Mário Feliciano. Alpiarça Library (Alpiarça - Portugal)
- May 24, 2016 – Solo concert. Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music. Vatican.
- July 20 to 24, 2016 – Guitar Fest Peru – Lima.
- November 26 and 27, 2016 – “Guitarra Solidaria”. Centro Cultural Bordas (Asunción)
2017
- March 24, 2017 – Musical performance and keynote lecture at Harvard University (Cambridge – U.S.)
2018
- February 24, 2018 – Musical performance at the celebration of Paraguayan Women's Day. CONMEBOL Convention Center (Paraguay)
- March 15, 2018 – Musical performance for International Women's Day. World Trade Center (Asunción – Paraguay).
- July 20, 2018 – Soloist of the Sonidos de la Tierra Mega Orchestra. Closing of the Seminar in San Juan Bautista – Misiones.
2019
- May 17, 2019 – Solo concert for the Anniversary of Paraguay's Independence at the Jernkontoret Cultural Center, Stockholm – Sweden.
- May 24, 2019 – Solo concert for the Anniversary of Paraguay's Independence at the UPDK Cultural Center of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow – Russia.
2020 – 2022
- 2020 – 2022: COVID pandemic
2023
- May 5, 2023: CUBADISCO Festival in Havana – Cuba.
- May 9, 2023: República del Paraguay School in Havana – Cuba. Celebration of the Anniversary of Paraguay's Independence.
2024
- May 11, 2024: Convention Center of Ponta Porã – Brazil, in tribute to the Independence of Paraguay.
2025
- May 7, 2025: Instituto Cervantes Frankfurt – Germany
- May 12, 2025: Musical performance at the Embassy of Paraguay in Rome – Italy.
- November 11, 2025: “Serenata a Pedro Juan Caballero”, in tribute to the anniversary of her hometown.
2026
- June 3 to 6, 2026: Campo Grande International Guitar Festival – Brazil.
- August 18, 2026: “Serenata a Asunción”, at the Manzana de la Rivera. (Asunción – Paraguay).
Miss DaianaMiss International Paraguay 2007
At 19, supported by her mother Rosemary —who was also crowned Miss International— and by her whole family, she entered the Miss Universe Paraguay 2007 pageant, where she won the title of Miss International Paraguay 2007, as well as “Best Silhouette” and the highest score in the pageant's cultural test.
Awards and Honors
Her career has been recognized in Paraguay and abroad for her professional work, leadership, cultural contribution and representation of the country.
- 2025 Commendation for Legislative Merit of the Friendly Nations of Mato Grosso do Sul, awarded by the Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande - Brazil.
- 2015 First National Youth Award, granted by the National Government of Paraguay.
- 2015 Tourism Ambassador of Paraguay, awarded by the National Secretariat of Tourism.
- 2014 Surucu'a Award for Art and Culture, granted by the Rotary Club of Asunción.
- 2012 Outstanding Young Person of Paraguay – Cultural Achievement, granted by the Junior Chamber of Asunción.
- 2011 Distinguished Visitor of the Government of Misiones.
- 2011 Distinguished Visitor of the Municipality of San Juan Bautista, Misiones.
- 2007 Municipal Youth Award – Outstanding Artist, granted by the Municipality of Asunción.
- 2007 Outstanding Young Person of Pedro Juan Caballero.
- 2007 Outstanding Border Citizen, granted by the International Municipal Parliament of Brazil.
- Keys to the City of Sincelejo, Colombia, presented by the Mayor's Office of Sincelejo.
- Named Distinguished Visitor of Corozal, Colombia.
- Former scholar of the Organization of American States (OAS).
- Former scholar of the Carolina Foundation of Spain.
Paraguay as a calling
Across her different fields —the foreign service, Law, institutional leadership, cultural management and music— Daiana Ferreira Da Costa has built a career with a single common thread: a calling to serve and a commitment to Paraguay's presence in the world.
Her career brings together two worlds that have accompanied her whole life: representing Paraguay before the world, and representing Paraguay through its culture and its music.
From diplomacy and Law, from management and leadership, and from the international stages of the classical guitar, her purpose remains the same: to serve, to represent, to build ties and to open paths for Paraguay and for new generations.
Contact
For concert, lecture, jury or press proposals.
