For the past 13 years, Monica Esparza has been crafting Spanish guitars in her San Clemente shop. “I do everything but chop down the tree,” she says. After taking a guitar-making class 15 years ago at Orange Coast College, Esparza sought a spot in a highly competitive workshop taught in Spain by famed luthier Jose Romanillos. She was selected in 2004—the only woman in a class of 20 students from around the world—and has been invited back to improve her skills every year since.

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