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British-born guitarist Stanley Yates enjoys an international career as concert performer and recording artist, teacher, arranger, and scholar.

He has been described as “one of an elite breed of guitarists” (Classical Guitar Magazine), praised for the “transcendent quality of his interpretations” (Fort Worth Star Telegram), recognized for his “musical instinct and brilliant technique” (Suonare, Italy). He has been the subject of interviews, articles and extended reviews in many national and international guitar magazines including, Guitare Aktuel (Germany), Il fronimo (Italy), Fingerstyle (US), Soundboard (US), Guitar International (UK), Fingerstyle Review (US), Teaching Guitar (US), Suonare (Italy), Classical Guitar (England). He is also featured in The Classical Guitar: Its Evolution, Players and Personalities Since 1800 and Instrumental Influences: Reflections on the Classical Guitar from the Instrument’s Most Influential Performers and Pedagogues.

A past prize-winner in such prestigious performance competitions as the Myra Hess (London) and the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, he has performed as recitalist and concerto soloist at major venues throughout the United States and Europe, as well as in Asia, South America, and Australia.

His 1997 transcription and recording of the Bach cello suites received international attention, being described as “immaculate…a major landmark” (Classical Guitar, England), “elegant and persuasive…a transcription that makes history” (Suonare, Italy), “distinguished…refreshing” (Soundboard, USA), “compelling and technically flawless” (American Record Guide).

A committed interpreter of both new music and neglected masterpieces from the past, he has been dedicatee and first performer of music by such notable American and European composers as Stepan Rak, Angelo Gilardino, John Duarte, Atanas Ourkouzounov, Mark Delpriora, James Piorkowski, Mark Houghton, Elizabeth Vercoe, Lloyd Wells, Jeffrey Wood and Roger Hudson, and has reconstructed and given first modern performances of such important rediscovered works as Villa-Lobos’ Valsa Concerto No. 2, the Shand Premier Concerto and late eighteenth-century concertos by Vidal, Doisy and Viotti.

His recordings for Reference Recordings, Heartdance Music, Zillian Records, dbMusic, and Aeolian Recordings include his widely-acclaimed arrangements of the Bach Cello Suites, the first recording of major chamber works by John Rutter, Michael Fink and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, a recording of music by Lennon and McCartney, the first recording of late 18th-century Parisian concertos by Vidal, Doisy and Viotti, the first recording of Carulli’s period arrangements of Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn and Rossini, and a series of  didactic recordings, among others. He is also the featured guitarist in the DVD film, Francisco Tarrega: Life and Music.

His numerous editions and arrangements are published in the Stanley Yates Series by Mel Bay Publications (and with Chanterelle Verlag, ClearNote Music and his own imprint, CGS). This critically-acclaimed catalogue includes transcriptions of music by Bach, Albéniz and Vivaldi; performance editions of collected concert works by Rak and Shand, a series of originally composed didactic works, a best-selling guitar method, and several collections of graded student repertoire. His performance articles dealing with the music of Bach, Villa-Lobos, Albéniz, and others have been published internationally in ten languages, appearing in such journals as Il Fronimo, Guitarre & Laute, Gendai Guitar, 8 Sonoro, Homa Guitar, Soundboard and Classical Guitar.

A popular guest teacher and lecturer, he has presented masterclasses and lectures at numerous festivals, colleges, universities, and conservatories, including the Royal Academy of Music, London; and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Glen Gould Professional School, Toronto; the Royal Northern College of Music; the Guitar Foundation of America; the University Federale do Rio Grande do Sur Brazil; the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music; the Cleveland Institute of Music, and many others. He has been an advisory board member of the Guitar Foundation of America, an editorial board member of the Journal of the European Guitar Teachers’ Association, and Guitar Forum Editor for the American String Teacher’s Association. He has been described as “one of the leading pedagogues of our era” (Soundboard – Journal of the Guitar Foundation of America).

He received performance diplomas from Trinity College, London and Sandown College of Performing Arts, Liverpool (where he graduated with the highest pass in the history of the college). He also received post-graduate degrees from the University of Liverpool (with a distinction in performance and music analysis) and the University of North Texas (where he was the first non-pianist to receive the Morgan Dissertation Award for Excellence in Music Performance).

A resident of the United States, he is Professor of Music and director of guitar studies at Austin Peay State University, home of Tennessee’s Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts.

APSU Guitar Program