Stanley Yates enjoys an accomplished career as a virtuoso performer and recording artist, arranger, scholar, and teacher. Described as “one of an elite breed of guitarists” ( Classical Guitar Magazine, England), praised for his “musical instinct and brilliant technique” (Suonare, Italy), and noted for the “transcendent quality of his interpretation” (Fort Worth Star Telegram, USA), Stanley's performances, recordings and editions have been received with wide critical acclaim.
A past prize-winning performer in such prestigious competitions as the Myra Hess (London) and the Guitar Foundation of America, Stanley is regularly invited to present concerts, masterclasses, and lectures at leading music schools and festivals in both the United States and Europe. He has been dedicatee and/or first performer of music by such leading guitar composers as Stepan Rak, John Duarte and Angelo Gilardino, and has given first modern performances of such rediscovered works as the Premier Concerto by Ernest Shand and the Valsa Concerto by Heitor Villa Lobos. His recordings for Reference Recordings, Heartdance Music and Aeolian Recordings include chamber music, his arrangements of the Bach Cello Suites, and premiere recordings of music by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, John Rutter, and other contemporary composers.
His performance articles dealing with the music of such composers as J. S. Bach and Heitor Villa-Lobos have been published internationally, in six languages, in such journals as Il Fronimo, Gitarre & Laute, Gendai Guitar, 8 Sonoro, Soundboard and Classical Guitar.
Stanley currently directs the guitar program at Austin Peay State University, home of Tennessee's Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts.
“The extraordinary Stanley Yates series features some of the most important publications in the guitar canon. Ranging from student-level works to virtuosic concert repertoire, these meticulously edited editions will satisfy the musical appetites of discriminating guitarists for generations to come”. (Gerald Klickstein, Guitar Department Chair, North Carolina School of the Arts)
“Stanley Yates' performance editions, anthologies, graded repertoire series and original pedagogical materials comprise a singularly impressive and valuable contribution to the guitar community. He is one of the guitar world's brightest lights”. (Stephen Aron, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, The University of Akron)
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