Dr. Stanley Yates — Workshop Director British guitarist Stanley Yates directs the guitar program at APSU and enjoys an international career as performer, recording artist, teacher, arranger and scholar. A past prize-winner in such prestigious performance competitions as the the Guitar Foundation of America and the Myra Hess (London), he continues to perform as recitalist and concerto soloist throughout the United States and Europe. He has been described as "one of a new breed of guitarists" (Classical Guitar). His recordings for Heartdance Music, Zillian Records, Reference Recordings, Aeolian Records and Mel Bay include his critically-acclaimed arrangements of the Bach Cello Suites, which have been described as "immaculate, a major landmark" (Classical Guitar, England) and as "a transcription that make history" (Suonore, Italy), along with his arrangements of songs by Lennon and McCartney, premiere recordings of major chamber works by Rutter and Castelnuovo-Tedesco and concertos by Vidal, Doisy and Viotti. His numerous performance and didactic editions are published by Chanterelle Verlag and by Mel Bay Publications in the Stanley Yates Series. His scholarly articles dealing with the performance of music by such composers as Bach, Villa-Lobos, Albeniz and Sor have been published in nine languages. He is a past advisory board member of both the Guitar Foundation of America and the European Guitar Teachers Association and is currently Guitar Forum editor of the American String Teacher's Journal.

www.StanleyYates.com

www.StephenAron.net

Stephen Aron — Classical Guitar Workshop Co-director / Collegiate Competition Chair Stephen Aron is Chairman of Guitar Studies at the University of Akron and founder of the classical guitar program at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Described by the New York Times as “cultivated and musical,” he has been a prominent force on the American guitar scene for over twenty years, critically acclaimed for his accomplishments as a performer, recording artist, arranger, composer, teacher, writer, adjudicator, lecturer and impresario. His recordings, which include his arrangements of the complete 51 mazurkas of Chopin, the Lieder ohne Vorte of Mendelssohn, the complete Kinderszenen, Op. 15 of Schumann and the complete guitar works of Burle Marx have been described as “stunning” (Guitar Review), “inspired” (Classical Guitar) and “exemplary” (Soundboard).  He performs regularly with soprano JoNell Aron, with whom he has recorded two CDs, is a regular guest with the Gabrieli Ensemble (strings) and also performs regularly with his quartet Poco Tango (flute, guitar, bass and percussion). His many arrangements are published by Tuscany Editions, Mel Bay Publications and Clear Note Publications. He has adjudicated and produced numerous national and international competitions, has given lectures, performed and taught masterclasses at numerous national and international conventions and festivals, and is a past advisory board chair of the Guitar Foundation of America.