Mei Yin Steadman Records at GSI

The 2024-25 GSI Foundation Scholar, Mei Yin Steadman, recently recorded five videos at GSI. Mei, a freshman at the University of Southern California, hails from Austin, Texas. Growing up immersed in her parents' music school, the Orpheus Academy of Music, she was surrounded by students taking music lessons daily. Inspired by this environment, she expressed a desire to learn music as soon as she could talk. At just four years old, Mei began guitar lessons with her father and later studied with Professor Adam Holzman throughout high school. Her musical journey includes participation in masterclasses and festivals led by renowned artists such as David Russell, Jason Vieaux, Berta Rojas, and Jiji Kim. Now at USC, she is under the tutelage of Professor William Kanengiser. Mei's accomplishments include prizes in the solo divisions of the Southern Guitar Festival, Texas Guitar Festival, Houston Guitar Festival, and the Asian American Competition. In addition to her solo achievements, Mei was a member of the Orpheus Honors Guitar Quartet, a distinguished ensemble of young guitarists. The quartet earned recognition in the ensemble division of the Southern Guitar Festival, reached the finals of NPR's From the Top program, and performed extensively within and beyond Texas.

Ida Presti, celebrated as one of the greatest classical guitarists of the 20th century, was also a gifted composer whose works reflect her virtuosic artistry and deep musical intuition. "Danse Rythmique" is a prime example of her compositional brilliance, showcasing her ability to fuse technical demands with evocative musicality. Composed in a lively and energetic style, "Danse Rythmique" captures the listener with its intricate rhythms, playful syncopations, and dynamic contrasts. The piece highlights Presti’s mastery of the guitar's full expressive range, requiring the performer to navigate rapid arpeggios, intricate melodic passages, and percussive effects that evoke the vibrancy of dance. Mei Yin recorded this piece on a 1992 Dominique Field classical guitar made with spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides.

María Luisa Anido, often hailed as the "Grand Lady of the Guitar," was a trailblazing Argentine guitarist and composer who left an indelible mark on the classical guitar world. Her compositions are deeply rooted in the cultural and musical traditions of Argentina, blending classical techniques with the rich textures and rhythms of her homeland. "Boceto Indígena" ("Indigenous Sketch") is one of Anido's most evocative works, painting a vivid musical portrait inspired by the Indigenous cultures of Argentina. The piece reflects her deep appreciation for the natural beauty, spiritual depth, and rhythmic vitality of Indigenous music and traditions. Mei Yin recorded this piece on a 2025 Erez Perelman classical guitar made with cedar top and CSA rosewood back and sides.

This piece, originally composed for piano but widely transcribed for guitar, evokes the sounds and atmosphere of a coastal scene in Málaga, a city in the Andalusian region of Spain. Its title suggests the gentle murmurs of the sea, conjured through flowing arpeggios and undulating rhythms. Albéniz’s use of the Phrygian mode, a hallmark of Andalusian music, adds an unmistakable Spanish character, while the interplay of bright melodies and rich harmonic textures paints a vivid and evocative picture. In its guitar transcription, "Rumores de la Caleta" feels especially at home, capturing the instrument’s natural ability to express the flamenco-inspired rhythms and colors of southern Spain. The piece invites listeners to imagine the shimmering waters and lively spirit of the Andalusian coastline, blending lyricism with rhythmic vitality in a way that has become quintessentially associated with Albéniz’s music. Mei Yin performed this with her teacher, William Kanengiser. The guitars featured in the video are 2024 Jose Marin Plazuelo "Bouchet" and 1918 Enrique Garcia.

The "Sonata in E Minor," BWV 1034 is part of a set of works for flute and basso continuo, composed by Johann Sebastian Bach during his time in Cöthen or Leipzig. It exemplifies Bach's ability to balance technical brilliance with profound musical expression. The fourth movement, Allegro, is a lively and virtuosic finale that showcases the energetic interplay between the melodic voice and the accompanying continuo. Written in a binary form, the movement features dynamic exchanges and intricate counterpoint characteristic of Bach's style. The rapid passages and rhythmic drive create a sense of joyous momentum, bringing the sonata to an exhilarating conclusion. Here, Mei Yin is using David Russell’s transcription for solo guitar. Mei Yin recorded this piece on a 2025 Francesco de Gregorio classical guitar made with spruce top and maple back and sides.

Agustín Barrios Mangoré, a Paraguayan guitarist and composer, is celebrated for his remarkable ability to merge technical brilliance with profound expressivity. His works often reflect his deep connection to nature and his poetic imagination, as seen in "Un Sueño en la Floresta" ("A Dream in the Forest"). Composed in 1918, this piece is a vivid musical depiction of a serene and dreamlike scene within a lush forest. The tremolo melody, soaring above a lush harmonic backdrop, captures a sense of longing and tranquility, transporting the listener to a mystical, almost otherworldly realm. Mei Yin recorded this piece on a 2025 Oscar Munoz classical guitar made with cedar top and African rosewood back and sides.