Gao Yi (born 1970) is a Chinese classical and flamenco guitar maker based in Shanghai, and a former concert guitarist. Trained in the Granada school with Antonio Marín Montero and René Baarslag, he won First Prize for flamenco guitar at the VII Antonio Marín Montero competition in Granada in 2024.
At a Glance
- Born: Shandong Province, China, 1970
- Workshop: Shanghai, China
- As a guitarist: Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing; 1st prize, Chinese Guitar Competition, 2000
- Training: Juan Labella (in Beijing, 2013); Antonio Marín Montero and René Baarslag (Granada)
- Prize: First Prize, flamenco guitar, VII Antonio Marín Montero Competition, Granada, 2024 (his classical guitar was a finalist)
- Output: about 8 guitars a year
A Musician First
Gao Yi was born in Shandong Province, China, in 1970. Since childhood he has played music, primarily the Chinese bamboo flute. At the age of 17, when the guitar craze was booming in China, he taught himself to play. He graduated with a music major from Jining University in 1992 and then worked in the government’s cultural department. Due to his love for the guitar, he went on to study classical guitar performance at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 1993, under the guidance of Professor Chen Zhi. During his studies, he began to study guitars made in the traditional Spanish style. In March 2000 he took part (as a performer) in the Hong Kong International Guitar Competition and won fourth place, and in August of that same year he won first place at the Chinese Guitar Competition. For both competitions he played an Antonio Marín Montero guitar borrowed from a friend.
In 2002, he was hired by the Yamaha Corporation of Japan as its guitar market manager in China and settled in Shanghai. During this period he learned much more about the history and techniques of guitar making.
From the Concert Stage to the Workbench
In 2009 he gave a solo concert at the Shanghai Concert Hall, again on the same borrowed Antonio Marín Montero guitar. Gao Yi opened his own music classroom in Shanghai and taught classical guitar, and he also bought an Antonio Marín Montero guitar for his own performances.
In 2010 he became interested in guitar making and repair work. However, an accident during a repair injured his fingers, and after that Gao decided to get serious about lutherie and dedicate his career to the craft. In 2013 he was able to learn traditional Spanish guitar making in Beijing from Juan Labella, a guitar maker from Granada.
Trained in the Granada School
In 2014, on the recommendation of the Consulate General of Spain in Shanghai, Gao Yi went to Spain. Through his good friend Alberto Cuéllar, he visited Antonio Marín Montero in Granada, where he received guidance and encouragement. In 2018 he took part in the Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Building Competition of the European Guitar Foundation and reached the second stage. In 2019, recommended by the European Guitar Foundation, he studied with another of the top Granada School luthiers, René Baarslag.
First Prize in Granada
In 2024 he took part in the VII Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Building Competition, where his classical guitar made it as a finalist and his flamenco guitar took First Prize.
Chinese and Japanese Design in a Spanish Guitar
As a musician who has transitioned from performing to lutherie, Gao Yi has carefully explored the mysteries of the guitar. On the basis of the techniques and building style of the Spanish Granada school, he also integrates his own designs, largely based on Asian influences, constantly pursuing the ultimate beauty that is warm, delicate, and full of passion and charm. His rosette design includes traditional Chinese aesthetics, combined with Japanese Hakone Yosegi Zaiku (marquetry wood mosaics). He also often uses mother-of-pearl and shell carvings for his inlay work. Combined with the vivid artistic and geometric decorative patterns of Chinese window grilles, he has created a strikingly beautiful and unique aesthetic in his instruments.
Gao Yi spares no effort in the pursuit of perfection in his work. Working full-time, he is only able to build 8 instruments per year. He strives for the highest quality in every instrument he builds and aims to build a perfect and unique instrument each time.
Gao Yi Guitars at GSI
Gao Yi has been constantly improving and working hard on his long musical journey, and he has received wide acclaim in China as a classical guitarist who also builds high-quality guitars. We welcome this fine maker to the GSI family and look forward to seeing many of his guitars in the future. You’ll find guitars currently in stock by clicking the “Guitars In Stock” button in the header of this page as well as earlier examples in our Museum by clicking the “Guitars In Museum” button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gao Yi?
A Chinese guitar maker and former concert guitarist, born in 1970 in Shandong Province and based in Shanghai.
Who trained Gao Yi?
Juan Labella in Beijing, then Antonio Marín Montero and René Baarslag in Granada.
Has Gao Yi won any prizes?
Yes – First Prize for flamenco guitar at the VII Antonio Marín Montero competition in Granada (2024); his classical guitar was a finalist.
How many guitars does Gao Yi make?
About eight a year.
