Background
York was born in 1958 in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in Virginia.
York was born in 1958 in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in Virginia.
He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance in 1980 at James Madison University and completed his Master of Music degree at the University of Southern California in 1986, both degrees magna cum laude.
He was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships at University of Southern California, including the Jack Marshall Memorial Scholarship and the Delegate Amo Foundation Grant for Study in Spain. York was a performer with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet for 16 years and played lute with the University of Southern California Early Music Ensemble. In addition to his solo career, recording and performing his own compositions, York"s recent collaborations include projects with Andy Summers, Allaudin Mathieu, Dai Kimura, and Mitsuko Kado.
York"s tour schedule has included concerts in thirty countries.
He has over 50 works published for guitar in its many varieties: solo, duo, trio, quartet, and ensemble. He has appeared in 3, has recorded or appeared as soloist on more than 10 CDs, and has published a three-volume work on in-depth jazz study for classical guitarists.
CDs include:,,, California Breeze (2006), and Regarding Dénouement, Jim Ferguson stated that the five original suites that make up the recording "demonstrate exceptional compositional breadth, commanding instrumental abilities, and rich tone.
Rife with folk, jazz, and ancient influences, the material ranges from challenging to simple yet highly musical." York"s compositions and arrangements for guitar have been performed and recorded by guitarists John Williams, Christopher Parkening, and Sharon Isbin.
York will begin teaching undergraduate and graduate guitar at California State University, Fullerton School of Music in Fall 2015. Contemporary Classic Guitar LAGQ Live ! Primal Twang.