Van Stiefel Male • United States of America

Van Stiefel's initial encounter with music, spurred by the melodies of the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, led to his parents gifting him a ukulele, marking the inception of his musical journey. This early spark of interest blossomed at six when his father introduced him to the guitar, setting him on a path of endless exploration. His musical education deepened through participation in the Atlanta Boy Choir, where he embraced classical music, further broadening his horizons with international tours.

Embarking on a formal music education, he pursued classical guitar studies at Maple Street Guitars in Atlanta, which propelled him to Yale College. There, he was recognized with the Cox Prize for Music Composition, an early indicator of his compositional prowess. His educational journey continued with a Masters in Guitar Performance from the Yale School of Music and a Certificate in Advanced Musical Studies from the Banff Centre, earning him the title of Andre Segovia Memorial Fellow.