John Stropes

About John

John Stropes is a leading authority on fingerstyle guitar. Through the historical research, analysis, transcription, teaching, and performance of fingerstyle guitar, he has brought focus to this style as a significant music. His publishing company, Stropes Editions, Ltd., has set a new standard for written music for the guitar and guitar education. His association with many of the leading artists in this style brings depth and vitality to his work.

President of the Milwaukee Classical Guitar Society, 1985-1996. Artistic Director of the American Finger-Style Guitar Festivals, 1985, 1987 and 1989. Performed and taught at the First Chinese Guitar Artistic Festival in the People’s Republic of China in 1986. Chairman of the Guitar Department, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, 1984-1994. Director of Guitar Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts, 2004-2024. Author of Leo Kottke/6- and 12-String Guitar: A Companion; Michael Hedges/Rhythm, Sonority, Silence; Leo Kottke/Eight Songs; 20th Century Masters of Finger-Style Guitar; John Fahey’s Guitar Christmas Book; and numerous transcriptions of contemporary works for fingerstyle guitar and related instructional materials.

John’s students have been successful in guitar competitions including the Canadian Guitar Festival Competition; the Walnut Valley Festival International Finger Style Guitar Championship; the Wilson Center International Finger-Style Guitar Competition; the Kentucky International Home of the Legends Thumb-Picking Championship, and the Qin Tang Cup 2nd Annual Masaaki Kishibe Fingerstyle Competition.