I grew up in Taiwan, an island that, despite its size, has for many years been home to a multicultural society. Traces of Taiwanese indigenous tribal peoples, the Japanese, and the West permeated aspects of daily life, lending a certain depth and balance to the cultural blend. My father, who received training both in Taiwan and in the US, was acutely mindful of the importance of developing a broad cultural perspective and took steps to provide my sister and me with opportunities to do the same. Apart from taking up English at an early age, we were also actively involved in art and music. Although I did not immediately recognize it at the time, my ultimate path in music began shortly after my fourteenth birthday when, at my father s urging, I took up the guitar.

At first, I contented myself with strumming and singing Taiwanese folk and pops songs, but within a few months, I developed an interest in classical guitar. From that simple beginning it was only a matter of time before I discovered the captivating music of the composers featured on this CD: Antonio Lauro and Agustín Barrios. Their compositions have not only been a pleasure to perform, but they have also acted as a portal to Latin American culture. Thus the appreciation for cultural diversity that I first absorbed from my father comes full circle in this tribute to two great figures of the Herencia Latina . As a musician, it is a privilege to not only witness cross-cultural currents but also to be an active participant in the cultural dialog. Consequently, this album is the result of my engagement with multiculturalism.

-Steve Lin