James Grace, guitar

KANNA Award winner for Best Male Artist at the 2010 ABSA KKNK, and more recently 2011 KykNET Fiesta Award winner, James Grace is one of one South Africa’s leading concert artists. In recent years he has appeared with the Cape Philharmonic, the Kwa-Zulu Natal Philharmonic, the Johannesburg Festival, the Johannesburg Philharmonic and the Free State Symphony in concerti by Rodrigo, Villa–Lobos, Giuliani and Vivaldi.

In the last year James’s concert schedule has taken him throughout South Africa, the U.A.E and Zimbabwe. He was the soloist in Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and Pieter Daniel at Kirstenbosch’s Summer Concert Series, and more recently James joined forces with Jonathan Crossley to give the South African premiere of Rodrigo’s Concierto Madrigal for two guitars with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Alessandro Crudele.

James studied at the Royal College of Music in London as a Foundation Scholar with Carlos Bonell. Upon graduating he became the first guitarist in the history of the College to receive the Tagore Gold Medal, an annual award presented to the most outstanding student.

After spending two years in Doha, in the Arabian State of Qatar where he taught guitar at an International Music Centre, James returned to South Africa and was appointed Head of Classical Guitar Studies at the University of Cape Town.

James has recently released his fifth solo album, World Café, under his own record label, Stringwise Records. His previous two releases Sevilla – Music of Spain II and Café Latino both topped the Classic FM Top 20 South African Charts and earned James SAMA nominations for Best Popular Classical Album and Best Instrumental Album respectively. 

CDs

Granada – Music of Spain CDSTR091 (2005)
Portrait CDSTR071 (2007)
Café Latino CDSTR081 (2008) - SAMA NOMINEE BEST INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Sevilla – Music of Spain II CDSTR093 (2009) - SAMA NOMINEE BEST POPULAR CLASSICAL ALBUM
World Café CDSTR101 (2010)

www.jamesgrace.co.za