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James Grace is one of South Africa’s leading concert artists. He is the first guitarist
ever to have received the Tagore Gold Medal from the Royal College of Music in London,
where he studied with Carlos Bonell.
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Born in England, James emigrated with his family to South Africa at the age of eight
and began lessons with the late Dietrich Wagner in Stellenbosch.
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Soon after he won First Prize in the Sanlam National Music Competition and the South
African National Guitar Competition.
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James then left for England to continuing studying and after four years in London,
he spent two years in the Arabian State of Qatar, where he taught guitar at an International
Music Centre.
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Returning to South Africa in 2004 James made his debut performance with the CPO
as the soloist in Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with conductor David Scarr. He
also formed a duo with flautist Bridget Rennie - Salonen called Zomari (Swahili
for flute).
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The following year James released his first CD entitled Granada - Music of Spain.
He was also appointed as Head of Classical Guitar Studies at the South African College
of Music at the University of Cape Town.
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James performed the premiere of Allan Stephenson’s Double Concerto for Guitar and
Bassoon with the CPO at the 2006 Cape Town International Music Festival. He has
also recently appeared with the KZNPO performing the Villa – Lobos Guitar Concerto
with visiting conductor Orwain Arwel Hughes.
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James and Soprano, Zanne Stapelberg, premiered their programme Canciones Españoles
at this years KKNK to great acclaim. They will be touring with this throughout the
year.
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James is currently recording his second solo album, Recital, which features works
by Bach, Giuliani, Pujol and Villa - Lobos.
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