Hayes School of Music

Douglas James has performed as a classical guitarist throughout the United States and Europe for over 40 years. He has been a featured recitalist for such notable venues as the Guitar Foundation of America annual convention, Guitar-Festival Iserlohn, Stetson International Guitar Workshop, Oberlin Conservatory, New York's Carnegie and Merkin Halls, and many more. He has won the top prize in the Arturo Toscanini Solo Guitar Competition (Italy), and twice has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Fellowship. James often features authentic 19th century instruments in his performances of the Classical and Romantic literature, and is one half of the Rucco-James Duo, featuring 19th c. period guitars with the Italian guitarist Pasquale Rucco.

A Charlotte native, James’ musical career began in the 1970’s as an electric guitarist performing in contemporary popular and jazz styles. He left high school in his junior year to pursue a full-time performance and private teaching career, and for several years played electric guitar with touring bands under management with the Hit Attractions agency. After three years on the road, he settled back in Charlotte to develop a studio of private students, and continued to perform on electric guitar as well as bass with the jazz pianist Ziggy Hurwitz, and classical guitar with flutist Irene Maddox. By the early 1980’s James had completed bachelor and masters degrees in classical guitar performance at UNCC and UNCG respectively, and relocated to Asheville to become adjunct instructor of guitar for UNC-Asheville. From 1983-87, he was a Visiting Artist in the NC Community College system in addition to his university teaching.

Upon the conclusion of his Visiting Artist residencies in 1987, James relocated to New York City to follow opportunities that had become available there. From 1987-90, he was under artist management with Del Rosenfield Associates, and Stanton Consulting and Management. He also taught for the American Institute of Guitar, and the 92nd Street Y School of Music, both venerable NYC institutions.  James immersed himself in the NYC musical scene, and continued to exploit his stylistic versatility performing in both popular and classical styles.  It was only after a few years of these activities that he made the decision to pursue a doctorate in classical guitar performance, and relocated yet again to Tucson, AZ to accept a teaching assistantship at the University of Arizona. This work led him to teaching positions in Ohio and Texas, and advanced studies in 19th c. performance practice in Italy, before arriving at Appalachian State in 1995.

James has recorded three critically acclaimed CD's for the Cala Vista label. The first, Italian Romantic Music of the Early 19th century, featuring 19th century solo guitar music on period guitars, was followed by two in duo with Pasquale Rucco, Early Romantic Music for Two Guitars, and A Night at the Opera. In reviewing these recordings, Gitarr och Luta (Sweden) noted that "Douglas James' playing on the record is for my taste totally splendid. His enthusiasm to explore the early guitar repertoire is obvious, and he has an ability to use the old instruments to their full capacity, with all of their timbral possibilities. He plays intensely and sensitively with flow, ease and elegance." Classical Guitar (England) stated, "Douglas James clearly has a great deal of sympathy for this repertoire and a carefully worked out approach to its interpretation ... everything is animated by concern for the life of the music on its own terms and in its own time. This is a welcome addition to the choice of 19th century repertoire played on genuine instruments of the time."

In addition to his work as a classical guitarist, James has in recent years expanded his musical horizons to return to his earliest roots playing electric guitar in various contemporary styles, and to playing Baroque music on the theorbo. (For him there’s a strong connection in the improvisational playing of contemporary electric guitar, and the improvisation involved in  realizing continuo in Baroque music.) James plays theorbo with Harmonia Baroque and Corde Cantanti, and is the electric guitarist for the Junaluska Gospel Choir, the Harrows, and the Extraordinaires.  

Douglas James holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Arizona where he studied guitar with Thomas Patterson. Dr. James is a past member of the Advisory Board and Board of Trustees of the Guitar Foundation of America. He was Professor of Guitar at the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University for 27 years before retiring in 2022. 

You can view more about Douglas James at his professional web site:  www.douglasjamesguitar.com