Biography

Born in Downey California in 1965, James began playing the guitar at age eleven. At age fifteen he auditioned and ultimately studied with Celin Romero. Shortly thereafter, he performed in several master classes for Pepe Romero, George Sakelariou, Bartolomeo Diaz, Benjamin Verdery and John Duarte. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at Mansfield University under Pablo Cohen, where he also studied voice and viola as well as receiving the SAI/Schmits award for best performance in 1996. Later, he earned his Masters of Music in Guitar Performance at Portland State University under composer/guitarist Bryan Johanson. James is an active guitar instructor and taught at the Creative and Performing Arts, San Diego, Beacock's Music Education Center, Vancouver, Washington Urban Music Center, Portland, Oregon, and presently teaches at both Clark College Vancouver, and at Concordia in Portland Oregon. James has created two instructional DVD's on Classical Guitarist Jeffrey Ashton's, New Guitar Method, and his own beginning method, "Basic Guitar Method 1 Tid Bits." As a soloist and an ensemble performer, James has performed in concert series, music festivals, and concertos with local orchestras through out the United States, Green Valley Recreation Center, AZ, Portland State University ThinkMusic ThinkLincoln Series, OR, Broderick Gallery, OR, Arts Equity Theatre, WA, Portland Classic Guitar, OR, The North West Conference, WA, Narberth String Summer Camp, PA, Oregon Chamber Players, Hilton Hotel, NY City, and with members of the Vancouver Symphony, performing works by Vivaldi, and Savas Zannas.

James repertoire covers periods of Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century. James debut recording, "James Manuele Concert" contains works of Bach, Johanson, Torroba, Sor, Meyers, and more. Immediately appealing, reflective, and nicely done, Portland Guitar Society. Teaming up with award winning teacher and performer, Soprano April Duvic, they have performed works of, DeFalla, Schubert, Villa Lobos, Dowland and Seiber. "An Evening with the Portland Guitar Duo," is a live CD and DVD recording with guitarist Foti Lycouridis. This recording features works by Monpou, Defalla, Gimenez, Chopin, Tedesco, Santorsola, Granados, and Albeniz.