JAMES ERICKSON has an active career performing and teaching classical and rock guitar throughout the New York metropolitan area. James is an instructor of music at Nassau Community College, LIU Post, and Suffolk County Community College, where he teaches music history, theory, and fretboard harmony. James is also the director of the SCCC Guitar Ensemble. James has recently joined the faculty of Classical Guitar Corner Academy; an online global community of students and teachers working through a world-class curriculum of classical guitar study. James holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in music history and performance from LIU, where he was awarded “Outstanding Performance in Guitar Studies”.
As a classical guitar soloist, James has performed on tour in the United States, Europe, and Canada. James is a member of the Artesian Guitar Quartet. The group performs a variety of classical and contemporary repertoire. The quartet has toured internationally, premiering new works for the guitar repertoire.
As an electric guitarist, his studies have included lessons from jazz guitarist Howard Morgen and rock virtuosos Paul Gilbert and Bruce Bouillet. James has an extensive recording and performing experience, and is currently involved in many diverse musical projects. James has performed and toured with tribute acts such as Walking The Line ( Johnny Cash) Return to Paradise (Styx) and Classic Albums Live, performing the album "Who's Next" by The Who. He has also opened for many national acts including Saigon Kick, The Spin Doctors, Twisted Sister and Taj Mahal. He has also performed the guitar parts for many theatrical productions including “Hair”, “Anything Goes”, "Fiddler on the Roof" and “Seussical”.
For the past eight years, James has taught and performed at the “Songe d’été en Musique” an annual music festival in Quebec, Canada. He is also the assistant director of the Long Island Guitar Festival and offers private and online guitar instruction. www.ericksonguitar.net
“…virtuoso musicianship” (Southampton Press)