Grace and Crossley in Concert

Acclaimed guitarists James Grace and Jonathan Crossley present an innovative and varied programme as part of the 2016 Music Concert Series.

Both musicians are accomplished soloists, maintaining full-time performing and teaching careers which regularly takes them throughout Southern Africa, Europe and the UAE. Grace and Crossley first met when they won joint-first prize at the 1997 South African National Guitar Competition.  Since that time they have featured at festivals both locally and abroad, recorded SAMA nominated albums, formed international collaborations, and in 2010 achieved a career highlight performing Rodrigo’s Concierto Madrigal for two guitars and orchestra with the JPO.

In this Sunday’s concert, the duo will perform original works for two guitars by composers including the Italian Ferdinando Carulli and Julio Cesar Oliva from Mexico, alongside arrangements of works by Manuel de Falla and Manuel Maria Ponce.

JAMES GRACE:

KANNA Award winner for Best Male Artist at the 2010 ABSA KKNK, 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.

This 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 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.

James is in the final stages of setting up the Stringwise Young Artist’s Trust, with the aim of assisting young artists from across the country produce their own albums and offer bursaries for overseas study.

JONATHAN CROSSLEY:

Jonathan Crossley's work spans the capacities of jazz, classical and contemporary musics with skills ranging from performance to composition and technological innovation. This eclectic nature has been a feature of his life work and has yielded creative outputs across many fields.

As a guitarist he holds degrees in classical and jazz guitar and studied under international classical guitarists and the late great jazz guitarist Johnny Fourie. As a performer he has performed in four continents with local and international artists as well as multiple international performances with his own projects. These artists range from local luminaries such as James Grace and Carlo Mombelli to internationals such as Oleta Adams and Lukas Ligeti amongst many others.

The Jonathan Crossley Band released two funk albums: 'Funk for the Shaolin Monk' is available for purchase on itunes and 'Got Funk, Will Travel' on Soundcloud. The chamber jazz and classical project 'Jazz Cafe' is available through Stringwise Records and latest materials such as his work with Lukas Ligeti is available on Soundcloud for download.

His most recent work has centred around the Cyber Guitar System, developed as part of a PhD research project. This project interrogates the intersection of his own work with prosthetic electronics and systems development.

He holds a position at The University of the Witwatersrand and the position of Musical Director at His People Church Johannesburg.

PRODUCTION: Grace and Crossley in Concert
BOOKING: www.webtickets.co.za
Full price = R80.00; discount price = R55.00 (students, pensioners and Wits staff). Tickets are available at the door. Full price = R85.00; discount price = R60.00 (students, pensioners and Wits staff). 

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