james erickson

James Erickson has an active career teaching classical and rock guitar throughout the New York metropolitan area and Long Island. James is an adjunct music instructor at Nassau Community College, LIU Post, and Suffolk County Community College, where he teaches music history, theory, fretboard harmony and is the director of The SCCC Guitar Ensemble. James is on 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 Long Island University, where he was awarded “Outstanding Performance in Guitar Studies.” Other studies include Berkee College Of Music.

James has performed on tour as a classical guitar soloist in the United States, Europe, and Canada. James has also participated in the Long Island Guitar Festival in both solo and chamber performances. He has also performed in master classes for Jerry Willard, Carlo Domeniconi, Benjamin Verdery, Sharon Isbin, William Kanengiser, and Eduardo Fernandez. James is a founding member of Guitar Trilogy, a guitar trio that performs various classical and contemporary repertoire. In 2010 the group released their first CD, “Short Stories,” which features the music of Bach, de Falla, Ellington, and Albeniz. The group also recorded the soundtrack for a documentary film about the Italian city of Modena, performing a transcription of Bach’s Italian Concerto. “What audiences can expect from the three-man band known as Guitar Trilogy are flashes of virtuoso musicianship rendering quality classical or folk-inspired music from around the world.” (Southampton Press)

Since 2010, James has been a member of the Artesian Guitar Quartet. The quartet presents highly innovative programs that include a wide variety of music. They have performed at The Dickens Festival, The Art League of Long Island, The Long Island Guitar Festival, The Rensselaerville Historical Society, the Babylon Arts Council, The Steinberg Museum of Art, and the Song D'ete en Musique festival in Quebec, Canada. In September 2013, the quartet toured Quebec with performances for Quebec Rural University, Sainte-Agnes in Lac Megantic, and St. Vital in Lambton, Quebec. The group released an EP featuring the music of Bach, Meschi, Dvorak, and Faure.

As an electric guitarist, his studies have included lessons from jazz guitarist Howard Morgen and rock virtuoso Paul Gilbert. James has extensive recording and performing experience and is currently involved in many diverse musical projects. He is the guitarist for Tradewinds, an eleven-piece band that performs at weddings, corporate events, and club dates throughout the tri-state area. The group was voted "Best LI Cover Band" by the Long Island Press. James also performed with several touring tribute acts, including Walking The Line, a musical tribute to Johnny Cash, Classic Albums Live, performing the album "Who's Next" by The Who, and Return to Paradise, performing the music of Styx. Notable performances have included The Paramount Theater in Huntington, NY, The Riviera Theater in Buffalo, NY, Sellersville Theater in Pennsylvania, B.B Kings in NYC, Daryl’s House in NY, and The Grand Theater in Mayland. James has opened for many national rock acts, including Taj Mahal, The Spin Doctors, Saigon Kick, Voyage and Twisted Sister. He has also performed the guitar parts for many theatrical productions, including "Hair," "Anything Goes," "Camp Rock," "Fiddler on the Roof," and "Seussical."

  For the past decade, 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, which presents master classes, concerts, and workshops by the world's most outstanding guitarists and teachers. James also offers private and online guitar instruction in a wide variety of musical styles.