Guitarist
NEWS

The Past & I: album by Arthur Keegan (composer/arranger/producer) /
Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo) / James Girling / Ligeti Quartet
On 19/7/24, Delphian Records released an album of new compositions and arrangements by Arthur Keegan setting poetry of Thomas Hardy. RPS' Young Artist of the Year, mezzo Lotte Betts-Dean, is joined by James and Ligeti Quartet. Released to critical acclaim with reviews in The Guardian, Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine, the album entered the official UK charts at No.5 in Specialist Classical, was Presto Music's Record Of The Week, and continues to be featured on various BBC Radio 3 programmes.

WOMEX 2024
With 12-piece band Agbeko, of which James is co-founder, James had the honour of performing at the opening concert of WOMEX 2024 at The Bridgewater Hall as representatives of the band's hometown, Manchester: this year's host city to the most diverse global music meeting in the world. WOMEX took place shortly after Agbeko had returned from their debut performances in Spain in October.

Paraorchestra: BBC Proms debut
In summer 2024, James made his debut in the BBC Proms playing electric guitar in Paraorchestra's world premiere performance of The Virtuous Circle : at Bristol Beacon for 'Proms At...'. Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, combined with dancers in an array of choreographic formations, is delicately threaded together with new compositions from Ivor Novello Award-winner, Oliver Vibrans, which abstract the DNA of Mozart’s opus.
The project reprises at Southbank Centre, London, on 29th June 2025.

Agbeko release There Must Be Another Way
Agbeko toured their sophomore album There Must Be Another Way in late-2023. It has been featured on BBC Radio 6 and BBC Music Introducing as well as stations across USA, Ghana, Australia, France, Italy, Switzerland, Czechia, Spain. Songlines Magazine printed: 'the spectacular chemistry shared by this large band is electric and emotive'. Listen here.
In 2024, they recorded their follow-up album at Giant Wafer Studios for release in 2025 with Bridge The Gap.

1st Prize: International Chamber Music Competition for Flute & Guitar
In 2023, James' Meraki Duo with flautist Meera Maharaj were awarded 1st prize in the International Chamber Music Competition for Flute & Guitar: held in Burriana, Spain. Meraki Duo have dedicated the prize money towards the recording and release of their forthcoming debut album.