James Keretses maintains a multifaceted career as an ensemble musician, soloist, and educator. As a member of the award winning Baltimore Guitar Duo, he performed extensively throughout the east coast. In 2023, he joined the Atlantic Guitar Quartet, a Baltimore and New York based contemporary music ensemble dedicated to the music of living composers. Through his work with the Baltimore Guitar Duo and the Atlantic Guitar Quartet, he has premiered new works by Cody Criswell, Kirk-Evan Billet, and Olga Amelkina-Vera. Recent engagements include Peabody Institute’s Summer Guitar Intensive, The Loyola Concert Series, the Union Square Chamber Music Society, the Hands On Concert Series, and as guest artists at the South Carolina School of Music.

He is a dedicated and passionate teacher and has built a large studio of both Suzuki and traditional classical guitar students at the Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore, MD. In addition to directing the Rodrigo and Brouwer guitar ensembles, he is the assistant director of Fret Fest, the co-director of Peabody Youth Guitar Week, and the Youth Guitar Coordinator.

James holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree from Peabody Conservatory. In 2020, he earned his D.M.A. degree in Guitar Performance from Peabody with his research area being the Elizabethan era composer, Anthony Holborne. His primary teachers were Christopher Berg and Julian Gray. Additionally, he received his Suzuki Book 1 certification under William Kossler.

James’ guitar is a 2007 double-top built by Baltimore based luthier, Ross Gutmeier.