My Background

James Baker is an award-winning guitarist from Mississauga, Ontario. He has taken top prizes in local as well as national competitions, including second prize at GuitarFest West in 2024, first in the guitar division of the FCMF Emerging Artist competition and the Buffalo International Guitar Festival Showcase Competition. James currently holds a Bachelor of Music in guitar performance degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Toronto. He is currently pursing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Toronto where he studies with Dr. Jeffrey McFadden and Jorge Caballero. James has had lessons and masterclasses with some of the world’s best guitarists, such as Judicaël Perroy, Rene Izquierdo, Daniella Rossi, Lorenzo Micheli, Mateo Mela and Zoran Dukic.

James has a diverse history of performing experience, including rock bands, musicals, opera, and classical chamber groups. In addition, James is an active supporter of new music, having premiered 3 compositions during his undergraduate degree. James is always excited for new performance opportunities and was fortunate enough to play the guitar part in the University of Toronto’s production of the “Barber of Seville” in the Fall of 2021.