|
Highly sought after as a performer, Mr. Jenks has performed in a broad range of venues including a European tour in 2007
where he performed solo concerts in France, Germany, and Italy; two solo performances in 2004 and 2005 at the Portland Wine and Arts Festival; a performance on October 1, 2005 at the Newport Performing Arts Center;
and a performance in 2005 in front of a crowd of 3,000 people at Cycle Oregon. William performed for the re-opening of the Elgin Opera House in 2006 about which the Elgin Times wrote, “He put on a tremendous show,
just himself along with the guitar. The music was soothing and entertaining and the crowd was very receptive to his style of performance.” William was invited back the following year in 2007 to very
enthusiastic audience.
Other performances include a guest artist performance with the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, being selected to perform in a special reception for
Mayor Vera Katz as well as opening the 2006/2007 Portland Classic Guitar Concert Series which was broadcast on public access television. William has recorded 3 CDs and his recordings have been played on
All-Classical 89.9 FM numerous times.
His musical journey began at the tender age of six when he began performing choral music, which culminated in a magical performance of Magnificat
under the world-renowned composer and maestro John Rutter at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York. William began studying classical guitar at age 23 with Ken Johnson at Colorado Christian University where he
graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree. William has also studied with David Franzen, Bryan Johanson, and Scott Kritzer and performed in the master classes of world-renowned classical guitarists
Christopher Parkening, Scott Tennant and Ricardo Iznaola.
In addition to his performing career, William Jenks is also a highly acclaimed guitar instructor. He recently founded Oregon’s only exclusive
classical guitar teaching studio and guitar shop known as Portland Classic Guitar where he holds regular student recitals and hosts Portland’s only Classical Guitar Concert series. He and his staff teach
hundreds of beginning to advanced students ranging in ages from 5 to 75. Mr. Jenks is also on staff as an adjunct faculty instructor at Portland Community College where some of William’s students have gone on to
pursue a career in music.
William is available for lessons, concerts, weddings and corporate events and currently resides in Portland, Oregon with his wife Cassandra and two
sons Zach and Grant.
|
