José Manuel made his Carnegie Hall debut in February 2008 and most recently at Columbia, Miami, Kiev, Madeira, Mexico, Sao Paulo, Bangkok, Kirov, Túnez, New Delhi, Moscow and Shanghai guitar festivals.

José Manuel Dapena has a wide international experience, playing in places such as Raitt Recital Hall – Los Angeles, Brand Library – Glendale, South Bay, Playa Del Rey, The Fret house – California, Coral Gables – Miami, French Library – Boston, Leaking Hall – Baltimore, Henegar Arts Center – Melbourne, St. Paul’s, Instituto Cervantes, Carnegie Hall – New York, The Three Arts, Church of Evanston – Chicago, C. Cathedral – Hartford (USA), Johannesgasse Konzertsaal – Vienna (Austria), Atrium de Chaville – Paris, Instituto Cervantes – Lyon (France), Sala Maia – Oporto (Portugal), Philippos Nakas – Athens (Greece), Palazzo Borsalino – Alessandria (Italy), Yotsuya Kumin Hall – Gendai Guitar – Tokyo (Japan), Fundación Juan March – Madrid, Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, (Spain), King John’s House – Point Dance & Arts Centre – Southampton, Greenwood Centre – Twickenham, Knott Memorial Hall – Newcastle, Cedar Park – Derby, Instituto Cervantes – Manchester, Bognor Regis, Norwegian Church – Wales, Lauderdale House, Latin Quarter – London (England), Souza Lima – Sao Paulo, Cecilia Meireles, Museu Naif, Sala Baden Powell – Rio de Janeiro, (Brazil), The Ulster College – Belfast, Royal Dublin Society (Ireland), University of Glasgow, (Scotland), Philarmonia Hall, Kirov (Russia), National Philharmonic, Kiev, (Ukraine), Sala Ponce, Monterrey, (México).

His repertoire is especially diverse, ranging from transcriptions of Bach and other earlier composers to works of the present day. He also has a unique interest in presenting monographic concert programs. His latest work in this field has been a recital including the Complete Sonatas by Fernando Sor, Joaquín Turina’s complete works for solo guitar to commemorate the 50th year after this composer’s passing and Platero and I by Eduardo Sainz de la Maza and Castelnuovo-Tedesco for narrator and guitar. Turina’s grandson José Luis, also a noted composer said: “He possesses an extensive musical background, in written as well as in analytical aspects, which enhances his brilliant professional career.”

Recently he recorded two CD´s: ‘Rincón mágico: Complete Turina works’ and ‘Al pie de una guitarra: Guitar music inspired by poetry of Miguel Hernández’.

He has broadcasted on numerous radio stations in Europe and the United States, one of which was a complete live concert on New England’s largest classical radio station WGBH (Boston) and in 2014 for “Los clásicos” by Yolanda Criado, program from Radio Nacional de España. In print he has been interviewed in London by Classical Guitar magazine and in Tokyo by Gendai Guitar.

In 2006, uniting his sixth concert tour in the United States, fifth in Europe and second in Japan, he presented music for guitar from 1936 to 1939 by Antonio José, J. Turina and J. Rodrigo. This program, for his first world tour, was presented in remembrance of the 70th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War for audiences in New York, London and Tokyo.

Since José Manuel Dapena first began studying the classical guitar he took classes in Spain with David Russell who had a great influence on his conception of the instrument and wrote: “He is an excellent player with a strong warm tone, agile technique and is able to bring magic to the musical phrases.” Dapena also studied under Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Conservatory in summer classes in Baltimore, Maryland.