James is a versatile musician based in Manchester, who has a busy freelance career. He is a cellist, conductor and pianist. James studied in Manchester on the joint course at the University and the Royal Northern College of Music. He was selected as one of a small cohort of musicians to join the NEXT Programme via Birmingham Conservatoire, which provided performance and training opportunities in contemporary performance practice and the opportunity to work with new composers. In contrast to this, James then gained a master’sat the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, studying with David Watkin and John Butt, researching performance practice of late 19th century music and how audience behaviour has changed.
As a cellist James plays with a number of professional orchestras in the UK including Opera North, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic,and the Hallé. Recently James has become increasingly involved in opera. He isa regular member of the orchestra of the English Touring Opera and has performed with them for several tours and recently performed in the premiere of Liam Paterson's Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of the Four with the Northern Opera Group. He plays with many other local ensembles covering diverse styles, from the likes of Manchester Baroque to Northern Film Orchestra. Alongside orchestral playing, James dedicates much of his time to chamber music, performing with several small groups. He runs a regular and popular classical chamber session night, ‘Vigany’s Cabinet’ in a pub in Manchester, encouraging an audience to engage with classical music in anon-traditional way.
James is musical director of The Manchester Oratory. He is in demand as an accompanist for amateur choirs and community groups and is regular accompanist for the Macclesfield Singers. He is also frequently called upon as a guest conductor for amateur orchestras in the North-West. He has worked on several outreach schemes bringing classical music to local schools and the community at large.