James began his musical career as a chorister and brass player, gaining a place at the Birmingham Conservatoire to study trumpet and cornet, where, during his final year, he formed his first choir. This first experience of conducting, inspired by singing with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and the critically acclaimed Laudibus, marked a significant turning point and James was allowed to adapt his BMus degree course to reflect this change in direction, even though no official courses in Choral Direction were available from the Conservatoire at the time.

James has since studied conducting under many eminent choral figures, attending the Voices Foundation International Conducting Symposium, working under Michael Brewer and Ralph Allwood, participating in the ABCD (Association of British Choral Directors) Conducting Course, headed by Peter Broadbent and Therees Hibbard, and also studying for a MA Choral Education at Roehampton University.

In 2002, James took up an appointment at the BBC, leading a project to re-catalogue the BBC's vast collection of choral sheet music, and acting as the archive's chief choral advisor. This was a great opportunity for James to broaden his knowledge of choral repertoire. Whilst at the BBC, James gained valuable experience working with the BBC Singers, the UK's only full-time professional choir, for whom he has worked as a practitioner on their education project - GoSing.

For an alternative biography, or for further testimonials of James' conducting work, please visit  www.chantage.org