James Williamson

Born in Selby, North Yorkshire, England in 1984, James Williamson developed an interest in composition when studying at the University of Huddersfield in 2002. During his study under Patrick Standford, he has had many pieces performed and recorded by professional ensembles, including the Malcolm Layfield String Quartet, Galliard Ensemble, Ensemble Firebird, various university ensembles and a solo performance by trombone virtuoso Barry Webb. Since completing his degree in 2005, James studied for a year under the tutelage of Bryn Harrison before undergoing a Masters degree in composition at the Royal Academy of Music with Philip Cashian. James has also received tuition from Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Simon Bainbridge, Bent Sørenson and Hans Abrahamsen. James' piece 10 Pages, for solo harp, was short-listed for the Young Composers Workshop at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2006 and performed by renowned harpist Rhodri Davis. While at the Royal Academy of Music, James has had pieces premiered at prestigious festivals and venues, including Canterbury Sounds New festival by the Manson Ensemble, and at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall with the London Sinfonietta. He has also had performances and collaborations with the London Sinfonietta, The National Theatre, CoMA London, Aurora Orchestra and various animation projects. He was also commended for his Chamber Concerto for the Eric Coate’s Composition Prize. Other performances include his accordion concerto The Hole of Horcum, which was premiered at the Royal Academy of Music and later performed in Pula, Croatia at the Dobrila University of Pula’s 15th Anniversary of the Classical Accordion department performed by Franko Bozac. James also won the inaugural Lunar Saxophone Quartet New Music Award in December 2007 with his piece In Memoriam.  This piece is now published by Staunch Music Publications and has been recorded on the Lunar Saxophone Quartet’s new album ‘Flux’ released February 2011, it will be toured around concert halls and festivals in the UK soon.