Barralet James

James began playing the cello at the age of five and in 2003 was winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society's Julius Isserlis scholarship which enabled him to study for three years with Thomas Demenga in Basel. He concluded his studies in 2006 and was awarded the Soloist's Diploma. James previously studied with Hannah Roberts at the Royal Northern College of Music.

He has performed as soloist throughout Europe and beyond, making his concerto debut with Basel Symphony Orchestra in 2005 with Shostakovich's Cello concerto no. 1 and returning the following year with Tchaikovsky's Rococo variations. He will give his Bridgewater Hall recital debut in 2008.

Contemporary music is important for James and he likes to premiere new pieces. He is a member of innov'ensemble, a Swiss based group (soprano, flute, viola and cello) which specializes in contemporary music and performance.

James's work has been rewarded with numerous awards and prizes including a Hattori Foundation Senior Scholarship for young soloists and the Muriel Taylor Cello Scholarship. The Denne Gilkes Memorial Trust, the Myra Hess Trust, the Countess of Munster, the MBF, the Tillett Trust, the Rudolf-von-Tobel Studienstiftung, the Philharmonia Orchestra/Martin Musical Trust, and the Swiss government are among sponsoring supporters of James. The Royal Northern College of Music's soloist's diploma, a first class degree and the Sir John Barbirolli Cello Prize are among awards received from the RNCM. Second prize in the Bromsgrove International Competition and the Nossek Prize are among other accolades.

James has worked with professors including David Geringas at the Kronberg Cello Academy, Germany; Ralph Kirshbaum at the London Masterclasses; Benjamin Zander also at the London Masterclasses; Boris Pergamenschikow at the International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove, Cornwall; Pieter Wispelway at Boswil, Switzerland; Raphael Wallfisch at the Lake District Summer Music Festival, UK; and Robert Cohen in Varna, Bulgaria.

Apart from the classical repertoire, his musical interests include free improvisation, Hungarian folk and north Indian classical music (begun during a six month teaching visit to Calcutta in 1998). He draws from this diverse pool inspiration for arrangements, which have been widely performed at venues including the Graz Festival and the Warwick International Music Festival.