About
At age eight, James announced that he would become a “mathemusician”. This has proven prescient: he currently studies cello with Howard Penny at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), having previously studied under Simon Cobcroft and Rachel Johnston, and holds a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) in physics and mathematics from the Australian National University.
The Australian Youth Orchestra is largely to blame for luring James towards a musical career. He served as AYO’s Principal Cello on the 2025 International Tour, performing at Musikverein and Het Concertgebouw. He is also a member of the Academic Orchestra of Zürich and a casual cellist with the Adelaide and Canberra Symphony Orchestras.
Incurably fond of chamber music, James has collaborated with William Barton, Wilma Smith, Kirsten Williams, and Ensemble Offspring. As a soloist and recitalist, he has appeared for Musica Viva, the Canberra International Music Festival, and at various embassies. His concerto performances have garnered “wild acclaim”, with Canberra City News calling him a “dynamo on the cello”.
James has been supported by the ANU Friends of the School of Music Performance Scholarship, Ruth Pfanner Scholarship, Erika Haas Prize, Wesley Scholarship, Fankhauser Travelling Fellowship, and Dunbar Physics Honours Scholarship. When not playing cello, he enjoys composing, discussing differential geometry, and reading Murakami.
The Principal Cello Chair is generously supported Simon Johnson & David Nichols.
