Printer Friendly PageAdjudicator: Dr Jonathan James
Dr Jonathan James is a music educator, conductor and founder-director of the Bristol Pre-Conservatoire, which he ran for 13 years. His wider education work involves lectures, pre-concert talks, professional training and creative workshops. As a presenter and conductor he has worked at all the major UK concert venues, as well as on BBC radio 3, and for many orchestras, including the Czech Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic and National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, where he has been an Associate for 10 years.
After a conducting fellowship in Boston, USA, Jonathan freelanced as an orchestral conductor in Europe and UK. Then followed a stint as a head of performing arts in Further Education and in teacher training, since when his focus has been improving musicianship through collaborative improvisation, the subject of his PhD. This is a specialism he now shares at various levels, from community groups such as the Dovetail Orchestra for displaced people, through to specialist music schools (Chethams, Wells Cathedral), national youth organisations (National Childrens Orchestra, Pro Corda) and conservatoires (RAM, RCM and Guildhall).
He currently conducts two highly accomplished choirs, St Ambrose and The Fitzhardinge Consort, and has launched a new contemporary instrumental ensemble, the Radial Collective. He was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to music last year.
