James begins his first year at ANAM in 2026 under Howard Penny, having previously studied with Howard, Rachel Johnston and Simon Cobcroft. He holds a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) in physics and mathematics from the Australian National University.
At age eight, James announced — with the absolute confidence that only eight-year-olds possess — that he would become a "mathemusician". This has proven unnervingly prescient, though he is still searching for an equally catchy portmanteau of music and physics.
James was appointed Principla Cello on the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) International Tour 2025, performing in halls such as the Musikverein and Het Concertgebouw, and will continue to lead the section for AYO's 2026 seasons. He is also a member of the Academic Orchestra of Zürich and a casual cellist with the Adelaide and Canberra Symphony Orchestra.
Incurably fond of chamber music, James has collaborated with artists such as William Barton, Kisten Williams, and Ensemble Offspring. He has performed with Wilma Smith and presented a masterclass as part of the 2025 Wilma and Friends series. As a soloist and recitalist, James has appeared at the Canberra International Music Festival and at various embassies. His concerto performances with orchestras have garned "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, the Ruth Pfanner Scholarship, the Erika Haas Prize, and the Fankhauser Travelling Fellowship, which enabled his music and physics studies in Zürich in 2024.
When he's not playing cello, James enjoys composing, discussing differential geometry, and reading Murakami.
FROM: SA. Lands of the Kaurna people.
James is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Elaine Canty AM and Roy Masters AM, Mary Oliver.
Photo by Pia Johnson