Irish/British conductor and pianist James Sherlock is quickly establishing a name for himself on the podium. This season 23/24 he debuts with the Royal Danish Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Finnish National Opera (Dialogues des Carmélites) and at the Savonlinna Opera Festival (Nabucco). He returns to the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic, Ensemble Passio, Athelas Sinfonietta and the English Chamber Orchestra, alongside recent/upcoming appearances with the symphony orchestras of Lahti, Kuopio, Oulu, Helsingborg, Odense and Sønderborg.

James has a particular love of the voice, and has worked in opera houses throughout Europe and accompanied leading singers at major Lied festivals and concerts halls worldwide, including the Wigmore and Carnegie Halls, Muziekgebouw and the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg. He has conducted the outstanding Tenebrae Choir on tours to Germany, Austria and France and the UK, as well as several appearances with the BBC Singers and DR VokalEnsemblet.

He continues to perform as a pianist, directing Mozart concerti from the piano with the English Chamber Orchestra, and Brahms’ 2nd piano concerto under the baton of Tarmo Peltokoski.

James studied at Cambridge University, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Georg Solti Accademia, before completing his studies in conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Sakari Oramo, Hannu Lintu, Atso Almila and Jorma Panula. He is a top prize winner at the Royal Overseas League Competition, the Das Lied International Song Competition, BBC Performing Arts Trust, and the Award for Young Concert Artists.