James graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2019, where he won the EV-ENTZ Percussion Prize. Prior to his studies, James was a longstanding member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. Since graduating, James has played with ensembles such as WNO, Ulster Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and the Brecon Baroque Festival Orchestra. He has performed in venues across the world including Carnegie Hall in New York City and as a member of a percussion quartet in last year’s International Society of Contemporary Music Festival 2024 in the Faroe Islands. James also works regularly delivering community music sessions and this year has been working as Percussion Tutor with the Dovetail Orchestra in Cardiff, an ensemble for refugees.