Daniel James

Biography

Dan is a cellist, conductor and educator, whose musical career has taken him from Brighton to Bangalore. As a cellist, Dan completed his Masters at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, after gaining his BMus (Hons) at Trinity College of Music.

With his cello quartet, Dan recorded the critically acclaimed Time and Place album, with the jazz vocalist Claire Martin OBE for her record label, Linn records. Other commercial work has seen him broadcast on BBC Radio 2 & 3, record for X Factor finalists Little Mix and perform on ITV television as a member of the orchestra for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant concerts at Windsor Castle. 

He also enjoys playing in musical theatre and has deputised in the West End productions of Les Misérables, Shrek and Carousel. He has also held the cello chair in numerous productions at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

The recipient of the George Hurst Conducting Prize from the Blackheath Conservatoire, Dan has worked with orchestras from both the UK and abroad. He began his conducting studies under Andrew Morley, later working with Sian Edwards, Denise Ham and Colin Metters.

Aside from his conducting work at Junior Trinity, Dan is principal conductor of the Hayes Symphony Orchestra and has has also worked with the Brighton Youth Orchestra, Musicians of All Saints, Greenwich Sinfonietta and in 2014 he was invited to Africa to conduct the National Musicamp of Zimbabwe’s orchestra on their 50th anniversary course and concert. 

Dan also teaches cello and chamber music at the City of London School for Girls, Eltham College and Gallions Primary School.