James Slimings

James Slimings BMus (Hons) is currently studying towards a Masters of Music in Classical Singing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD) under Amand Hekkers. Previous teachers have included Iain Paton, Scott Johnston and Clare Sheerer. Since being at the Royal Conservatoire, James has been involved in every Royal Conservatoire Choir and Consort project, taking solos numerous times. He has also been involved with the Conservatoire collaboration with Scottish Opera, appearing in War and Peace (Chorus), Cunning Little Vixen (Chorus) and Betrothal in a Monastery (Chorus & Servant 1). He has also been involved in Conservatoire productions of Le Nozze di Figaro (Chorus) and Coronation of Poppea (Famigliari). He was also involved in Taverner by Sir Peter Maxwell Davis with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra as Chorus. Chorally, James sings with Ludus Baroque, Paisley Abbey Choir under the direction of George McPhee, Edinburgh Festival Chorus, National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, St Mary’s Cathedral and the Royal Conservatoire Choirs. He has also sung as a Layclerk with Glasgow University Chapel Choir singing the role of Das Jungling in Schummans Das Paradise und die Perriman with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. As part of his conducting fellowship with the RSNO, James has also sang with the RSNO Chorus with many esteemed conductors. James was awarded a Commendation at the Jean Highgate Scholarship for Singing in 2010. He has also been awarded an award from the Preston Simpson/ Sterndale Scholarship Trust for over 5 years. In great demand as a both a soloist and choral singer, James has formed relationships with many choirs and choral societies in the west of Scotland including; Uriel in Creation with Angus Choral Society, Tenor Soloist in Carmina Burana with Dundee University Music Society and Tenor Soloist in Les Noces with the Royal Conservatoire and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He has also given recitals for the West End Festival and Dumbartonshire Library. James' areas of interest include the changing adolescent voice, the use of spectrograph data in choral rehearsals and the acoustical nature and physiological definition of choral blend. As a choral conductor, James has made a reputation in Scotland as one of the up and coming directors on the scene. He is currently Musical Director of the following groups: The Kilbarchan Singers, Glasgow Caledonian University Choir, Hadley Court Singers, Glasgow Cathedral Choral Society and Edinburgh Youth Choir. In 2012/13, James was the Alexander Gibson Fellow with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, as part of this training, James prepared choruses for the likes of Sir Andrew Davis, Donald Runnicles, Peter Oundjian, Chrisopher Bell and Paul Agnew. His tutelage was under Tim Dean, head of Opera at the Royal Conservatoire. Passionate about education, James has also worked with the Junior Department of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on a Saturday morning. James has taken rehearsals with the choirs, accompanied concerts and student exams, led workshops and masterclasses in conducting and improvisation. In 2013, he was involved in their production of Noahs Flood with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra broadcast on Radio 3 under the direction of Martyn Brabbins. James also works with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain as a section leader having worked with Boys Choir, Cambiata Voices and Training Choir South. As such, James works with the tenor sections teaching the course music in a safe and healthy way. In 2012 in Liverpool and again in 2014 at Homerton College, Cambridge; James was involved with the Princes Teaching Institute in association with the University of Cambridge in delivering workshops on the theme of Building a Vocal Ensemble. He also led the music delegates in an improvised performance for the delegates and Jeremy Irons. From this, James will be giving workshops at both Pimlico School and Lancaster Royal Grammar School later in the year. Piece of Theatre of the Year according to the Guardian, The Events is a piece produced by Actors Touring Company written by David Greig and directed by Ramin Gray. James has been involved since 2013, firstly as Choirs Coordinator (Scotland) and then as a show pianist and Animateur. James has played The Young Vic, Traverse Theatre, Hull Truck and Birmingham Rep as part of the shows team. As part of the Cottier Chamber Festival, James directed a group of Conservatoire singers in a lunchtime recital of early polyphonic music at Glasgow University Memorial Chapel. He has also directed a group at the Scottish Parliament for the opening of the American State Legislatures Conference with many high profile guests in attendance. Previously, James has been involved with Bearsden Choir as their Assistant Conductor having been awarded the 2010 Making Music Young Conductors Scholarship, the choir were so impressed with James that they asked him back on a full time basis. As part of this award, James also took rehearsals with Glasgow Chamber Choir, who have also had him back to conduct rehearsals. As a pianist, James has worked with Cambridge University Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Barnard Castle School, Westbridge School for Girls, Starlight Theatre Company and Hartlepool Sixth Form College. He was also organist at St John the Baptist Greatham and has given an organ recital at Kelvingrove Art Gallery as part of the name change events for the Royal Conservatoire. He has also given workshops for Music4Uist, played harpsichord and organ for the Royal Conservatoire Junior Department, and conducted a 20 strong pro pit orchestra for a production of the Wizard of Oz.