James Hardie is currently studying for an MSt in History, having previously studied Music at Oxford University. James began his musical education as a chorister at St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, later moving to the Edinburgh Academy where he was a Music Scholar. James was then Organ Scholar at Keble College, Oxford, and an Academic Scholar of the College. He studies harpsichord with Mahan Esfahani, and has studied the organ with Duncan Ferguson, Simon Nieminski and William Whitehead, as well as taking masterclasses with Clive Driskill-Smith and Thomas Trotter. In 2014 he was made an Associate of the Royal College of Organists. He has studied conducting with Simon Whalley and Edward Higginbottom. James directs the Henry Ley Singers, and is a musical director for Theatron Novum. He plays continuo for Oxford University Baroque Ensemble. In 2014 James founded the Keble College Early Music Festival, which takes place for a week at the end of February each year.