James Ham

British conductor James Ham enjoys a growing reputation across the orchestral, opera, and ballet repertoire for his versatility, wealth of ideas, and genuine music making.

Recent guest work includes the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra, LA CENERENTOLA and THE CORONATION OF POPPEA with English Touring Opera, THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER with Opera della Luna, and the first ever performance in England of Tchaikovsky’s opera THE OPRICHNIK together with a cast of leading soloists. In Europe, he has given orchestral concerts with the Magdeburg Philharmonie, Neubrandenburg Philharmonie, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Ensemble Modern Akademie, and Gibraltar Philharmonic.

James also works in ballet, where his recent engagements include a 20 performance tour of THE NUTCRACKER with Scottish Ballet, a tour of THE GREAT GATSBY with Northern Ballet, and rehearsal and cover conductor for THE RITE OF SPRING in a mixed bill programme with FAUN at the Bayerische Staatsballett. As a former Conducting Fellow with Birmingham Royal Ballet, he conducted several performances of THE NUTCRACKER, COPPÉLIA, and THE GRAND TOUR, as well as mixed bill programmes with excerpts from GISELLE, DREAM and FAÇADE.

As a previous Assistant Conductor with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, James worked with Edward Gardner and Vladimir Jurowski. He has also assisted at the Bayerische Staatsoper (PETER GRIMES), Norwegian National Opera (LA DAMNATION DE FAUST), Theater an der Wien (PORGY AND BESS), Gärtnerplatztheater (RIGOLETTO), and been part of the music staff at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden (TOSCA).

James studied conducting at the St Petersburg Conservatory and Universität der Künste Berlin, and received specialist training in contemporary music as a conductor with the London Sinfonietta Academy, Ensemble Modern Akademie, and Lucerne Festival Academy, where he was Conducting Fellow. He has assisted Mark Elder with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Karel Mark Chichon with the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie.