Seaton Music is always keen to encourage the young musicians and james Noble is one of the finest around. After growing up in Halifax, West Yorkshire, James studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester with John Bradbury, Nicholas Cox and Linda Merrick where he graduated with a 1st class BMus(Hons). Following his studies in Manchester, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, London with Tim Lines, Richard Hosford, Michael Collins and Colin Lawson, where he graduated with a Masters of Performance with Distinction. His studies at the RCM were generously supported by The Countess of Munster Trust, The Chizel Educational Trust and The Seary Charitble Trust.
As an orchestral musician, highlights include RCM Symphony Orchestra with Bernard Haitink and Jac van Steen at The Royal Festival Hall, principal clarinet on several occasions for the RCM Opera Orchestra, the RNCM Symphony, Opera and Chamber Orchestras, and has also taken part in CD recordings for both Naxos and Polyphonic record labels with the RNCM Wind Orchestra. In 2011, he was invited to perform with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra at MediaCity UK and Leeds Town Hall as part of their Professional Experience Scheme and was invited to take part in the RCM/ENO Evolve Scheme 2014-2015.
As a soloist, he was a winner of the 2013 RNCM Woods/Candlin Prize in the woodwind solo competition, a finalist of the RCM Concerto Competition in 2014 and 2015 and performed in the 2015 RCM Rising Stars Concert Series at The Cadogan Hall.
He has taken part in masterclasses with Karl Leister, Michael Collins, Eric Mandat, Reiner Wehle and Michael Whight to name a few.
He has a very keen interest in contemporary music and new works, and finding new and innovative ways of programming these with more traditional repertoire. He recently took part in a project with LSO SoundHub composer Na’ama Zisser, combining a small ensemble with live karaoke backing, and has worked extensively with Joe Duddell for artists such as 'Daughter', 'The Temples', 'Steve Mason', 'East India Youth' and 'Nadine Shah' in the Town Hall Sessions at Festival No.6 Portmeirion, Air Studios and performances in both London and Manchester.
James is delighted to be supported by the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme for this concert, one of many he is undertaking with Simon Callaghan across the country.
Steinway Artist Simon Callaghan has performed throughout the UK, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Austria, France and Belgium and has broadcast on BBC TV and radio. Engagements have included Wigmore Hall, Fairfield Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, St David’s Hall Cardiff and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
With an extensive concerto repertoire of over 25 works, Simon has worked with many orchestras including the RLPO. In chamber music he has performed with the Maggini, Sacconi and Carducci Quartets, Tim Hugh, Raphael Wallfisch, Jack Liebeck and the actors Samuel and Timothy West and Prunella Scales.
Other highlights include a gala concert with ENO principals, a residency at the Banff Centre (Canada) a highly acclaimed recording of English piano music and the first UK performance since 1946 of Medtner’s Third Piano Concerto. Recent recordings include a two-disc recording of Delius orchestral works in arrangements for two pianos (Somm) a two-volume set of Brahms and a CD featuring world premiere recordings of music by Roger Sacheverell Coke (also on Somm).
Simon is Head of Piano at the Ingenium Summer Academy (Winchester) and Artistic Director of the renowned Conway Hall Sunday Concerts, the longest-running chamber music series in Europe.