James Brown began his formal musical training as organ scholar of Girton College, Cambridge University, before continuing his studies at the Geneva Conservatoire, Switzerland. Following two years working as an organist and pianist in Lubbock, Texas, USA, James returned to the UK, and currently lives in Oxford, where he combines his work as a classical pianist and accompanist with being Organist of the historic University Church of St Mary the Virgin, with its professional choir.

​

As a recitalist James has given solo concerts in the USA, Belgium, Switzerland and the UK, and performed on both BBC television and radio and on several commercial recordings. For several years James has performed on the Swan Hellenic and Fred Olsen cruise lines and has travelled to many destinations all over the world, both as a solo pianist and as accompanist to the cellist Austen Scully, the clarinettist Rhodri Morgan, and various opera singers.

 

For Swan Hellenic James was also pianist and leader of the opera quartet Opera del Mare, which regularly appeared onboard for concerts and choral workshops. He was responsible for booking the classical musicians as well as choosing the programme content which was tailored to the destination of each cruise.

As an accompanist James has played for many classical musicians of note, including the singers Dame Sarah Connolly, Rodney King and Ed Lyon and the trumpeter Crispin Steele-Perkins, as well as a recent residency in Darjeeling, India with award winning cabaret artist and singer, Sarah-Louise Young.

 

2019 saw him appearing as either soloist or as part of a duo with the soprano Eloise Irving on all three Cunard ships, as well as a tour to the USA with the choir of New College, Oxford.