James Sleigh ARCM, Hon ARAM – viola

James Sleigh was appointed to teach at the Royal Academy of Music in 2002 and is now Professor of Viola, Chamber Music and an Undergraduate Head of Year.

Previously he taught at Birmingham Conservatoire and for many years was associated with the National Youth Orchestra as well as teaching at Eton College, St Paul’s Girls ’ School and Junior Academy. He is much in demand as an examiner as well as chamber music and orchestral coach.

Whilst still very much a performer, James has an overriding commitment to teaching in which he draws from years of experience of orchestral, chamber and solo performing. Many of his students have won prizes and go on to successful careers in ensembles and major orchestras in the UK and abroad.

James was awarded scholarships to study in Scotland with James Durrant and at the RCM with Frederick Riddle where he won several prizes. His earliest recordings were for BBC Radio Scotland at the age of 15. At the age of 20 he was principal viola with the Manchester Camerata and the Orchestra of Northern Ballet Theatre. Thereafter he held principal positions with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra where he stayed for 6 exciting years. During his tenure at the SCO he worked with some of the 20th century’s legendary string players including Yehudi Menuhin, Paul Tortelier, Oscar Shumsky, Isaac Stern and Mstislav Rostropovich as well as a formidable roster of distinguished singers and pianists. Notable performances include Bach Brandenburg 6 with Yehudi Menuhin at the Edinburgh Festival, chamber music on BBC Radio 3 with Emanuel Ax and concerts in France and Spain with Jean Francaix at the piano.

In 1988 James moved back to London attracted by the variety of opportunity in the freelance world. His experience encompasses concerts and recordings across different genres with artists from Bernstein and Boulez to Tina Turner and Robbie Williams. He has worked with almost all the major orchestras and is much in demand as regular or guest principal with orchestras both at home and abroad. Often broadcast, he has performed on Albanian television in a trio by Thomas Ades with the composer at the piano and has given several premieres in London. In addition James is active in the recording studios in London where he has contributed to discs and videos by doyens of popular music as well as numerous film scores. His breadth of view is further enhanced by extensive travel in his concert giving and an adventurous spirit which has taken him to nearly 40 different countries across the world over the years.

It is from all these sources that James draws inspiration for his teaching with a sense of history and style and a flexible approach to the changing world of music. He is committed to helping his students fulfil their potential with a sound technical foundation and an integrated approach to the expressive language of music through a thorough understanding of the player, the instrument and the music itself.