Dr Jonathan James started his conducting career by setting up the New Bristol Sinfonia in 1997. Following a fellowship with the Boston Philharmonic, he has freelanced with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC orchestras, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (for educational concerts), the Orchestra of the Swan and the Bristol Ensemble. Having coached opera singers and directed both opera and music theatre, he turned his attention to choral conducting ten years ago and has led the St Ambrose Choir in Bristol since 2019.
Outside of conducting, his specialisation is in collaborative improvisation, which he teaches at conservatoires and with advanced musicians across the country. He is well known in the city for his pre-concert talks, educational work – he founded and directed the Bristol Pre-Conservatoire – and wide-ranging community work. This includes the Dovetail Orchestra, a charity he founded in 2022 to support people who have been displaced from around the world.