About
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James Warburton is a 21-year-old violinist from Bolton, who is a fourth-year undergraduate at the Royal Northern College of Music and is studying with Julia Hanson. James started playing the violin when he was aged 7 through his primary school and has since progressed through Bolton Music Service, played in the Halle Youth Orchestra and attended Junior RNCM for 4 years, taught by Steve Wilkie and supported by Awards for Young Musicians. In his final year at JRNCM, James led the JRNCM Symphony Orchestra and the JRNCM Sinfonia, as well as co-leading the Halle Youth Orchestra, and he won the JRNCM's Rohit Gazder award for violin. In his time so far at RNCM, James has been involved in the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra and various orchestras around the North of England, including leading the Camerata Players.
Since starting at the RNCM, James has played in orchestras supporting charities such as Mind and Amnesty. He has also performed in concerts in Bolton supporting the charities chosen by the Mayor of Bolton. James has also collaborated with choirs in his hometown, such as the Ladybridge Singers, whom he performed with regularly as a solo item in their concerts until COVID-19.
James is a keen chamber musician and is the second violinist of the Franco-Mendès Quartet, who have received mentoring from the Chilingirian Quartet, Elias Quartet and Piatti Quartet as well as a range of international groups and artists such as Louis Rodde, Paloma Koudier and Henk Guittart. In addition to this, James enjoys performing in functions and weddings across the UK and has been doing so for many years with a variety of ensembles, including at his own sister's wedding!
James is very grateful to play on an instrument by John Dearlove, generously loaned to him by The Tompkins Tate Musical Instrument Trust.