James studied for his undergraduate degree on the 'joint course' between the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Manchester, and studied with the head of strings, Chris Hoyle. He graduated with a first from each institution in 2018.
James has a wealth of experience playing a wide variety of different types of music. He is a keen advocate of contemporary music and put on a concert in March, called 'For Cello Alone', containing only world premières of works written by emerging composers. Whilst at the RNCM, he worked with a number of composers on their pieces, including Colin Matthews, Harrison Birtwistle and Anthony Gilbert, as well as many student composers. He also this year began Birmingham Contemporary Music Group's brand-new NEXT programme, which provides training for emerging performers of contemporary music and sees them working with members of the BCMG and established composers such as Brian Ferneyhough and Rebecca Saunders.
His other specialism lies in Baroque music, which he prefers to perform on a period instrument. In particular, he specialises in continuo, and has played continuo in Bach's Johannes-passion, Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Vergine and Rameau's Castor et Pollux, among others.
He also has a distinguished background of playing orchestral music to a very high standard, and has played with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra, as well as being selected as principal cellist for the RNCM's joint tour with the Conservatoire de Paris. He is also comfortable playing as a soloist, and has played a number of pieces with orchestra including Britten's Cello Symphony and Dvořák's cello concerto.
James has a wealth of experience playing a wide variety of different types of music. He is a keen advocate of contemporary music and put on a concert in March, called 'For Cello Alone', containing only world premières of works written by emerging composers. Whilst at the RNCM, he worked with a number of composers on their pieces, including Colin Matthews, Harrison Birtwistle and Anthony Gilbert, as well as many student composers. He also this year began Birmingham Contemporary Music Group's brand-new NEXT programme, which provides training for emerging performers of contemporary music and sees them working with members of the BCMG and established composers such as Brian Ferneyhough and Rebecca Saunders.
His other specialism lies in Baroque music, which he prefers to perform on a period instrument. In particular, he specialises in continuo, and has played continuo in Bach's Johannes-passion, Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Vergine and Rameau's Castor et Pollux, among others.
He also has a distinguished background of playing orchestral music to a very high standard, and has played with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra, as well as being selected as principal cellist for the RNCM's joint tour with the Conservatoire de Paris. He is also comfortable playing as a soloist, and has played a number of pieces with orchestra including Britten's Cello Symphony and Dvořák's cello concerto.
"...was played with passion, panache, talent and sheer gusto by Heathcote."
Mark Dee on Britten's cello symphony, northwestend.co.uk, 11/3/17
"Here... the performances [were] perfectly pitched."
P.P.O Kane on Bach's St. John Passion, Jildy Sauce, 2/7/17
Mark Dee on Britten's cello symphony, northwestend.co.uk, 11/3/17
"Here... the performances [were] perfectly pitched."
P.P.O Kane on Bach's St. John Passion, Jildy Sauce, 2/7/17
Selected Repertoire
- Bach: Cello suites
- Brahms: Cello sonatas
- Britten: Cello suite No.1
- Britten: Cello symphony
- Divver, Edgar: Routine*
- Dvořák: Cello concerto in B minor
- Elgar: Cello concerto
- Finzi: Cello concerto
- Haydn: Cello concerti
- Janáček: Pohádka
- Johnston, Rory Wainwright: A refracted consciousness*
- Matthews, Colin: Five Duos for Cello and Piano
- Mendelssohn: Cello sonata No.2 in D
- Skingle, Dominic: Tempest*
- Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations
- Wallington, Robin: Claustrum*
- Xenakis: Kottos