James Ross studied at Harrow School and Oxford University: a 1998 BBC Philharmonic Conducting Competition finalist, he has conducted in 20 countries throughout Europe, North America, Africa & Asia. He is Music Director of 6 UK orchestras and Artistic Advisor to The Commonwealth Resounds. Venues include Royal Festival Hall, Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth II, St. John's Smith Square, Symphony Hall, Birmingham and Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, including Beethoven's 9th for its 350th anniverary. He has conducted over 1,500 works and has a strong interest in contemporary music, including studio, film work and live screenings. He led Colombo's Nelum Pokuna Theatre's first orchestral concert. Opera experience started with assisting on Bernard Haitink’s Royal Opera Don Carlos, repertoire from Mozart to Britten and contemporary, including the première of Nicola Moro's opera Love Hurts at the Piccolo Teatro, Milan & Center for Contemporary Opera New York. He has studied in diverse musical traditions from Tsung Yeh, Zdenĕk Bílek, Victor Feldbrill, Ernst Schelle and Alan Hazeldine, also from Bernard Haitink, Sir David Willcocks & Sir Charles Mackerras. He has taught at Oxford University, is co-author of books on French music & journal contributor. He has helped raise £1 million+ for charities, including with English National Ballet for Save The Children. During the Pandemic, he led a live-streamed concert in Istanbul & conducted at Ankara's new CSO Hall. www.james-ross.com