James McWilliam (b.1977) graduated from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 1999. After graduating he studied composition/arranging and piano privately with Peter Sander and in 2003 he completed a Masters Degree in composition at Goldsmiths College.
On April 4th 2005 his piece 'Variations on Seven' for Two Bow cello was performed by Frances Marie-Uitti at as part of the spnm Solo spotlight series.
James is currently composer in residence with Ipswich Choral Society and is writing a new piece for them to be premiered towards the end of 2006. His piece Striking Time for Cello & Dancer was recently performed at a special concert in aid of the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust at the LSO St. Luke's. In 2005 James was an assistant composer on the Sound Inventors project and towards the end of the year his piece Fractal for tenor recorder was premiered by Michael Piraner in Birkenhead. His music has been played in New York and Los Angeles as part of the 60x60 project and he has written for Fringe Theatre and short films.
James has worked as an orchestrator and programmer for various film composers such as Patrick Doyle, Dario Marianelli and David Whitaker. Recent films include As You Like It directed by Kenneth Brannagh, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire directed by Mike Newell and Lemmings directed by Dominik Moll. As an arranger in the pop industry his credits include Pavarotti, Jeff Beck, KOOX, Simply Red, Bond and Leo Green.