James Harrison studied at the Royal College of Music where he won the prestigious Lies Askonas Prize, then went on to the National Opera Studio.

James has appeared in concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican, The Wigmore Hall and St John’s Smith Square with groups such as The Prince Consort, Grahame Johnson’s Young Songmakers and The Classical Opera Company.

Since returning James has sung inTosca, Candide, Trial By Jury and Carmen for New Zealand Opera and sang Germontin La Traviata for a Festival Opera. Before moving back to New Zealand he made his debut for English National Opera in Between Worlds and sang at The Royal Opera House in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Other roles include Conte Alamaviva/Le Nozze di Figaro for Opera Sør/Pop-Up Opera in Norway; Escamillo/Carmen for Opera Up Close; Bello/La Fanciulla del West for Opera Holland Park. James has also covered roles for English National Opera, Opera North and Garsington.

James is now in demand as a teacher and choral educator, teaching at the Conservatorium of Music at The University of Waikato, coaching the New Zealand Youth Choir as a guest, and working with top school choirs and young singers across the country.

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