James Gillett

Biography

James Gillett is a conductor, répétiteur and vocal coach based in Manchester.

With a Master's degree in repetiteur studies from the Royal Northern College of Music, James has cultivated a deep passion for performance and music education, particularly within opera and vocal arts.

As a conductor and musical director, James has led performances with Flat Pack Music and Random Opera, and has been a Young Artist Conductor at Waterperry Opera Festival. Since 2021, he has held the position of Musical Director with Oldham Symphony Orchestra, leading the orchestra's development and expanding their reputation as a high-quality amateur orchestra.

Away from the podium, James enjoys working closely with singers in operatic repertoire and song from the piano. His main focuses are on helping singers harness their technique to delve deeper into musical style, language, and story-telling. Through his relationship with the RNCM, James plays regularly for singing lessons and further supports students with recordings, coaching, and audition preparation.

Throughout James' career, he has developed an affinity with contemporary music and its ability to comment on today's world. Notably, he has served as a répétiteur for the world premiere of Anna Appleby's opera Drought, performed by the BBC Philharmonic in October 2022.

Alongside performing, James is dedicated to supporting community music-making. He has worked on sessions with Streetwise Opera, a charity that enables people who've experienced homelessness to find inspiration and empowerment while they rebuild their lives and identities. More recently he has worked with English National Opera in outreach performances as part of their move to Manchester.

Outside the concert hall, James enjoys performing duo recitals with vocalists at local venues, sharing exceptional music across various settings throughout Greater Manchester.