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The English tenor and violist, James Gant, obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree (2020-2013) and Master of Philosophy degree in Politics and International Studies (October 2023-June 2024).from the University of Cambridge, and recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Law at City, University of London. He is also an alumnus of the Sir Arthur Bliss Lieder Scheme, where he studied with Joseph Middleton and took part in a master-class with Sir Thomas Allen.
James Gant is a high, lyrical tenor with experience spanning choral, oratorio, and opera work. He is currently a Lay Clerk at Southwark Cathedral and performs regularly with leading professional groups including Tenebrae (Director: Nigel Short), Alamire, and the Cambridge Singers (Director: John Rutter).
A former choral scholar of St John’s College, Cambridge, James appeared frequently as a soloist in recordings, broadcasts, and concerts with the choir, performing in venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. His solo repertoire includes George Frideric Handel's Esther and Messiah, Benjamin Britten's Saint Nicholas, Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle, W.A. Mozart's Requiem, and Ralph Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music. Operatic roles include Tamino in W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Jupiter in G.F. Handel's Semele, Acis in G.F. Handel's Acis and Galatea, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, and Basilio in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, performed with the Cambridge University Opera Society.
James has sung under conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Laurence Cummings, Paul McCreesh, and Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Recent highlights including Janáček’s The Excursions of Mr Brouček with the London Symphony Orchestra, G.F. Handel's Messiah with the Gabrieli Consort and Kammerorchester Basel, and a performance of Obrecht and Fayrfax at the Bruges Early Music Festival with Alamire. He has recorded with the Cambridge Singers and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on new commissions by Sir John Rutter, and his performances have been broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and featured online.
In addition to his classical work, James appeared as a backing vocalist for the Mercury Prize-nominated post-punk band Black Country, New Road in live performances at the Electric Ballroom, Camden. |
