In 2002 James won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he studies with Joan Havill, and where he has won a number of important prizes. In 2005 he was awarded the Liszt Prize and the McCallum Prize for the Most Promising Young Pianist in the Royal Overseas League Competition and a year later won the piano section of the Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Competition. James has been awarded scholarships by the Julius Isserlis Scholarship, The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund and recently won the MBF Myra Hess Award. He has been a prize-winner in the 2007 Scottish International Piano Competition and in 2008 won Making Music’s Philip and Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists.

As recitalist and chamber musician James has performed throughout Europe and Russia, broadcast on Indian national radio and has participated in the Lichfield, Edinburgh and Cheltenham Festivals. He has performed at the Barbican Hall and broadcast on the Performance Channel. Future engagements include a début recital at the Royal Festival Hall and the recording of the complete works for piano by the Scottish composer Rory Boyle.