James SHERLOCK

Participant of 2018

Recently graduated from the Sibelius Academy conducting class (2022), Irish/British conductor and pianist James Sherlock is quickly establishing a name for himself on the podium. This season he conducts the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic, the Symphony Orchestras of Lahti, Helsingborg and Odense, as well as the English Chamber Orchestra and chamber orchestras of Vaasa and Joensuu. He also conducts Tenebrae Choir, the BBC Singers and Danish Radio Choir, as well as the contemporary music ensemble Athelas Sinfonietta. Future seasons include first appearances with Finnish National Opera and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.

Beginning his conducting work as an assistant at Opéra de Paris, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Royal Danish Opera, he has a particular interest in the voice and continues to perform regularly on the recital stage alongside artists such as Angelika Kirchschlager, Dame Felicity Lott, Sir Thomas Allen, Lawrence Brownlee and Dame Shirley Bassey.

James studied Music at Trinity College Cambridge, piano and vocal coaching at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Georg Solti Accademia, before completing his studies in conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Sakari Oramo and Jorma Panula. He has won top prizes at the Royal Overseas League Competition, the Das Lied International Song Competition, BBC Performing Arts Trust, and the Award for Young Concert Artists.

Website

Works conducted in the Competition:

Round 1

Beethoven: Egmont Overture, Op 84 (excerpt)
Weber: Der Freischütz Overture (excerpt)

Round 2 – Semi-finals

Bartók: Divertimento (excerpt)
Chopin: Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor, Op 21: II Larghetto (excerpt)
Brahms: Symphony No 3 in F, Op 90 (excerpt)