Ian James

Ian James joined Cardiff BHC in 1982 - the club folded within two years. He then focussed his attention on the Men of Gwent Chorus - this chorus survived in Newport for just three years. Ian gave up and went into hiding for 6 years.

In 1994, with an engineering degree under his belt, Ian returned to the fold. From his new base in North London he went to the Brighton convention. After their 2nd place performance (and following the 'Teddy Bears Picnic' masterclass) Cambridge Chord Company joined Ian and went on to come 5th the following year. Unaffected by this result CCC kept him on as a suit carrier and subsequently finished 2nd in the Cork Music Festival.

There is a strong 'am-dram' influence in Ian's presentation skills - this was acquired during the 10 years he spent 'doing the circuit' in South Wales. In the barbershop world, Ian has sung tenor in five medal winning quartets; Bronze Medals with 'First Impression' and 'Gentleman Jack', Silver with 'Second Nature' and (eventually) the Gold with Cambridge Blues in 1997 - he currently sings with 'Crossfire', who achieved silver in 2010 and went on to win Gold as the 2011 National quartet champions.

Ian has no formal musical training but as he says - I've listened to the Michael Crawford album 'A Touch of Music in the Night' nearly six times... nearly all the way through! - so who needs music?

Ian can be seen on the faculty at Harmony College most years and regularly coaches choruses and quartets around the country. He provides most of the inspiration and coaxing for the chorus presentation at Cambridge. This has helped the chorus achieve great things, not least: 3 BABS Chorus Gold medals; 2 European championships; the Millennium title; Choir of the World at the Llangollen International music festival and an 11th place at the BHS International in Montreal in 2004. In 2007, Cambridge went back to the States and placed 12th in Denver - proving it wasn't a fluke in Montreal and spurring the chorus on to greater achievements in the future.

Ian is also associate director at Colne Harmony, a ladies chorus in Colchester.