James B. Wilson is an award-winning composer of contemporary classical music based in Bedfordshire, England. A story teller at heart, James' music focuses on the rich textural, timbral and harmonic possibilities of acoustic instruments, and the voice. His output is particularly notable for a number of works that explore visceral stories of contemporary life.
His landmark work Remnants re-opened the Southbank centre after the Covid pandemic. In this work James responds to 2020's most viral image, depicting Patrick Hutchinson saving a counter protestor. This is music that dares to tell a vital story of our time and has garnered attention worldwide.
Other works in his output range from intimate music for soloists and duets, to immersive electronic pieces, ensemble music, and works for orchestra.
James studied with a scholarship at the Academy under Gary Carpenter and David Sawer, and also took frequent lessons with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. He has won a number of awards, including the Royal Philharmonic Society Composer Award, Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award and worked with many leading musicians of our times, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Grosvenor, Genesis 16, Atlanta Symphony and Note Inegales. James is an NMC Recording Artist and his music is broadcast internationally. Notably, he was the first ever composer commissioned by the Chineke! Orchestra.