James Marchese Clarinettist

James is a freelance clarinettist based in The New Forest, Hampshire.  He has an extremely varied career, working as a freelance orchestral clarinettist and chamber musician across the UK, a music practitioner for The Amber Trust, an adjudicator for awards and competitions, a session musician, as well as teaching clarinet and saxophone in schools and colleges in Hampshire, Dorset and London.  James also teaches privately in Hampshire and Dorset.

James studied clarinet at the Royal College of Music, and has over 30 years of professional performance experience playing clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, basset horn and saxophones.  He has recorded in sessions at BBC Maida Vale, Abbey Road and Metropolis Studios, and also records remotely from his home studio.

You can listen to examples of James' playing below.

James studied clarinet at the Royal College of Music with Colin Bradbury whilst simultaneously studying Physics at Imperial College.  He then completed a PhD in Physics at Oxford University.

He has performed in many of the country’s leading concert halls including the Barbican, Festival Hall and the Purcell Room, as well as having given solo performances at the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall, and performances for BBC Radio 3.  James also participated in masterclasses with many leading clarinettists including Jack Brymer, Gervase de Peyer and Andrew Marriner.  

James performs with orchestras and chamber ensembles across the UK as a freelance clarinettist, and has recorded at Abbey Road, Maida Vale and Metropolis Studios in London.

James teaches clarinet and saxophone privately and in schools and colleges in Hampshire and London, is a music practitioner for the Amber Trust working with young people aged 2-13 across Dorset, Hampshire and Berkshire with visual impairments and learning disabilities, and also adjudicates for awards and competitions.