James Quinn (BA Music, MMus Performance) was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1983. At the age of 3, James and his family moved to Gloucester and he has lived there since. From around the age of 8, James began to teach himself and was a relatively late starter with formal musical tuition. It was when he went to St. Peter's High School in Gloucester that he began weekly piano lessons.  He then began to study classical piano more seriously and had lessons with Linda Parsons for 4 years while finishing his sixth form studies. 

After leaving school where he was awarded the Governor's Award for Services to Music in 2002, he then continued his studies with Mary Cope. James went on to further develop his skills at summer courses, specifically Birmingham International Piano Academy and Chethams in Manchester from both single lessons and masterclasses with established pianists including Peter Lawson, Florian Uhlig and Steven Osborne as well as workshops with Malcolm Wilson and Phillip Martin. James has also been involved with the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts Competitions for 4 years, where he won the Dr. Janet Salisbury Cup in 2008 and a certificate of honours in the 2009 competition.
 
James graduated with honours from Bath Spa University in 2010 having studied piano under Connie Garforth. He returned in October 2010 to take the inaugural Masters of Music in Performance at Bath Spa University where he studied with Maria Garcia and Charles Wiffen. 

James has performed in a range of venues including Wells Cathedral, Bath Pump Rooms, Bath Abbey, Mission Theatre, Rondo Theatre, Assembly Rooms, St Michaels Without, the Bath Guildhall and the Michael Tippett Centre at the Newton Park Campus at Bath Spa University. He made his debut in the Bath 2008 International Music Festival, alongside other student pianists with Artistic Director Joanna MacGregor, performing the piano music of Sir Harrison Birtwistle in the presence of the composer. 

James has worked with a range of eminent conductors, including Gavin Carr with the Bath Spa University Choir, Nigel Perrin at Wells Cathedral in the Mozart Requiem, and Jason Thornton in Bath Abbey for the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony.

As an accompanist, James has worked as the répétiteur of the university's opera productions for 3 successive years for production of The Magic Flute in 2008, Don Giovanni in 2010 and for the musical production of A Little Night Music in 2010. He also performed in the band for Seussical The Musical in 2009. More recently, James worked with the cast of Suor Angelica, which was performed as part of an opera double bill including Gianni Schicchi in late January 2011. 

James has been the longest serving accompanist for both the university choir and the chamber choir for the last 3 years and has performed as a Harpsichord player in the University's period Georgian Band in several concerts both as a soloist and continuo player. 

After receiving choral conducting tuition from Nigel Perrin and Roger Heaton, James made his conducting debut in June 2009 directing Gorecki's anthem Totus Tuus. In 2010 he went on to conduct Handel's 'Zadok the Priest' with the university orchestra and choir, as part of the opening ceremony Party in The City for the annual Bath International Music Festival. 

James' repertoire ranges from mainstream Austro-German tradition of Bach, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven as well as Chopin, Rachmaninov and Debussy, but particularly has a strong affinity for romantic music such as Liszt, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Tchaicovsky, Scriabin, MacDowell, Faure and Grieg. James has also given first performances of works written for him by Joseph Buckler, Katherine Addison and Adam Myatt.

Recent highlights of the 2010/11 season, have included the premiere of his own compositions ‘Christmas Medley’ for Flute and Piano with Flautist Megan Lea and ‘To Dream’ performed for him with the Bath Spa University Chamber Choir and String Orchestra. 

Other highlights also include a joint collaboration conducting Michael Tippetts 5 Negro Spirituals with Elizabeth Hales and the Bath Spa University Choir at Bath Abbey for the opening ceremony Party in The City in the 2011 Bath International Music Festival. James also recently gave a second performance of the two piano arrangement of Holsts ‘The Planets Suite’ with pianist Alfie Pugh and a final appearance accompanying the Chamber Choir in the 2011 Gala Concert in the Guildhall with Matthew Spring.

In recent news, James received his MMus Performance degree from Bath Spa University in July, and has been appointed Deputy Accompanist with the Churchdown Male Voice Choir in January of 2012, and has now taken the post of Principal Accompanist in July. The range of soloists James has accompanied include members from the choir as well as Kathryn Skipp, Bill Armiger, Sue Black, Kate Bennett and more recently, Ralph Barnes. 

James also gives occasional recitals for patients and staff at the Leckhampton Court Day Hospice for the Sue Ryder Charity, and continues this activity for the Music In Hospitals charity. More recently, James has also devoted time to assist as a freelance accompanist for Beaufort Community School and the St. Peter’s High School & Sixth Form School Choir, as well as singing in the Philomusica of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Choir. 

As a singer with Philomusica, James has performed across many venues in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire including St. Peter’s Church, Pershore Abbey and St. Peter’s & St. Paul’s in Upton-upon-Severn performing a range of well established and contemporary music such as Mozart’s “Requiem”, Michael Tippett’s “5 Negro Spirituals”, Karl Jenkin’s “The Armed Man” and Bob Chillcott’s “Missa Cantate”. 

James has performed with Churchdown Male Voice Choir at other venues including Gloucester Cathedral, Cheltenham Town Hall, St. Paul’s & St. Stepehen’s Church, Churchdown Community Centre, Christchurch (Cheltenham) and more recently St. Barnabas, Gloucester. James recently appeared with the Churchdown Choral Society in their summer concert in early July.



:: M A G N U S M A J O R ::

Punchy guitar riffs, weighty synths, relentless rhythm, The Magnus Puto are a 6 piece from Bristol pioneering a unique electronic take on ska fused with elements of hip-hop and indie rock.

Although many of the band members were school mates from an early age, the band was formed whilst at University in Bristol; half of the band finding each other through a course in architecture. The band has since emerged from the basements of student housing to the bright lights of prominent UK stages.

After the release of their second EP Gettin’ Trouble in early 2013, Magnus Major toured with Reel Big Fish during the UK leg of their World Tour. The jam packed summer saw them supporting the likes of The Beat and The Skints and sharing the stage with Fatboy Slim, The XX, Rizzle Kicks and By The Rivers on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury. Other highlights included playing the Town Centre stage at Boomtown, Secret Garden Party and Fistral Mainstage at Beach Break Live.

In late 2013 the band learnt the difficult news that Andy needed to have a serious brain operation. After a long recovery, the band began working on new material; one of which is their recent single ‘Feel So Good’. The band is has got back on the circuit since February and were recently tipped by 24-7 Magazine as one of the top 10 Bristol Bands to watch out for in 2014. They have a fully packed summer lined up at many UK festivals as well as another UK tour with Reel Big Fish.

:: REVIEWS ::

'Those who know me will agree that I am not a dancer, however, this band kept me dancing for their entire show. I was so impressed that I immediately booked them for Pilton Party' 
- Michael Eavis, Glastonbury Festival

'The first time I caught this band I couldn't stop smiling!!!
Magnus Puto are a flat out, high energy, party fused collective that will not fail to get a crowd.. quite literally going mental!! We book them every year and they only ever get better!!
- Lak Mitchell, Director of Boomtown Fair

'Magnus Puto put on a fantastic show on the Factory Studios stage at this year’s Brisfest, the crowd absolutely loved it and the band’s lively and energetic performance managed to get everyone dancing in the rain! Massive thanks to them for a brilliant set and we look forward to seeing them next year!'
- Factory Studios, Brisfest

'Every now and again a band grabs you by the ears, slaps you around the face and insists you have a good time. Magnus Puto are one such band, a pleasure to work with and no doubt a band we'll all be hearing a lot more from' 
- Mark Tam, Plymouth Volksfest

'The sun was shining, the drinks were flowing and the crowds were loving!' 
'We have never had a busier year here at Vegfest, and you are most definitely to thank for this!' 
- Vegfest, Bristol

Description
www.themagnusputo.com 
www.youtube.com/themagnusputoband 
www.soundcloud.com/magnusmajor

Formed in 2009 this six piece outfit consisting of Drums Bass, Guitar, Trumpet, Trombone, Sax , Theremin and any and every weird noise you can make with your mouth have decided there isn’t enough originality or humour in music and are constantly striving to put it back where it belongs, in the hearts and minds of the people. You really must see this band live to appreciate what they are pushing, and where. An explosive live performance that is sure to provoke a few laughs – everyone needs a reminder now and again not to take life, or themselves, too seriously and this makes PrinK the perfect antidote to modern day life.

cLuMsY is a dynamic 7-piece reggae-fusion band, based in Bristol, UK.

With over 15 years of collective experience, cLuMsY deliver their unique sound with soulful vocals, catchy songs and edgy lyrics.

Over the years, cLuMsY have played shows with the likes of Talisman, The Herbalizer, 6ix Toys, Don Letts, Dub Pistols, Jerry Dammers, Mike Love, Boxer Rebellion and The Mystery Jets.

**Follow cLuMsY on Spotify and be the first to hear BRAND NEW singles, plus cLuMsY’s very own playlists!**

I am an versatile Trumpeter able to play both Trumpet and Cornet within a large range of styles from Classical to Ska

Jack is a Bristol based Composer, Sound Designer and Theatre Maker.
www.jackdrewry.com

Other music: https://soundcloud.com/kilometersdavis | https://soundcloud.com/4th-project | https://soundcloud.com/squid-tooth | https://soundcloud.com/user-628676593 

Cover photo by Paul Blakemore from Drac and Jill at The Wardrobe Theatre.

Jack is a member of Interval an artist led support network.

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