James Welland is a music composer, orchestrator and editor working in film, media and concert music.
Classically trained with degrees from King's College, London and St John's College, Cambridge (Cambridge University Music Society Composer-in-Residence 2013-2014), screen credits include The Wife and Her House Husband, Nyama (Meat), Ralph Fiennes' The White Crow (orchestration), as well as composing scores for award-winning short films The Light and the Little Girl, Two, Denise and Office Song. He co-composed the official anthem for the International Mars Society. Working with the Economist, he has scored a number of podcasts and documentaries, including Out of the Shadows, as well as writing music placed in adverts by major companies such as Nissan.
James has written commissioned concert works for groups such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the choirs of St John's College, Cambridge and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, the Society of Recorder Players, contemporary dance and art outfits and many other commissioners, with performances in venues ranging from the Barbican and the National Portrait Gallery to the Olympic Park.
In the recorded music sphere, he has worked as a session pianist and writer for artists such as Seal, Aaron Horn, Wiley and Sneakbo and appeared on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, additionally contributing writing and playing to the Mercury Prize-nominated album Everything is Recorded alongside Richard Russell, Sampha, Peter Gabriel and others. James' music and playing has been heard on BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra, BBC Radio 3, Resonance FM and in concert venues and cinemas worldwide.
James also regularly perform and collaborates with his friend Baluji Shristav OBE, as part of his jazz fusion group Jazz Orient with concerts at the London Jazz Festival and the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall, and as a solo artist.
He holds the position of Group Head of Editorial at Wise Music Group and Managing Editor at historic music publishers Chester Music and Novello & Co, responsible for editing the sheet music of composers such as Philip Glass, Rachel Portman, Michael Nyman, Ludovico Einaudi, Joby Talbot, Thea Musgrave, Nigel Kennedy and many others. He has edited over 100 publications, including King Charles III's official Coronation Order of Service for the Royal Household, Dario Marianelli's Paddington 2, Olafur Arnalds' some kind of peace and Erased Tapes' Solo Piano.
James is published by Pretty Decent Music.
Copyright © 2023 James Welland.