From 1988-92, two substantial grants from the Australia Council allowed undergraduate and postgraduate studies with Frank Wibaut and Christopher Elton (Head of Keyboard) at the Royal Academy of Music, London. There, James won the Beethoven, 19th and 20th Century recital prizes (presented by the late Diana, Princess of Wales) and the Sara Krein scholarship for advanced study. As part of the prestigious Royal Overseas League Competition, James was awarded the Australian Musical Association Prize (1989), Prize for Best Australian Pianist and winner of the Overseas Final (1990) and, at the age of 19, 1st prize in the Keyboard Final at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank (1991).

While living in Melbourne from 1980-88, James won many competitions including the Hephzibah Menuhin awarded by the late Lord Yehudi Menuhin, the Herbert Davis scholarship and all the major prizes at the various Melbourne Eisteddfods. In 1987 he was a keyboard finalist in the ABC Young Performers, playing with the Adelaide and Melbourne Symphony orchestras (under conductors Omri Hadari and Patrick Thomas). He also made recordings for ABC Classic FM and 3MBS radio at both Melba and Robert Blackwood Halls.

He has participated in masterclasses with Andras Schiff, Tamas Vasary, Stephen Bishop-Kovacevich, Fou T'song, Peter Feuchtwanger, Hans Graf, Menahem Pressler (Beaux Arts Trio), Barry Douglas, Fanny Waterman, Hamish Milne, Michael Houston, Alexander Kelly, Sebastian Benda, Gordon Fergus-Thompson, Nelly Akopian Tamarina and Marina Horak. Whilst at the Royal Academy James studied chamber music with the Amadeus Quartet, Israel Piano Trio, Haydn Trio of Vienna, Joseph Seiger, Frank Wibaut, John White, David Strange and Eric Gruenberg. His RAM trio gained scholarships to study at the Britten-Pears and Lake District summer schools with Roger Vignoles, William Pleeth (Jacqueline du Pre's teacher) and members of the Nash Ensemble and Chilingirian String Quartet.

Recitals as soloist and in chamber music partnerships have been given at St. Martin-in-the-fields, St. James' Piccadilly, the Purcell Room (South Bank), the Yamaha and Fazioli Studios and Southwark Cathedral in London and at many music societies and festivals around the UK. From 1996-98 James was part of the Countess of Munster Recital Series giving performances with his sister, oboist, Victoria Brawn and the Sennet Wind Ensemble. In Cambridge, James and his wife, soprano Susan Brawn gave recitals for the Elgar Festival and at St. John's College Chapel.

James made his concerto debut at Melba Hall, where, at the age of 12 he played Mozart K.503 with the Astra Chamber Orchestra. His concerto repertoire includes the Beethoven 3rd and 4th concertos, Saint-Saens 2nd, Ravel G major, Rachmaninoff 2nd, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Bach D minor and Mozart concertos K.365, K.459 and K.467.

Whilst living in Cambridge, James taught at Kings and St. John's College Choir Schools from 1993 until July 2001, when he returned with his family to Melbourne. Since then, successful recitals have been given at Toorak Uniting Church, Scotch College, the Freemasons Chapel and St. Johns Southgate. Currently James teaches advanced students for two days a week at Scotch College whilst preparing solo recital and concerto repertoire. In 2005 James will give three recitals at St. John's Southgate (March, July and November), concerts in England and further recitals for the British and Macedon Music Societies.

Contact details and further information

E-mail James Brawn

For further details, see James Brawn's website