James Hall

James Hall is a highly accomplished musical director, singing teacher, educator and piano accompanist with over a decade of experience immersed in musical theatre. Known for his expertise in ensemble singing, piano accompaniment, and voice pedagogy he has dedicated his career to nurturing the next generation of performers.

As a regular face around many UK drama schools James has helped students obtain places at prestigious institutions and helped graduates perform both nationally and internationally.

James holds a BA in Music & Dance from Kingston University, PGCE from the Institute of Education and a MA in Musical Direction from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Currently  he is training with Ann-Marie Speed on the Estill EMT pathway and applying to be a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. During his MA his creative project explored more accessible methods of enabling musical theatre students to analyse musical accompaniments when acting through song; an area of training he is very passionate about. His arrangements and compositions have been heard both in the UK and off Broadway and have been praised for their detail and dramatic relevance.

In addition to his academic achievements, James has worked extensively as a musical director and piano accompanist, collaborating with industry professionals to deliver high-quality productions and concerts. His approach to performer training emphasises the power of ensemble work, detailed acting through song and fostering creativity, precision, adaptability and confidence in aspiring artists.

James is the musical supervisor for Blue Fire Theatre Company and Jazzish, London.

Credits as Musical Director: Chopped Liver & Unions (UK Tour), The Kids Left, The Dog Died, Now What? (OSO, Barnes), A Very Merry Vinny Coyle & Friends with Carrie Hope Fletcher (Crazy Coqs), Cre8 Project: Look Right! (Bird College), A Night At Home With Vinny Coyle (Whitty Theatre, Wokingham) To Wong Foo (Hope Mill) [Associate MD] Chopped Liver & Unions (Edinburgh & Brighton Fringe, Tour & Brits off Broadway 59E59, New York), The One About The Nineties (Associated Studios), Carrie The Musical (London College of Music), Edges (The Arden School of Theatre), Cinderella (The Swan Theatre, Worcester), Fabulett 1933 (Edinburgh & Brighton Fringe, Drayton Arms & The Other Palace), Legally Blonde for Sharpe Academy (Harrow Arts Centre), Jack and the Beanstalk (Chequer Mead Theatre, East Grinstead), Kinky Boots (Churchill, Bromley) NewsRevue: My Time To Lie (Canal Café Theatre), Unmasked and Unmuted (GSA, Guildford), Garden @ Centre Point/Duality Lives (Centre Point, Tottenham Court Road & Online), Marie Lloyd Stole My Life (Edinburgh Fringe & UK Tour), Kiss Me Kate (John McIntosh Arts Centre), Oh What A Lovely War! (Catford Broadway Studio), Pinot! The Musical Tour (Palace Theatre, Southend & Wimbledon Studio) [& Orchestrator], The Garden Dragon & The Lovely Lily (Cecil Hepworth Playhouse), Words Come To Life for Italia Conti Arts Centre (G Live, Guildford), CinderElla (Cecil Hepworth Playhouse), Side By Side By Sondheim (Hampton Hill Theatre) and the UK premiere of The Pirate Queen.

Other Credits: Pinocchio (Watermill, Newbury) [Dep MD], Celebrating 70 with Bobby Crush (Crazy Coqs, London) [Keys 2], Broadway Diva (Edinburgh Fringe & Stage Door Theatre) [Accompanist], Almost Austen (Edinburgh Fringe) [Accompanist & Performer], Blodwen’s In Town, Paris & Business (Edinburgh Fringe & Tour) [Accompanist & Composer], Richard III (The Roman Theatre Verulamium, St Albans) [Keys 2], Russell & Denise Scott in Concert (Pizza Express Live, Holborn) [Keys 2] Luna Rossa Productions for Silversea Cruise Line [Assistant Vocal Director], West End Proms (Old Royal Naval College) [Rehearsal Pianist], Once On This Island (Southwark Playhouse) [Rehearsal Pianist], Collabro: Road To The Royal Albert Hall Tour (G Live, Guildford) [Choir Director for 8218 Youth Theatre], The Vera Lynn Story (UK Tour) [Accompanist & Performer]

Education & Teaching Credits include: LAMDA, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, ArtsEd, Guildford School of Acting, Laine Theatre Arts, Italia Conti, Urdang, Emil Dale, Brighton Academy, Academy of Performance Training, PQA Studios, London Theatre Runway, Goldsmiths, READ College, University of Chichester, Spirit Young Performer’s Company, Starling Arts, Theatre Box, Richmond Theatre Creative Learning Dept and British Theatre Academy.