James Eaton has been involved in church music since the age of 12, when he first played the single manual organ of his local parish church, near Norwich. He went to university as a first study trumpeter, but quickly changed his allegiances, becoming university organ scholar & accompanist to several university choirs. On graduation he became organ scholar at Rochester Cathedral for two years before being invited to spend a third year there acting as Assistant Director of Music. Subsequent appointments included posts as Sub-organist and Director of the Girls’ Choir at Leeds Parish Church (under Dr Simon Lindley) and Assistant Organist at Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral.

In 2006 James completed a PGCE in secondary music at the University of Southampton and was appointed music teacher at The Romsey School. Whilst there, he became closely involved with the music at Romsey Abbey, teaching many of the choristers at the school and singing bass in the Abbey choir. He was later appointed Assistant Organist at the Abbey, which he held for two years in combination with his full time teaching posts. In October 2007 James was appointed Head of Music at The Petersfield School, a state school with a specialism in the performing arts. He is widely credited with turning around the school’s failing music department, which today boasts record recruitment numbers at Key Stage 4, has 18 weekly extra-curricular groups and gives some 28 public performances per year.

James has toured extensively as an accompanist and soloist, playing in many notable cathedrals in the UK and touring France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Denmark. He has been broadcast on BBC radio and television, performed for Her Majesty The Queen, and in 2002 gave the world premiere of a work by the Master of the Queen’s Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

James currently works as a freelance musician, teaching, giving recitals, and holding posts as Director of Music at St Michael & All Angels, Southampton, and of the Barclays House Choir.