James Muir
Piano
James Muir, DDSCM, LMusA, DipMus (Ed), Diplome Superieur (Ecole Normale de Musique, Paris)
James Muir was the winner of a Frank Hutchens/Lindley Evans Scholarship which enabled him to undertake postgraduate studies with international artists Cecile Ousset and Genevieve Martigny at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, specialising in chamber music. He has taught at state high schools to HSC level, directing ensembles that have performed at combined instrumental festivals at the Sydney Opera House. He has established private studio and served as a councillor for the NSW Music Teachers’ Association.
In 1987 he formed the Sydney Chamber Players, giving recitals in the city’s principal concert venues. The ensemble’s output culminated in the release of a two-CD set: An anthology of the chamber music of Miriam Hyde, released by Walsingham Classics in 1997. The CDs have gained critical acclaim with ‘editor’s choice’ rating and international release. James has also recorded for the Jade label.
James is an experienced adjudicator and lectures at several institutions, including the Sydney Conservatorium Access Centre, where he gives piano workshops in both metropolitan and country areas. He has broadcast for ABC Classic FM and 2MBS FM.
In 2000 James received an award for services to music from the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England and from the American Biographical Institute in Washington, DC. In 2005 a Fellowship in performance from The Australian Society of Musicology and Composition was conferred by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW.
James is an Ambassador for the St Vincent's HIV Future Fund, supporting the work of St Vincent's Hospital Sydney into research, treatment and care of patients living wtih HIV/AIDS. He performed his first, highly successful 'Playing for a Cure; concert at the Eugene Goosens Hall at the ABC in December 2014.