James Gillett
Conductor – Repetiteur – Vocal Coach
About
James Gillett is a conductor, répétiteur and vocal coach based in Manchester.With a Master’s degree in repetiteur studies from the Royal Northern College of Music, James has cultivated a deep passion for performance and music education, particularly within opera and vocal arts. Previously, James has been musical director of Opera Vera, a group dedicated to presenting emotionally profound and visually striking theatre with a focus on 20th-century and contemporary operas.As a conductor and musical director, James has led performances with Flat Pack Music and Random Opera, along with roles of Young Artist Conductor for Waterperry Opera Festival and as producer for recordings with The City of Stoke Symphony Orchestra. Since 2021, he has held the position of Musical Director with Oldham Symphony Orchestra, leading the orchestra’s development and expanding their reputation as a high-quality orchestra. Each year, James enjoys conducting performances with PB Theatricals, a youth-focussed theatre group.Away from the podium, James enjoys working closely with singers in operatic repertoire and song from the piano. His main focuses are on helping singers harness their technique to delve deeper in to musical style, language, and story-telling. James' dedication to vocal coaching has become a vital part of his musicianship and he is committed to supporting singers at every stage of their professional journey. Through his relationship with the RNCM, James plays regularly for singing lessons and further supports students with recordings, coaching, and audition preparation.Throughout James’ career, he has developed an affinity with contemporary music and its ability to comment on today’s world. James has previously collaborated with Manchester Contemporary Youth Opera as musical director and ‘curator’, using live and recorded media to thread a number of new short operas together for performance. Notably, he has served as a repetiteur for the world premiere of Anna Appleby's opera Drought, performed by the BBC Philharmonic in October 2022.In addition to his vocal endeavors, James is dedicated to supporting community music-making.From 2023–2025, James was repetiteur for the newly founded RNCM Community Chorus and collaborated on their production of Silverwood, an opera written by Kate Pearson incorporating over 150 community performers on one stage. In the wider community, James has worked on sessions with Streetwise Opera, a charity that enables people who’ve experienced homelessness to find inspiration and empowerment while they rebuild their lives and identities. Recently he has worked with English National Opera in outreach performances as part of their move to Manchester.Outside the concert hall, James enjoys performing duo recitals with vocalists at local venues, sharing exceptional music across various settings throughout Greater Manchester.
Operatic Repertoire
| Composer | Work | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Barber | A Hand of Bridge | MD / pianist |
| Donizetti | The Elixir of Love (Eng.) | Asst. conductor / continuo |
| Dove | The Enchanted Pig | Conductor |
| Gilbert & Sullivan | H.M.S Pinafore | MD / conductor |
| Gilbert & Sullivan | Pirates of Penzance | Assistant conductor |
| Gilbert & Sullivan | Princess Ida | MD / conductor |
| Gilbert & Sullivan | Ruddigore | MD / conductor |
| Gilbert & Sullivan | The Yeomen of the Guard | pianist |
| Gilbert & Sullivan | Patience | pianist |
| Menotti | The Telephone | MD / pianist |
| Mozart | The Marriage of Figaro (Eng.) | MD / pianist |
| Le Nozze di Figaro | Fortepiano continuo | |
| Don Giovanni | MD / pianist | |
| Puccini | La Bohème | repetiteur |
| Strauss | Ariadne auf Naxos (Prologue) | Orchestral pianist |
| Stravinsky | A Soldiers Tale | Conductor |
Orchestral / Choral Repertoire
| Composer | Work |
|---|---|
| Albinoni | Adagio in G minor |
| Bartok | Viola Concerto (Peter Bartók edition) |
| Beethoven | Symphonies Nos. 3, 4, 6 |
| Coriolan Overture | |
| Egmont Overture | |
| Romance for Violin & Orchestra | |
| Violin Concerto | |
| Berlioz | Rob Roy Overture |
| Bizet | Carmen Suites No. 1 and No. 2 |
| Symphony in C | |
| Borodin | Overture and Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor |
| Boulanger, Lili | D'un Matin de Printemps |
| Brahms | Symphony No. 4 |
| Concerto for Violin and Cello | |
| Britten | Simple Symphony |
| Bruch | Violin Concerto No. 1 |
| Romance for Viola and Orchestra | |
| Dvorak | Symphony No. 9 |
| Elgar | Enigma Variations |
| Imperial March | |
| German, Edward | Selections from Nell Gwyn |
| Grieg | Norwegian Folk Dances |
| Glazunov | Autumn and Winter |
| Haydn | Symphony No. 28 |
| Concerto for Two Horns | |
| Handel | Messiah |
| Liszt | Les Preludes |
| Mendelssohn | Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream |
| Symphony No. 3 (Scottish) | |
| Mozart | Overtures |
| Symphony No. 40 | |
| Piano Concerto No. 25 | |
| Saint-Saëns | The Carnival of the Animals |
| Schubert | Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished Symphony) |
| Schumann | Manfred Overture |
| Shostakovich | Symphony No. 5 |
| Festive Overture | |
| Smetana | Vltava (Die Moldau) |
| Tchaikovsky | Symphony No. 2 |
| Symphony No. 5 | |
| Sleeping Beauty Suite, Nutcracker Suite | |
| Serenade for Strings | |
| Rococo Variations, for Cello and Orchestra | |
| Smyth, Ethyl | Overture to The Wreckers |
| Strauss, Richard | Tod und Verklärung |
| Walton | Crown Imperial |
Media
Conducting
Piano
Reviews
"...one felt that the best of opera had arrived in Grimsby, all perfectly accompanied by James on piano as he played with perfect balance and understanding."
— Grimsby Concert Society, 2026"David & James were excellent, they made the rehearsals fun and their enthusiasm was infectious"
— Handel's Messiah participant, 2026"It is a joy to work under James's baton. His rehearsal techniques are hugely helpful and come from a deep understanding of the work. His his musicality is just infectious."
— Crosby Symphony Orchestra member, 2025James' approach combines just the right amount of scene setting and story telling, all delivered in an upbeat engaging style. His attention to detail is great, and balances critique with generous praise.
— Crosby Symphony Orchestra member, 2025
Get In Touch
Manchester, UK