BIOGRAPHY

James Blackford is a leading Australian euphonium performer and educator. Based in Melbourne, A Besson and Denis Wick sponsored artist, James is the solo euphonium player with the Royal Australian Air Force Band. He teaches euphonium at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and has performed with the Melbourne, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras.

 

Growing up in Brisbane, James started playing the unique instrument at the age of 10. By the end of high school, he had realised his passion for music, had been recognised as an upcoming young brass performer and in 2012, began studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. During his studies, he was awarded first place in numerous competitions at a state and university level, developed a love for brass banding and started to build valuable experience as a specialist low brass educator. In the latter half of his studies, James was a soloist with the Queensland Conservatorium of Music’s Wind Orchestra and successfully auditioned for the NSW Police Band.

 

2014 saw James graduate with a bachelor’s degree in advanced performance and move to Sydney as the youngest ever full-time member of the NSW Police Band. Whilst in Sydney, James performed as a soloist with several premier wind and brass bands, won the euphonium division of the Australian National Band Championships on two occasions, and travelled to Knoxville, Tennessee to compete in the semi-finals of the 2016 ITEC euphonium artist division. He was involved in several solo and ensemble recording projects, including performing on Tomomi Takahashi’s album ‘Illusions’. In 2021, alongside Matthew Collins, James was a successful recipient of a NSW government grant from CreateNSW, enabling the duo to commission four new Australian works, all which were released on the album titled ´Blackford & Collins; New Australian Music for Brass´. 

 

James holds a Master of Music from the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester, where  he studied under David Thornton and Steven Mead.  Whilst in Manchester he won the college’s concerto competition and received the highly commended award at their prestigious Gold Medal final. James’ studies were proudly supported by the Australian Music Foundation, through the AMF Overseas Study Award, and the Tait Memorial Trust, through the Tait White Lowenthal Award. He is the first euphonium player ever to receive an award from either foundation. Additional support in the U.K. was provided by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA).  

 

Whilst in the U.K., James had many competition successes, including winning the Philip Jones Brass Prize at the Royal Over-Seas League’s Annual Music Competition. He was later invited to compete in the competitions ‘Overseas Final’, where he was awarded the ROSL trophy for most Outstanding Musician from Overseas and invited to be a featured artist on the Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artist Scheme. 

 

James has a passion for brass banding which has led him to play in many of the world’s leading brass bands. This has included, ‘National Australia Brass’ directed by Professor David King, as solo euphonium with Pacific Brass, Victoria Brass, Warringah Concert Brass, The Leyland Band, and the Hepworth Band. He has also performed in Norway with the Krohnengan Brass Band and with other famous bands including the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Brighouse & Rastrick Band, and more recently, The Cory Band at the 2023 European Championships, in Malmö, Sweden.  

 

Currently principal euphonium of Darebin City Brass Preston Band, and alongside his work in the Air Force Band, James’ remaining time is spent running masterclasses and teaching privately across Melbourne and Australia. He enjoys trips back to the U.K. for solo engagements and is a strong advocate for the versatile and virtuosic possibilities of the euphonium. James’ work aims to lift the euphonium’s reputation and standing across Australia whilst growing the country’s euphonium community.