James Gourlay
James Gourlay was born in Scotland, where, at an early age, he joined the local brass band. He made rapid progress and within a short time became Scottish Solo Champion at junior and senior levels. After studying for a short time at the Royal College of Music in London, James won a position with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, with which he played for four years before moving to London, as principal tuba of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. It was whilst in London that James developed his solo and chamber music activities, performing with the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, the English Brass Ensemble and the Wallace Collection and as a soloist with the BBC Symphony and Concert Orchestras. After ten years at the BBC, James moved to Switzerland to become solo-tuba with the Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House. There, he worked extensively with brass bands, initially as a hobby, but later, professionally. He won the Swiss Brass Band Championships six times with the Brass Band Berneroberland. Today James Gourlay is in demand internationally as a soloist and conductor. He has made five solo CDs and countless others as a conductor. Currently, he is Director of Music of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Chief Guest Conductor of the Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Switzerland) as well as the Swiss Army Brass Band. His latest CD, 'Double Trouble' is available on the Egon label.