James Olsen

James Olsen has seen performances of his pieces around the UK and continental Europe by artists including London Sinfonietta, the London Symphony Orchestra, George Benjamin and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the BBC Singers, Britten Sinfonia and the Philharmonia. The London Sinfonietta also recently performed his arrangement for chamber ensemble of Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn, originally commissioned by Wigmore Hall, on tour in Italy. Recent works include a commission from BBC Radio 3 for pianist Andrew Zolinsky as part of the Mendelssohn bicentenary celebrations.
James is also involved in academic musicology and is currently completing a doctorate on understanding Stravinsky's Rite of Spring through the creative responses of listeners.

The UK premiere recording of James' chamber version of his Chameleon Concerto, featuring Clio Gould (violin) and Rolf Hind (piano), will be released on the final disc in the London Sinfonietta label's Jerwood series on 7 September 2009.