James Garland

Available to hire

I am a trumpet player and pianist who recently graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, specialising in Jazz Performance.

About

I am a trumpet player and pianist who recently graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, specialising in Jazz Performance. I perform both as a solo musician and in ensembles and am currently building a growing portfolio of original compositions and professional engagements.

Career highlights include performing at the Royal Albert Hall as part of a quartet in November 2019, appearing as a trumpet player with a funk group in a Netflix production, and performing as a pianist at a café concert in Cardiff in September 2024.

Alongside performing, composition has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, originally inspired by my love of film music. Since then, I have written music across a wide variety of genres and settings, including film scores, classical vocal works, jazz compositions, chamber music, orchestral arrangements, and pop songs.

My compositional approach focuses on creating music that is both emotionally engaging and tailored to the needs of each project. Whether writing for a solo vocalist, a small ensemble, or a full orchestral palette, I enjoy crafting arrangements that enhance storytelling and connect with audiences. I am particularly drawn to expressive and cinematic writing, combining strong melodic ideas with rich harmony and thoughtful orchestration.

I am proficient in MuseScore and Logic Pro X and regularly work with high-quality orchestral sample libraries, including Spitfire Audio Symphony Orchestra, to produce realistic mock-ups and professional-sounding demos. My experience as both a performer and composer gives me a practical understanding of instrumentation, balance, and the relationship between melody, accompaniment, and vocal writing, allowing me to create music that is both effective and enjoyable to perform.

  • Joined October 2025

Industry experience

  • Media & Entertainment
  • Education
  • Professional Services
  • Other
  • Travel & Hospitality

Projects · 4

At the beginning of the year, I set myself the challenge of releasing a song a month. These pieces were all inspired by bird poetry where I composed the melodies to the lyrics of the poem.
This song was based off the poem, ‘to a linnet in a cage’.

This was a jazz piece I composed for my final year recital where I performed a whole set list of original tunes.
This piece walk I went on in Cornwall.

Original film score composed to enhance the emotion, atmosphere and storytelling of the scene. I created the music around the pacing and visual narrative, using thematic development and dynamic changes to complement the characters and build the desired mood.

Work experience· 34 roles

Music Composer / Theatre Arranger · Theatre Macbeth productionApr 2025 – Present · 1 yr 8 mos

Composed and arranged the Shakespearean play Macbeth for orchestral and solo voices in collaboration with peers.

Composer/Arranger · Theatre ProductionApr 2025 – Present · 1 yr 8 mos

Composed and arranged Macbeth for orchestral and solo voices; collaboration with peers to portray different characters.

Composer · Opera ariaApr 2025 – Present · 1 yr 8 mos

Composed a song based on an Italian poem with a professional tenor

Freelance Musician · London (Self-Employed)Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 · 1 mo
Pianist · Henry's Cafe Bar, CardiffSep 2024 – Sep 2024 · 1 mo
Pianist · Henry's Café BarSep 2024 – Nov 2025 · 1 yr 3 mos
Pianist · Henry's Cafe BarSep 2024 – Nov 2025 · 1 yr 3 mos
Pianist · Henry's Cafe Bar, CardiffSep 2024 – Sep 2024 · 1 mo

Education· 12

Bachelor of Music (Hons) · Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama2030 – 2025
Bachelor of Music (Hons) · Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama2030 – 2025
A-Level Music · Turro College2030 – 2025
Bachelor of Music (Honours) · Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama2030 – 2025

Certifications and awards

A-level Music2030 – 2025
BA Music (Jazz Performance)2030 – 2025
A-level Music2030 – 2025

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