Julia Wilson-James was born in Ilford and began singing seriously when, at the age of eleven, she entered Redbridge Music School, studying under the late Edna Graham until she gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music. At the academy, Julia studied with Patricia Clark and Clara Taylor, and won the Benjamin Britten Prize and a St. Marylebone scholarship. She now studies with Patrizia Kwella.
Julia has performed for many celebrated conductors for both concerts and recordings, including the late Richard Hickox, as well as regularly with the BBC singers, Nicholas Kramer, Sir Simon Rattle, The King’s Consort, Richard Cooke, Roger Norrington, John Rutter’s Cambridge Singers and the Monteverdi Choir. Julia’s international solo performances have included Mozart’s ‘Coronation Mass’ and ‘Requiem’, which she sang on tour with the Israel Chamber Orchestra. She later performed the Bach ‘Mass in B Minor’ with the same orchestra, a performance that was much acclaimed. In Norway, she sang Faure’s ‘Requiem’ with the Norwegian Soloists Choir and has worked with the London Opera Chorus in Lyon and Vienna. In the U.K. Julia is a frequent soloist for choral societies, especially in the South East of England. She has appeared at St. Martin in the Fields, Norwich Cathedral, The Purcell Room, Thaxted Church and Brentwood Cathedral. Julia works extensively with Brentwood Cathedral Music and has made several recordings with them over the years. Her most recent recording ‘On Wings of Song’ is available to buy on CD www.brentwood-music.org.uk/resources/julia.htm. She has also sung as soloist on many occasions with the Brentwood Philharmonic Orchestra.
In addition to her professional singing engagements, Julia is currently Director of Vocal Studies at Brentwood School and Head of Vocal Tuition for the boy choristers at Brentwood Cathedral.