Lara James - Educator

Lara James teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama where there is a thriving department of emerging saxophonists. Saxophone students at RWCMD can study with Gerard McChrystal, Lara James and John Cooper; while visiting artists and consultants have included Fred Hemke, Otis Murphy, Claude Delangle, Lynn Klock, Paul Cohen, Andy Scott, Sarah Markham and many others.

Past students have gone on to study saxophone at postgraduate level or entered the freelance profession, while others have chosen the music teaching profession.

If you are interested in studying at RWCMD visit the college web site by clicking on the pictures below.

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  Visit The Royal Welsh College
  of Music & Drama website
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  Visit the RWCMD Junior
  of Music & Access Studies website

In addition to teaching at the RWCMD, Lara is appointed Saxophone Tutor for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Junior Department and Access Studies and is a consultant tutor for South West Music School based in Dartington.

Lara has broad experience in the field of music education with students of all ages and abilities, from beginner to postgraduate level. She is often asked to tutor sectional rehearsals for wind orchestras and ensembles including the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales, regional youth wind bands, and is a visiting instructor on UK based youth music courses. She also offers advanced private tuition and ensemble coaching, and is in demand as an adjudicator for national youth music competitions and auditions and competitions in some of the UK's major conservatoires.

In addition to practical instrumental music education, Lara is a music lecturer. She has lectured at the British Saxophone Congress, coached chamber music modules at Cardiff University, and can lecture on a wide range of matters relating to the saxophone. Lara has also lectured in a variety of other subject modules including World Music, Music in Context and Music Performance Practice.

If you would like to book Lara James to tutor saxophonists on a course, to give lectures or adjudicate, or if you are an advanced student and would like to enquire about lessons please visit Lara's contact page.

Recent student successes in the RWCMD Saxophone Department

Jack Taylor has just won the prestigious Blue Ribband prize at the National Eisteddfod. Congratulations Jack! You can find his televised performance on YouTube.

July 2011 news. RWCMD Pre-college student Jack Taylor (aged 17) has just been awarded 2nd prize at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Flanked by a 1st prize winning pianist from Japan and 3rd prize winning pianist from Bulgaria, his televised performance was impressive.

June 2011 news. 4th Year student Dan Gooch gave a tremendous performance of Tomasi's 'Ballade' with the RWCMD Wind Orchestra in an end of term concert. Dan goes on to postgraduate study assisted by a scholarship at Trinity College of Music, having gained places also at RCM and RWCMD.

February 2011 news: postgraduate saxophonist Jennie Porton is a finalist in the RWCMD Concerto Trials and recently represented the college in a trip to China. 

October 2010 news: Congratulations to the Asa Saxophone Quartet, who have been invited to appear at the Welsh Proms 2011.

On May 12th the Fantaisie Saxophone Quartet (all final year students) became winners of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Chamber Music Competition 2010. 

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Woodwind Prize competition took place on May 6th 2010, with Year 4 saxophonist Jacob Shaw taking 2nd place while Masters student Jennie Porton and Year 4 student Alison Dodd were both Highly Commended.

Alison Dodd was concerto soloist with the RWCMD Wind Orchestra and performed Ingolf Dahl's Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Orchestra at St Teilo's Church, Cardiff on March 31st 2010. Alison was awarded places at four of the UK's major conservatoires for postgraduate study, and further congratulations go to Jacob Shaw who was also awarded places for postgraduate study at four of the UK's major conservatoires. 

Jennie Porton spent summer 2010 as an instrumental and chamber music Teaching Assistant at the New York Summer School of Music.

Junior Department student Jack Taylor has just been awarded a place to study at the Royal College of Music, for entry a year earlier than is usual. He was winner of the 2010 RWCMD Junior Music and Access Studies Woodwind Prize. This year (2011) Jack was selected to join the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales.