First Class Percussion

2 August 2016

Dynamic percussionist, James Larter (Temple 12) graduated from the Royal Academy of Music on 12 July 2016, with a First. His talents have certainly been noticed as he will be taking up a Scholarship place at the Manhattan School of Music in New York from September onwards, to continue his studies. He has also received funding from the Countess of Munster Trust to support his position.

James arrived at Stowe in 2007 and during his studies he also played with the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music on Saturdays. Whilst at Stowe, James reached the percussion final of the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year 2010 and again whilst at Purcell School. James writes, “I found Stowe a remarkable experience with fantastic regular performing opportunities. I left in 2010 to go on to the Purcell School of Music for my sixth-form studies, gaining a place under the Government's Music and Dance scheme.”

James won a place at the Royal Academy of Music. He has played the Richard Rodney-Bennett Marimba Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic, performed regularly at the Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, The Sage Gateshead and the Barbican and was guest-principal timpanist with the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre in the summer of 2015.

James is certainly one to watch, please do keep abreast of his development and performances on his website http://www.jameslarter.com/