James McLeod - Euphonium & Baritone Tutor

James is from Houghton-Le-Spring, near Durham and began playing baritone at Hetton Lyons Primary School at the age of 8, moving on to play euphonium with the Houghton Area Youth Band and Houghton Brass.

He was honoured to accept a music scholarship to Sedbergh School in Cumbria in 2005. He gained both his ATCL and LTCL diplomas in his first year at Sedbergh.

In 2004 James was principal euphonium at the Inaugural National Childrens Brass Band of Great Britain. The following year he was also invited to play euphonium in the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, attending 10 courses until 2009 under the artistic direction of Elgar Howarth and Bramwell Tovey.

James was delighted to accept a place at the RWCMD in 2009, followed by the opportunity to play euphonium with the National Wind Orchestra of Great Britain. Having previously spent two years at the Cory Band, James joined Leyland in January 2013.

In January 2015 James became a Besson euphonium performing artist and plays exclusively on a Besson Prestige Euphonium.