James Willshire began his musical studies at the age of nine and two years later entered Chetham’s School of Music where he studied with Heather Slade-Lipkin. At fifteen he was a prize-winner in the 2000 World Piano Competition and was awarded an Educational Scholarship for a short period of study in Paris with the French pianist Dominique Merlet.
In 2002 James won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he studied with Joan Havill, and where he won a number of important prizes. James has been awarded scholarships by the Julius Isserlis Scholarship, The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund and won the 2008 MBF Myra Hess Award. He was a prize-winner in the 2007 Scottish International Piano Competition and in 2008 won Making Music’s Philip and Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists.
