James was born and raised on the West Coast of Canada and has been studying music since the age of four. While in high school James performed with many renowned acts including Ashley MacIsaac, and Spirit of the West; he also recorded an album with The Irish Rovers. James did his undergraduate degree at York University and graduated in 2002 earning an honors BFA cum laude. He was also presented with an award for outstanding achievement in the fine arts.
James completed his Masters degree in performance and composition at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he went on to become a faculty member teaching theory and musicianship. In 2005, James moved back to his hometown of Nanaimo. He has since become a contract player with the Vancouver Island Symphony and a full-time violin performance faculty member at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music.
At VIU, James teaches teaches upper-level computer music courses and fundamental musicianship courses, as well as violin performance.
In his spare time, James continues to compose music for independent films and video games. He is also continually working as an arranger and composer for local professional organizations. You can see a portfolio of his professional work at: www.jamesmarkmusic.com.