James May creates music that focuses on texture, space, and theatricality. In addition to composing, he is an improviser, experimental performer, conductor, founding member of AmiEnsemble, and contributing writer for icareifyoulisten.com. Recent projects include a food–based improvisation with Molly Garvey and sound design for University College Cork’s final year production Goblin Market. His work has been performed and recorded by JACK Quartet, the San Francisco Choral Artists, Longleash, and the University of Louisville Orchestra and Collegiate Chorale. He’s won a number of prizes, including the 2019 Seán Ó Riada Composition Contest, the 2019 West Cork Chamber Music Festival Contest, the San Francisco Choral Artists’ 2017 New Voices Project, and the 2018 Huang Orchestra Commission from the University of Louisville for which he composed Zaira and Irene.
James was one of 12 recipients of the 2018-19 George J. Mitchell Scholarship, funding an MA in Experimental Sound Practice at University College Cork where he worked with John Godfrey, Jeff Weeter, Karen Power, and Danny McCarthy. He previously studied with Steve Rouse and Kimcherie Lloyd as a Bomhard Fellow at the University of Louisville, and Jack Gallagher and Lisa Wong at The College of Wooster.