As a musical director I have a range of experience working with amateur, professional and youth theatre companies; mostly for musicals but I have also worked on pantomimes, showcases, cabarets and plays with music; sometimes additionally as a composer or arranger. I have been working as a musical director since 2010, with the aim to provide an excellent musical product whilst enabling a professional, engaging and positive experience where I am approachable and flexible to the abilities of who I am working with, whether they are performers or musicians.

My skills as a MD include being able to accompany rehearsals, sight read, lead vocal warm ups and workshops, playing keys in orchestra pits, conducting ensembles, keyboard and Mainstage programming,  creating arrangements and composing award winning music. My experience as a singing teacher obviously coincides with my role as a musical director and as someone who has been a performer I can understand a performer’s perspective and know how to adapt my approach in order to facilitate what needs to be achieved.

I work both as a Conductor MD and as a Piano MD for shows depending on what is required. I have an excellent pool of professional musicians who support me on my shows; some of whom have trained at top conservatoires and regularly play in West End Shows, national tours and around the world. Other experience includes working with musical theatre and acting students to develop technique and interpret material. I offer support to individuals working towards auditions for drama schools and other vocational courses and assisting professional performers prepare new material for auditions.

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Credits as Musical Director include: Jack and the Beanstalk (Chequer Mead Theatre), NewsRevue (Canal Cafe Theatre), Unmasked & Unmuted (GSA Ivy Arts Centre), Garden @ Centre Point/Duality Lives (Centre Point, Tottenham Court Road & Online), Marie Lloyd Stole My Life (Edinburgh Fringe Venue 39 & UK Tour), Cinderella (Chequer Mead Theatre) [Assistant Musical Director], Our House (Hampton Hill Theatre), Kiss Me Kate (John McIntosh Arts Centre), Oh What A Lovely War! (Catford Broadway Studio), Pinot! The Musical Tour (Palace Theatre, Southend & Wimbledon Studio) [MD and Arranger], The Garden Dragon & The Lovely Lily (Cecil Hepworth Playhouse) [MD, Composer and Actor], Words Come To Life for Italia Conti Arts Centre (G Live, Guildford) [MD & Arranger], CinderElla (Cecil Hepworth Playhouse) [MD and Actor], Side By Side By Sondheim (Hampton Hill Theatre), Dazzle (Richmond Theatre) and the UK premiere of Boublil & Scheonberg’s The Pirate Queen (Hampton Hill Theatre)

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Other Credits include: Luna Rossa Productions for Silversea Cruise Line [Assistant Vocal Director], West End Proms – Greenwich Music Time (Old Royal Naval College) [Rehearsal Pianist], Once On This Island (Southwark Playhouse) [Rehearsal Pianist], Collabro: Road To The Royal Albert Hall Tour (G Live, Guildford) [Choir Director for 8218 Youth Theatre], High Society (Richmond Theatre) [Keys 2], The Red Peppers (Edinburgh Fringe) [Keys], Sweeney Todd (Minack Theatre, Cornwall) [Keys 2 (Harp)], The Vera Lynn Story (UK Tour) [Keys and Actor] and Tom’s Midnight Garden (Hampton Hill Theatre) [Composer & Keys] the composed music was awarded the Judge’s Swan Award by Arts Richmond.

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Key Skills

- Piano accompaniment for rehearsals & performances

- Excellent sight reader

- Audition Accompaniment

- Vocal Coaching and Technical Support

- Vocal Warm ups and Workshops

- Instrumental and Choral Conducting

- Keys player with Digital Stage Pianos and Mainstage

- Keyboard Programming

- Click Tracks & Rehearsal Tracks

- Compositions & Orchestrations

- Transpositions & Arrangements

Other Skills:

- Piano Tuning/Technician Training

For my CV, credits and previous experience please click here

Services

“....his musical accompaniment throughout the performance created just the right level of mood in all the right places”

Mark Aspen

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“James Hall can always be relied on not only to produce solid vocal performances from principals and company but to ensure that these are supported by a tight band with top musicians. Kinky Boots was no exception, with just the right feel for rock-driven numbers as well as more nuanced and expressive solo performances.”

NODA

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"James Hall took the helm of a 12 piece orchestra...it was lovely to hear this score being played so well."

Musical Theatre Musings

“the eleven-piece pit band, led by MD James Hall is outstanding.”

Sardines Magazine

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"The band are great, expertly led by their (tap dancing!) MD James Hall, picking up numerous complicated cues effortlessly."

Sue In The Stalls

"James Hall kept the musical pace strong throughout. A sound well balanced for the acoustic of a church which was clear and supported the singers well."

NODA

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"James had clearly ensured that the principal and ensemble vocals, were both well-rehearsed and that diction was always first rate. I was impressed by the blending of the band with the vocals and pleased the music never overshadowed principal or ensemble singing."

NODA