James Burke enjoys a varied international career and is currently Principal Clarinet of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He has previously held principal positions with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Royal Northern Sinfonia, establishing a career that has taken him across some of the UK’s and Australia’s leading musical institutions.

As a soloist, James has performed concertos and recitals throughout the UK and Europe, as well as in the United States, South America and Australia. He also appears regularly as Guest Principal with many of the UK’s leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Sinfonia of London and the John Wilson Orchestra.

Alongside his orchestral and solo work, James is an active chamber musician and recording artist. He is also the founder of South Coast Concerts, a chamber music series based in Dorset, reflecting his commitment to creating opportunities for chamber music beyond the traditional concert circuit.

Education has long formed an important part of James’s musical life. He is Professor of Clarinet at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and previously served as Director of Music at Milton Abbey School and Head of Wind and Brass at Bryanston School.

Beyond his work at Guildhall, James is regularly invited to give masterclasses and coaching at leading institutions. These have included the Royal College of Music, the Australian National Academy of Music and Southbank Sinfonia, as well as education programmes with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.