James Clapperton

James Clapperton was born in Aberdeen in 1968. After studies at the RNCM, Freiburg Musikhochschule and Buffalo University he completed a doctorate in Composition at Sussex University.  He also has a doctorate in Russian Studies from Edinburgh University where he studied with Dr Larissa Ryazanova-Clarke. This was followed by a post-doctoral  fellowship.

James Clapperton´s music has been performed by various leading ensembles and soloists such as Ani Batikian, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Edinburgh String Quartet, Endemion Ensemble, Zoe Martlew, Yvar Mikhashoff, Steven Osborne and the Chamber Orchestra of Tawain. In 1993 he was awarded the PRS prize for his violin concerto The Preiching of the Swallow.

Recent commissions include the music theatre work Passing Place which is inspired by the life of Roald Amundsen. It was premiered on the Lofoten Islands and later performed in St Petersburg, Oslo and Aberdeen.  In 2011 The Military Orchestra of Western Norway commissioned a Saxophone Concerto (Doroga Zhizni). Doroga Zhizni was premiered in Bergen and broadcast on Norwegian Radio. The orchestra plan to release it on the Aurora Lable. Present commissions include a new commission from the Oslo electrtonic studio Notam, AJO Ensemble Bodø, and the Military Orchestra of Northern Norway. James Clapperton is also active as a pianist. From 2003-2010 he freelanced with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Recent performances include the John Cage Piano Concert (Orchestra Mittel Europas) at the Venezia Biennale, recitals in Florence, and a tour of Russia from Murmansk to Archangel. 

In 2011 he returned to Norway where he works with the Arts Festival of Northern Norway in Harstad. As part of his duties he is responsible for cultural cooperation between northern Norway and Russia.