James Mayhew - Pianist & Composer

Welcome

James Mayhew is a pianist in the third year of his undergraduate degree at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studies with Ian Fountain. He studied under Hilary Coates and Joseph Tong for four years at Wells Cathedral School, reaching the finals of its concerto competition with the 1st movement of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, and more recently won 2nd place at the Oxford Piano Competition for Aspiring Professionals.

As a composer he has had his works performed numerous times, and has played many of his taxing solo works, most notably his Fugue-Fantasy. James enjoys exploring lesser-known works including those by Alkan and Feinberg, known for their extraordinary difficulty, and loves collaborating with other musicians whenever possible.

Past Concerts

16 June 2026

'Titanic Piano': Music by Alkan

David Josefowitz Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, – London, UK

A programme of Alkan's Le Preux, Symphony for Solo Piano - 1st mov, Canon Op. 65 No. 3 and Concerto for Solo Piano - 3rd mov. Followed with music by Sorabji played by Harry Bowden.

26 April 2026

Lunchtime concert

St Michael's Church, Highgate, London, UK

A programme consisting of Bach's English Suite No. 4 and Wagner's Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, transcribed by Zoltan Kocsis for solo piano.

23 January 2026

An American Century: Music by Varese, Reich and Adams

Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music – London, UK

Performance in Steve Reich's Double Sextet alongside Edward Harris-Brown, and celesta in John Adams' Son of Chamber Symphony, conducted by Colin Currie.