James Topp

James Topp was born in the Orkney Islands and educated in north-east Scotland. His musical training took place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he studied horn with Hugh Seenan and Jeff Bryant, and conducting with Alan Hazeldine. Since leaving the GSMD he has developed a highly varied freelance career including work with several major UK orchestras, West End shows, corporate team-building projects and even an ABBA tribute band! He has been ESO’s Principal Horn since 2004 and has worked as a soloist and chamber musician with groups such as Fine Arts Brass and the Allegri Quartet.

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He is heavily involved with ESO’s education programme as part of the team running ESO Youth which provides performance opportunities for young people of all ages and abilities from across the UK. He has also coached for the National Sohools Symphony Orchestra, the English Schools Orchestra, held horn classes at Dartington International Summer School and at Instrumenta Oaxaca in Mexico. He is Visiting Teacher of Horn at several prestigious schools including Bromsgrove School, Malvern College and University College School in London.