James Watson is a collaborative composer whose original works range from full classical orchestra to string quartet, rock/metal band to jazz combo, music for dancers, and even works for solo instruments. His compositions have earned him residencies at Arts Commons, The Grand theatre, cSPACE, Dancer Studio West,
and he is a regular featured composer with the Key 30 Orchestra.
In addition to composing, James possesses a wide range of behind the scene’s skills for your convenience. As an arranger James works with the YYC Music Award winning metal band Cabrakaän, is the resident arranger and founding member of Calgary’s own Electronic Symphonia (a string orchestra that plays regularly with DJ, rhythm section, and Miss Universe Canada 2013), and has arranged for the Rocky Mountain Symphony. Orchestra. Amongst his other freelance work across genres.
As a transcriber and copyist, James is the chosen arranger for the Jakub Ciring Legacy Project, an initiative which honours the life’s work of the late Jakub Ciring who was a composer with a complex and expansive repertoire that was never presented during his lifetime. James is tasked with the complete transcription of his works (as Jakub Ciring refused to read or write music on the written page) and orchestrating it for orchestra as per his final wishes. James also holds transcriber, arranger, and copyist credits for Nikesh Harrinarain’s Bollywood tribute for recording with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
