James Squire

James Squire is a Lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire and Accompanist Manager at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. He specializes in improvisation, creative group work, and performance on flute and saxophone, with expertise spanning jazz, pop, classical, folk, and free improvisation. His career includes collaborations with dance and theatre companies such as RJC Dance, JazzXchange Music & Dance, Welfare State International, and West Yorkshire Playhouse.

After studying at City University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in the 1990s, Squire has led composition, singing, and percussion workshops, focusing on interdisciplinary projects with visual artists and musicians. Notable performances include works like Alvin Curran’s ‘Oh Man, Oh Mankind, Oh Yeah’ and site-specific pieces like ‘Mills and Moors’ for the Marsden Jazz Festival.

His teaching and creative projects extend to partnerships with Opera North, Northern Ballet, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (hcmf), and the BBC Philharmonic. He has also conducted composition workshops with Django Bates & Human Chain, emphasizing community and educational engagement.