Our Music Director

James Wilshire

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From September 2026 FCS is delighted to welcome James Willshire as our new Music Director.

 

James’s musical training is as a pianist and he works as both a performer and teacher.

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Heralded for performances of “spectacular musicianship and technical brilliance” (The Scotsman), “evangelizing urgency” (International Record Review) and “freshness and lucidity” (The Herald Scotland), James Willshire has performed at the BBC Proms, live on BBC Radio 3, and at the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican, Bridgewater Hall, St John’s Smith Square, Purcell Room, Glasgow City Halls, Queens Hall Edinburgh, Perth Concert Hall, St George’s Bristol, Caird Hall and the Fairfield Halls.

 

James is a committed advocate of contemporary music, giving world premiere performances of works by Ronald Stevenson, John McLeod, Rory Boyle, Nicola LeFanu, Robin Holloway, Errollyn Wallen, Thomas Simaku, Stuart MacRae, Electra Perivolaris, Jay Capperauld, Jia Chai, Lynne Plowman, David Lancaster, Michael Parkin, Ailís Ní Ríain, Rylan Gleave and David Power. As pianist of the Hebrides Ensemble James has collaborated with singers Ailish Tynan, Joshua Ellicott, Roderick Williams, Susan Bullock, Lester Lynch, Charlotte Hellekant, Michael Mayes, and Marcus Farnsworth. His work as chamber musician also includes performances with James Gilchrist, Rosalind Ventris, and the Carducci and Solstice Quartets.

 

As a recording artist James has been highly acclaimed, with his most recent disc a 2024 recording of the chamber music by Helen Grime with the Hebrides Ensemble. His double-disc recording of Ronald Stevenson’s solo piano music was described as “a major achievement” and awarded an IRR Outstanding by International Record Review and a 5-star review from Classical Music magazine. His 2017 recording with Fraser Langton of music for Clarinet and Piano by Rory Boyle was described as “uncompromising” and “all-encompassing” by Gramophone, and his recording of the piano music by David Jennings was chosen as one of MusicWeb International’s Recordings of the Year 2013. 

 

In 2018 James performed the complete cycle of Debussy’s solo piano music. These concerts, described by The Herald Scotland as “an unmissable opportunity to hear these demanding pieces live” included complete cycles in Glasgow and Edinburgh. As concerto soloist he has performed with Catherine Larsen-Maguire, Benjamin Zander, Rebecca Miller, Michael Christie, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra. Festival appearances include performances given by James at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival, The Piano Festival at Glasgow Royal Concert Halls, the Lichfield, Cheltenham and Winchester Festivals, Lammermuir Festival, the Hebden Bridge Piano Festival, the Kilkenny Arts, Spitalfields, and Cantilena Festivals, the Roman River Festival, ‘Il Festival di Londra’, the Victoria International Arts Festival and the Paxos International Festival.

 

James’ engagements in 2026 include a debut recital at Kings Place, and concerts at the St Magnus Festival, Chetham’s School of Music, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. 2027 will include a debut at Wigmore Hall with the Hebrides Ensemble.

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Our Accompanist

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Matthew Preston

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Matthew began his piano tuition at Alderman Peel High School in Wells Next-the-Sea at the age of eleven. He  studied  for  two  years  at  the  College  of  West  Anglia  graduating with a triple distinction in Music. In 2011, Matthew commenced further education at Leeds  College  of  Music. Studying  for  a  Bachelor’s  Degree  in  Classical  Composition, he graduated with a first-class honours degree. In December 2016 he passed his ABRSM Diploma in Piano Performance with distinction, and obtained two further distinctions in the London College of Music piano duet diplomas. 

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Matthew teaches piano and theory across the age range  at  Wells-next-the-Sea  Primary  School, Burnham Market Primary School, Alderman Peel High School, Beeston Hall School and Glebe House School. In addition to his school tutoring, Matthew teaches numerous students privately in Fakenham and in the surrounding area. He is one half of the comedy cabaret  ‘The Missing Coda Company’, which both entertains audiences and provides extra performance opportunities for young students with musical potential. Matthew is a regular  solo performer  having  played  at  many  local  venues such as Holkham Hall and the Wells Maltings. 

 

He  has  held  the  role  of organist for the Briningham Benefice and Burnham Deepdale Church, and he has been accompanist for  the  Dersingham  Community  Choir  (formerly  Hunstanton  Community  Choir)  for over  a  decade.  Matthew  also  plays  the  piano  for  professional events  with  Sara Longe (violin) as part of a duo called Sea Fever and is a founding member of The Beeston Trio.  In  addition  to  this,  he  has  recently  taken  on  the  role  of  Regional Organiser  for the European  Piano  Teachers  Association  (Norfolk)  and  has  become  a Trustee of the Norfolk County Music Festival.

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Matthew is currently working on his FLCM Piano Duet diploma and his LRSM in Piano Performance.

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Matthew lives in Fakenham with his partner Holly and their two children Harry (5) and Mabel (2). 

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Click here to find out about latest Missing Coda music events.

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