James Simpson

“My teachers inspired me and shaped who I became.”

Yarra’s Music Department and the Performing Arts Centre were like a second home to James Simpson.

He joined the school halfway through Grade 5 and his Music and Drama teachers very swiftly identified his talents.

“I began playing piano when I was six and the Music School at Yarra was part of the reason why I enrolled. Once here I began learning the trombone and viola, too.”

James was also drawn to Drama and was given plenty of opportunities to explore the workings of the Performing Arts Centre.

“I was in the sound box learning how the equipment worked and I learned how to operate the lighting board. That was my playground and led me to where I am now.”

James particularly credits his Drama teacher, Peter Robert, with having a profoundly positive impact.

“I knew I wanted to work in theatre and Peter encouraged me to be as creative as I could be. He was my Dead Poet’s Society teacher and he shaped my life.”

James topped the state with his VCE Drama result and studied acting, but found that being a Music Director allowed him to use both his skillsets fully.

He completed a Masters in Musical Theatre (Musical Directing) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and has since enjoyed a successful career working across Australia and the UK, including on big budget productions such as Chicago, Aladdin and The Lion King.

As part of his role, he teaches the cast their vocal parts in rehearsals, and then maintains the quality of their singing and the orchestra’s playing throughout the show’s run. In a typical week he will take understudy rehearsals, play in the orchestra and conduct a few performances.

“In the UK I had a mentor who conducted big West End shows and he told me that being a Music Director is 10 per cent music and 90 per cent people management. It’s all about getting the best from other people and it’s a team exercise.”

James measures success in terms of whether what he’s doing makes him happy. If that’s the case, he has achieved success.

“You put up with a lot to work in this industry but when you make it, the reward is worth it. The buzz from an audience is very uplifting.

“I remember the School Motto and to me that always meant noticing what is around you and being engaged with the world and I see theatre as a reflection of life. It shines a light on parts of the human experience.”