James McCabe
Cornet Virtuoso

James McCabe is a native of Northern Ireland and after early experience with the CWS (Carrickfergus) band he joined The Agnes Street Band in 1989.

In 2002 he became the British Open Cornet champion at the first attempt and, more recently, came runner-up in the 2010 competition. After moving to work in the Leeds-Bradford area in 2005, James played with the Sellers International band briefly before joining The Rothwell Temperance Band as principal cornetist.

During this time, the band has won the Cambridge International Masters, the Grand Shield and the Yorkshire Area (where he also won the soloist award). James has won the Irish solo competition in the last two years (2010 & 2011) and has completed a LRSM on trumpet and cornet. James's MMus recital from Leeds University was judged as the best in his year with repertoire including Halsey Steven's Trumpet Sonata, Tartini's Concerto in D and Elgar Howarth's Concerto for Trumpet.

In January 2013 James accepted an invitation to join the Black Dyke Band (Queensbury) and is hoping to release a CD entitled ‘Blessings’ featuring amongst other music arrangements by David Catherwood. James remains committed to developing good learning habits in young players and is always keen to help out his old band in contests and concerts.