James Allsopp, Saxophone, with The Terry Hutchins Qrt

I have a background as a Jazz saxophonist. My Dad is an avid fan so I grew up hearing those sounds. I did my BMus in Jazz performance with second study classical clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music.

In a 20 year career I have been a featured performer and recording artist for an incredibly diverse range of musicians. I have played in concert and on albums by legendary artists such as The Last Poets, David Axelrod, Dr John and Mulatu Astake, for European jazz luminaries such as Django Bates, Nostalgia 77, Kit Downes and Polar Bear, on more commercial albums by Jamie Cullum and Jorja Smith and as featured soloist in a wide range of compositions by composer Brian Irvine.

My debut album was nominated for BBC Jazz Award for Best Album 2007 and I won the BBC Jazz Award for Innovation 2008

As well as performing I currently teach both saxophone and clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I am also an external examiner for Leeds College of Music.

As a result of a shoulder injury, incurred whilst I was studying, I suffered a number of years of chronic back and shoulder pain which led me to take Alexander Technique lessons and eventually train to become a teacher of the technique graduating in 2010. I have been teaching the technique from home since then.

Since 2012 I have been teaching at the London Centre for Alexander Teacher Training. From 2014 to 2023 I taught the technique at the Royal College of Music for their Junior Department. Since 2023 I have been teaching the technique for the Royal College of Music undergraduate and masters programs. I have also given masterclasses at the Royal Academy of Music and for the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.