Nelson, James

He is a tenor born in Sligo, Ireland into a family that owned a jewellery, hardware and fishing tackle business. Working from a young age, he worked at the shop owned by his father in the school holidays.

He went on to take studies in music, he achieved an Honours degree in music at University College Dublin.

He has had in excess of 50 roles in operatic productions for companies located in Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, Spain and Israel. Aside from his work in the opera world he has performed in more than 60 oratorios by composers which include Johann Sebastian Bach, Hector Berlioz, Benjamin Britten, Franz Joseph Haydn, Frank Martin and Guiseppe Verdi.

In 1995 he became a founder member of the vocal group known as The Three Irish Tenors which evolved into The Celtic Tenors around the turn of the new millenniium. With them he has achieved much success and performed on several international tours in Canada, China, Germany, the Middle East, the Netherlands and the United States. The group has also appeared on two PBS television specials.

He has sung with the accompaniment of orchestra such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops and the Vancouver Symphony and worked with acclaimed artists that include Air Supply, The Chieftains and Dionne Warwick.

A busy recording artist he has recorded six albums so far with The Celtic Tenors and has also sung on the charity CD Cheryl’s Children – On Top of the World.

Having an interest in charitable work he is involved with building work in Kenya for children that have been orphaned by AIDs where he also gives concerts with the children and teaches music classes.

He also writes a column for the Sligo Weekender.

The Celtic Tenors recordings
Still By Your Side (Jimmy MacCarthy/Feargal Murray)
Telarc 80667 (CD: Remember Me)

Sources:

Nelson, James

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