About
Ireland
Born in Clarecastle, Ireland, he studied in Dublin with Mary Brennan and répétiteur Mairead Hurley at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and the D.I.T. Conservatory of Music and Drama. Following two years in the opera studio of the Bayerische Staatsoper, he subsequently became a full-time member of the ensemble and remained there for another nine years. Now a freelance singer, his recent engagements include his debut at the Teatro Real in Madrid as Graf Elemer (Arabella), at the Salzburg Festival as Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi) and Venditore di canzonette (Il Tabarro), at the Salzburg Easter Festival as Heinrich der Schreiber (Tannhäuser), and his return to Irish National Opera with Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serial) and Ferrando (Così fan tutte). He joined the Dudamel Foundation in Venezuela to sing Jaquino in a unique semi-staged performance of Fidelio under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel—a performance specially created for both deaf and hearing audiences.
During the 2023-2025 seasons, he joined Cork Opera House as a Cara O'Sullivan Associate Artist performing Don José (La Tragédie de Carmen), Tamino (The Magic Flute), and multiple concerts throughout the season. On the concert platform, he has performed with The Irish Baroque Orchestra( Händel’s Messiah and Acis and Galatea),The Irish Chamber Orchestra( Die Entführung aus dem Serial), The National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland( St. John Passion), The Ulster Orchestra (Elijah), Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (Mozart Requiem) as well as Verdi’s Messa di Requiem at Cadogan Hall, London, Limerick and Maynooth, Ireland. In recital, he performed the world premiere of The Great Irish Poets Songbook in Munich, followed by performances in Ennis, Waterford, Cork, Maynooth and Newfoundland. These songs have been composed by James Hurley. Dean has collaborated with James in developing them. As part of the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in 2024, he performed the role of Salieri (La Zingarella).
James Hurley
Newfoundland / Germany
James Hurley is a Canadian pianist/composer, who has based out of Germany since 2011. Classically trained, he has a Master's degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston, as well as an Undergraduate degree from Memorial University from his native Newfoundland - where he currently serves as a Professoinal Associate.
His activities from 2011-2023 were largely focused on his passion of building a sustainable community for music education and performance at a local and international level. In 2015 he established and continues to administer Più Piano, which has become a rich hub for performance, education and outreach featuring an international roster of great talents across all genres of music. He is teaching also at Memorial University in Newfoundland, and has been active as a performer, composer and improviser in festivals, concerts and workshops across Canada and Europe.
In 2022 he began composing what has become The Great Irish Poets Songbook, a collection of new songs composed to the texts of the great poets of Ireland. The Songbook has been a great success, with concerts in Munich, Dublin, and across Ireland and Canada. The songs were written for Tenor Dean Power, who helped to shape the songs into genre bending works of art. They continue to tour togehter with planned concerts in Paris, Ireland and Canada through 2025.
James is committed to continue developing his cultural center in Germany, as well as inviting and accompanying renowned artists to small communities in Canada and around the world to help build connections and provide unique experiences for new audiences. He balances this work with his performance projects, which include Solo Improvisation concerts and a variety of chamber events, ranging from Traditional Folk music to classical music, Improv to Rock and beyond.
