James Shearman

{{Short description|English conductor, orchestrator, and composer}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = James Shearman

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| caption = Shearman in 2014

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| origin = England

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| years_active = 1995–present

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| website = {{URL|http://james-shearman.com/}}

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James Shearman is an English conductor, orchestrator, and composer. He is perhaps best known for his contributions to film scores including those for Gosford Park, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Manchester by the Sea and numerous others. He has collaborated frequently with composer, Patrick Doyle. In addition to his conducting and orchestration, Shearman is also a songwriter, having co-written the title track from Charlotte Church's 2000 album, Dream a Dream (among other songs). He regularly conducts orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.

Early life and education

Shearman was born and grew up in England. He attended the Royal Academy of Music where he was one of four students in the four-year BMus Commercial Music degree program, studying composition and conducting.{{cite book |last=Sapiro |first=Ian |title=Scoring the Score: The Role of the Orchestrator in the Contemporary Film Industry |publisher=Routledge |edition=1st |date=11 November 2016 |pages=68, 76, 203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AkYlDwAAQBAJ&q=%22shearman%22+%22royal+academy%22&pg=PA203 |isbn=978-0415723237}} In his last year of study at the academy, Shearman was commissioned to compose an original piece to honor film composer, John Williams. The composition ("Metropolis — A Tribute to John Williams") was premiered in June 1996 during the British and American Film Music Festival at the Royal Academy of Music with Williams in attendance.{{cite news | last=Harris| first=C.E.| title =A Special Evening| publisher =JohnWilliams.org| date =15 August 1996 | url =http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/bibliography/1996/harris| access-date =23 May 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.philharmonia.co.uk/orchestra/conductors/252/james_shearman |title=James Shearman|publisher=Philharmonic Orchestra |access-date=23 May 2019}} Shearman was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.ram.ac.uk/public/uploads/documents/8367f7_fram.pdf |title=Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music|publisher=Royal Academy of Music |access-date=23 May 2019}}

Career

Soon after his graduation from the Royal Academy of Music, Shearman began providing orchestrations to film scores. He first collaborated with composer Patrick Doyle on the 1998 film Great Expectations.{{cite web |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7f826f02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222085932/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7f826f02 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2018 |title=Great Expectations (2017)|publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=23 May 2019}} This led to Shearman providing orchestrations and arrangements for Doyle on another 1998 film, Quest for Camelot.{{cite news |title=Quest for Camelot - Editorial Review |publisher=FilmTracks |date=17 August 2003 |url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/quest_camelot.html |access-date=23 May 2019}} This partnership eventually resulted in Shearman becoming Doyle's principal orchestrator and conductor. He has gone on to provide conducting, orchestration, and/or arrangements for Doyle's scores for Thor,{{cite news |title=Quick Reviews: Thor / Captain America |publisher=The Music Behind the Screen |date=17 August 2011 |url=http://musicbehindthescreen.blogspot.com/2011/08/quick-reviews-thor-captain-america.html |access-date=23 May 2019}} Rise of the Planet of the Apes,{{cite news |title=Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Editorial Review |publisher=FilmTracks |date=5 August 2011 |url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/rise_planet_apes.html |access-date=23 May 2019}} Brave,{{cite news |last=Michael |first=Chip |title=Review: BRAVE and the music of Patrick Doyle |publisher=Interchanging Idioms |date=21 June 2012 |url=https://interchangingidioms.blogspot.com/2012/06/review-brave-and-music-of-patrick-doyle.html |access-date=23 May 2019}} Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,{{cite news |title=Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit - Editorial Review |publisher=FilmTracks |date=29 March 2014 |url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/jack_ryan_shadow.html |access-date=23 May 2019}} Cinderella, and numerous others.{{cite news |title=Walt Disney Records Presents The Cinderella Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Available March 10 |publisher=PRNewsWire |date=25 February 2015 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/walt-disney-records-presents-the-cinderella-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-available-march-10-300041449.html| access-date =23 May 2019}} In 2012, Shearman arranged the Brave orchestral suite for a Pixar in Concert event.{{cite magazine |last=Burden |first=Tim |title=Much Ado About Patrick Doyle |magazine=Film Score Monthly |date=14 December 2013 |url=https://www.filmscoremonthly.com/daily/article.cfm/articleID/7032/Much-Ado-About-Patrick-Doyle/ |access-date =23 May 2019}} In 2015, he conducted a series of concerts across Europe and the United States with Doyle entitled Shakespeare in Concert.{{cite web |url=http://hollywoodinvienna.com/en/people/james-shearman |title=James Shearman|publisher=Hollywood in Vienna |access-date=23 May 2019}}

Over the course of his career, Shearman has also collaborated with numerous other composers including, Lesley Barber (Mansfield Park, Manchester by the Sea),{{cite news |last=Broxton |first=Jonathan |title=MANCHESTER BY THE SEA – Lesley Barber |publisher=Movie Music UK |date=6 December 2016 |url=https://moviemusicuk.us/2016/12/06/manchester-by-the-sea-lesley-barber/ |access-date=23 May 2019}} Mark Isham (In The Valley of Elah, Reservation Road),{{cite news |last=Broxton |first=Jonathan |title=IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH – Mark Isham |publisher=Movie Music UK |date=14 September 2007 |url=https://moviemusicuk.us/2007/09/14/in-the-valley-of-elah-mark-isham/ |access-date=23 May 2019}} Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love),{{cite news |last=Kemp |first=Philip |title=Shakespeare in Love |publisher=British Film Institute |date=1998 |url=http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/40 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803090549/http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/40 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-03 |access-date =23 May 2019}} Paul Cantelon (The Other Boleyn Girl),{{cite news |last=Broxton |first=Jonathan |title=THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL – Paul Cantelon| publisher =Movie Music UK |date=29 February 2008 |url=https://moviemusicuk.us/2008/02/29/the-other-boleyn-girl-paul-cantelon/ |access-date=23 May 2019}} Jan A. P. Kaczmarek (Lost Souls),{{cite news |title=Lost Souls - Editorial Review |publisher=FilmTracks |date=26 October 2000 |url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/lost_souls.html |access-date=23 May 2019}} Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin), and Hans Zimmer (Pearl Harbor).{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790475/ |title=James Shearman |website=IMDb |access-date=23 May 2019}}

He has also conducted a variety of orchestras both through his work with film scores and through live concerts. He made his concert conducting debut in 2004 with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, leading a concert of A.R. Rahman compositions.{{cite news |last=Hewett |first=Ivan |title=Sweet but slight |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=10 March 2004 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/3613566/Sweet-but-slight.html |access-date=23 May 2019}} In March 2014, he conducted the Ulster Orchestra for the first time with The Music of Patrick Doyle from the Films of Sir Kenneth Branagh.{{cite web |url=https://belfastfilmfestival.org/films/music-patrick-doyle-films-sir-kenneth-branagh |title=The Music of Patrick Doyle from the Films of Sir Kenneth Branagh|publisher=Belfast Film Festival |access-date=23 May 2019}}{{cite news |title=CONCERT REVIEW: FTN reviews composer Patrick Doyle at The Waterfront Hall |publisher=Following the Nerd |date=31 March 2014 |url=http://www.followingthenerd.com/ftn_news/concert-review-ftn-reviews-composer-patrick-doyle-at-the-waterfront-hall/ |access-date=23 May 2019}}

He made his Royal Festival Hall conducting debut with The Philharmonia Orchestra in October 2014. He has also conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Hollywood Studio Symphony, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (at the 2017 Qatar British Festival),{{cite news |last=Saleem |first=Fazeena |title=Qatar British Festival 2017 opens |newspaper=The Peninsula |date=27 November 2017 |url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/27/11/2017/Qatar-British-Festival-2017-opens |access-date=23 May 2019}} and numerous others. In 2017, Shearman made his Konzerthaus, Vienna and Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra debut, sharing the conducting with American conductor John Mauceri for the televised 2017 Hollywood In Vienna concert: Fairytales and A Tribute to Danny Elfman.{{cite news |last=Hollands |first=Michael |title=Hollywood in Vienna – Fairytales & A Tribute to Danny Elfman| publisher=Sound of the Movies |date=9 December 2017 |url=https://soundofthemovies.com/2017/12/09/hollywood-in-vienna-fairytales-a-tribute-to-danny-elfman/ |access-date=23 May 2019}} In April 2019, he made his Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool debut with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and its Music from the Star Wars Saga concert.{{cite news |title=Music from the Star Wars Saga| publisher=Royal Liverpool Philharmonic |date=27 April 2019 |url=https://www.liverpoolphil.com/whats-on/all-shows/music-from-the-star-wars-saga/2528 |access-date=23 May 2019}}

In addition to his work with film scores and orchestral concerts, Shearman has also composed, conducted, and orchestrated songs for recording artists. He co-wrote (with Sam Babenia) the title track off of Charlotte Church's 2000 album, Dream a Dream. He has also worked with Conner Reeves, Oasis, Gary Barlow, and Nightwish.{{cite news |title=NIGHTWISH Recording Orchestral Parts For New Album In London: Video Available |work=Blabbermouth |date=1 January 2007 |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-recording-orchestral-parts-for-new-album-in-london-video-available/ |access-date=23 May 2019}} He conducted the choirs for the latter band's 2007 album, Dark Passion Play and the choirs and orchestra for the 2015 album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful.{{cite web |url=http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=48022 |title=ENDLESS FORMS MOST BEAUTIFUL|publisher=ProgArchives |access-date=23 May 2019}} and was the arranger of the band's 2024 album Yesterwynde.{{cite web |url=https://metalinjection.net/news/orchestral-and-choir-sections-for-nightwish-upcoming-album-were-recorded-at-abbey-road-studios |title=still unknown|date=17 October 2023 |publisher=MetalInjection |access-date=17 October 2023}}

Filmography

Year	Title	Conductor	Orchestrator	Arranger	Composer	Notes
class="wikitable"
rowspan="2"\| 1995	Cracker	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	Music assistant Episode 3.5: "Best Boys (Part Two)"
Othello	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	Additional orchestrator
rowspan="4"\|1998	Great Expectations	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	Additional orchestrator
Quest for Camelot	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}
The Misadventures of Margaret	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{yes}}
Shakespeare in Love	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	Additional orchestrator
rowspan="2"\| 1999	East/West	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Mansfield Park	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	Additional orchestrator
rowspan="2"\| 2000	Love's Labour's Lost	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}
Lost Souls	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
rowspan="4"\|2001	Bridget Jones's Diary	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Pearl Harbor	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Gosford Park	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
2003	Calendar Girls	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
rowspan="2"\|2005	Nanny McPhee	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
rowspan="2"\| 2006	The Black Dahlia	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Eragon	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
rowspan="2"\| 2007	In the Valley of Elah	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Reservation Road	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
rowspan="3"\| 2008	The Other Boleyn Girl	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Nim's Island	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
W.	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}
rowspan="4"\| 2011	Thor	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Rise of the Planet of the Apes	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
The Moth Diaries	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Dolphin Tale	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
2012	Brave	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
2013	Flight of the Storks	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	Miniseries (2 episodes)
2013–14	Borgia	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	17 episodes
2014	Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
2015	Cinderella	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
rowspan="2"\| 2016	Manchester by the Sea	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Close to the Enemy	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	Miniseries (7 episodes)
rowspan="3"\| 2017	Beauty and the Beast	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
Murder on the Orient Express	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
The Emoji Movie	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
2018	Irreplaceable You	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}
2019	Aladdin	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{no}}

Discography

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ List of credits on selected albums ! scope="col"\|Album {{cite web \|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-shearman-mn0001022975/credits \|title=James Shearman - Credits\|website=AllMusic \|access-date=23 May 2019}} ! scope="col"\|Year ! scope="col"\|Artist ! scope="col"\|Role ! scope="col"\|Notes
scope="row"\| Earthbound \| 1997 \| Conner Reeves \| Orchestra conductor \|
scope="row"\| Twelve Months, Eleven Days \| 1999 \| Gary Barlow \| String arrangements \| UK #35{{cite web \|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/twelve-months,-eleven-days/ \|title=Twelve Months, Eleven Days\|publisher=Official Charts Company \|access-date=23 May 2019}}
scope="row"\| Dream a Dream \| 2000 \| Charlotte Church \| Composer, arranger \| Co-wrote "Dream a Dream"
scope="row"\| The Opera Band \| rowspan="2"\|2004 \| Amici Forever \| Producer, orchestrator, composer \|
scope="row"\| Once \| rowspan="6"\|Nightwish \| rowspan="6"\| Conductor \| FIN #1{{cite web \|url=https://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nightwish&titel=Once&cat=a \|title=Nightwish - Once (album)\|publisher=Finnish Charts \|access-date=23 May 2019}}
scope="row"\| Dark Passion Play \| 2007 \| US #84{{cite magazine \|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/nightwish/chart-history/tlp/ \|title=Nightwish - Chart History - Billboard 200\|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=23 May 2019}}
scope="row"\| Imaginaerum \| 2011 \| US #27
scope="row"\| Endless Forms Most Beautiful \| 2015 \| US #34
scope="row"\| Human. :II: Nature. \| 2020 \| US #110
scope="row"\| Yesterwynde \| 2024 \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ List of credits on selected albums

! scope="col"|Album
{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-shearman-mn0001022975/credits |title=James Shearman - Credits|website=AllMusic |access-date=23 May 2019}}

! scope="col"|Year

! scope="col"|Artist

! scope="col"|Role

! scope="col"|Notes

scope="row"| Earthbound

| 1997

| Conner Reeves

| Orchestra conductor

scope="row"| Twelve Months, Eleven Days

| 1999

| Gary Barlow

| String arrangements

| UK #35{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/twelve-months,-eleven-days/ |title=Twelve Months, Eleven Days|publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=23 May 2019}}

scope="row"| Dream a Dream

| 2000

| Charlotte Church

| Composer, arranger

| Co-wrote "Dream a Dream"

scope="row"| The Opera Band

| rowspan="2"|2004

| Amici Forever

| Producer, orchestrator, composer

scope="row"| Once

| rowspan="6"|Nightwish

| rowspan="6"| Conductor

| FIN #1{{cite web |url=https://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nightwish&titel=Once&cat=a |title=Nightwish - Once (album)|publisher=Finnish Charts |access-date=23 May 2019}}

scope="row"| Dark Passion Play

| 2007

| US #84{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/nightwish/chart-history/tlp/ |title=Nightwish - Chart History - Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard |access-date=23 May 2019}}

scope="row"| Imaginaerum

| 2011

| US #27

scope="row"| Endless Forms Most Beautiful

| 2015

| US #34

scope="row"| Human. :II: Nature.

| 2020

| US #110

scope="row"| Yesterwynde

| 2024