James Mustafa
- Music Department
James Mustafa is an Australian composer, conductor and multi-instrumentalist. He has worked in television, film and with orchestras, jazz bands, theatre productions and artists from around the globe. He is best known for his work as a big band director and composer, particularly for his debut album "The Last Sanctuary" for which he was recognized as the Australian Youth Jazz Artist of the Year (2015). He has gone on to lead a varied musical career working as the Artistic Director of the Victorian Youth Jazz Collective, the Artistic Director of the Melbourne Big Band Festival, the Orchestra Director and Chief Conductor of Sing Australia and is the 2019 Chief Conductor of the Shandong Radio & Television Youth Symphony Orchestra in China.
James studied under notables including Paul Grabowsky, Maria Schneider, Jordan Murray, and Darcy James Argue. As a musician, James is best known as a pianist and brass instrumentalist, but also performs regularly on accordion, woodwinds, double bass and as a vocalist.
As a composer, James has worked with some of world's finest and is a highly respected music director and producer. Highlight projects include working with Vince Mendoza (US), the Metropole Orchestra (NL), Vince Jones (AUS), the Birdland Big Band (NY), Kate Ceberano (AUS), Wycliffe Gordon (US), Osunlade (US/GER), the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (AUS), the Arendal Big Band (NO) and the One O'Clock Lab Band (US). He has performed in a number of festivals including the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Falls Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, White Night Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and an assortment of music education conferences.
Recently, James has also been involved in a variety of films and soundtracks including "Words and Pictures" (2014), "The Menkoff Method" (2016), "Graceful Girls" (2015) and "Magnetism" (2013).
Playing highlights include performances with Maria Schneider, James Morrison, Kandace Springs, The Idea Of North, Scott Robinson, John Morrison, Tony Gould, George Garzone, Joe Camilleri, Invenio, Gerald Clayton, Wilma Reading, Rich DeRosa and more. Awards and merits include the Arrangers Workshop with the Metropole Orchestra in 2017, the 3MBS - "Youth Composer Scholarship" (2009), the "Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year" for the Australian Jazz Bell Awards (2015) , and the Composer in Residence at W.A.Y.J.O. (2015).
James studied under notables including Paul Grabowsky, Maria Schneider, Jordan Murray, and Darcy James Argue. As a musician, James is best known as a pianist and brass instrumentalist, but also performs regularly on accordion, woodwinds, double bass and as a vocalist.
As a composer, James has worked with some of world's finest and is a highly respected music director and producer. Highlight projects include working with Vince Mendoza (US), the Metropole Orchestra (NL), Vince Jones (AUS), the Birdland Big Band (NY), Kate Ceberano (AUS), Wycliffe Gordon (US), Osunlade (US/GER), the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (AUS), the Arendal Big Band (NO) and the One O'Clock Lab Band (US). He has performed in a number of festivals including the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Falls Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, White Night Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and an assortment of music education conferences.
Recently, James has also been involved in a variety of films and soundtracks including "Words and Pictures" (2014), "The Menkoff Method" (2016), "Graceful Girls" (2015) and "Magnetism" (2013).
Playing highlights include performances with Maria Schneider, James Morrison, Kandace Springs, The Idea Of North, Scott Robinson, John Morrison, Tony Gould, George Garzone, Joe Camilleri, Invenio, Gerald Clayton, Wilma Reading, Rich DeRosa and more. Awards and merits include the Arrangers Workshop with the Metropole Orchestra in 2017, the 3MBS - "Youth Composer Scholarship" (2009), the "Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year" for the Australian Jazz Bell Awards (2015) , and the Composer in Residence at W.A.Y.J.O. (2015).