St James Orchestra, Paisley St James Church, Underwood Road, Paisley, PA3 1TL
Our Conductor Eric Dunlea was born in Cork City in the Republic of Ireland. He studied music at the local Municipal School and later at University College, Cork. Most musicians will tell you of some inspirational influence or teacher early in their lives and in Eric's case that influence was Micheal O'Callaghan, the conductor of the Cork Youth Orchestra. Having completed postgraduate studies in trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Eric freelanced with the Radio Telefis Éireann Symphony Orchestra in Dublin. In 1978 he moved to Belfast as principal trumpet with the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra and in January of the following year he moved to Glasgow to join the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Eric has played with many of the leading British orchestras and under some wonderful conductors, including Gunter Wand, Mariss Jansens, Simenov Sinaisky, Nello Santi, Alexander Gibson, Jerzy Maksymiuk and Ilan Volkov. He enjoys working with some fine young musicians at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama Junior Department, where he studied conducting with Martyn Brabbins. For the past five years Eric has conducted the Stirling & District Choral Union. He became conductor of St James Orchestra in 2002. Eric lives in Lochwinnoch with his wife Louise.
Who we are The orchestra is run by an elected committee of members - all are talented musicians in the orchestra...
Interested in Joining? Our current membership stands at 35 and is made up of musicians of all ages and abilities who simply enjoy making music together.
St James Orchestra is always pleased to welcome new members. No formal audition is necessary...
