James Short is Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Growing up by the sea in Kent, UK, he began his musical training as a chorister in his local parish church. James went on to read music at Exeter College, Oxford, where he held the Parry Wood Organ Scholarship and directed the Chapel Choir. During this time he led them on tour to Estonia and Croatia and conducted a performance of Brahms’s German Requiem at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. James has twice appeared as a finalist at the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition in Armagh and was delighted to return last summer to assist competitors at the console.

James is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and his teachers have included David Newsholme, William Whitehead and Christian Wilson. His organ playing has been heard on BBC Radio 3 and 4, and in March 2024 he accompanied Christ Church Cathedral Choir’s Radio 3 Choral Evensong broadcast. Before moving to Ireland, James spent 2 years in Florence enjoying reasonably priced wine, whilst directing the music at St Mark’s English Church.