James Battersby, born in 2002, has been studying music since the age of five. Beginning with classical piano lessons, he developed a passion for both playing piano, and later, composing. To date, James has written a number of pieces for piano, choir, and small chamber groups. He has studied both piano and violin extensively, as well as some organ and voice. James is currently attending the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music where he is studying composition and piano, where he has taken lessons with Karin Edwards and Hyejin Cho and has studied with such composers as Shawn Okpebholo, and Xavier Beteta. At Wheaton, he has sung in the concert choir both singing as well as accompanying on piano.