Born in London, James Henshaw read Music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was a choral scholar and award winner as both conductor and pianist. Having graduated with a Distinction in Repetiteuring from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he assisted Mark Wigglesworth at the Aldeburgh Music Festival on Owen Wingrave. He also assisted Mark Wigglesworth at the Proms with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and worked with Ivor Bolton on Monteverdi’s Orfeo as Chorus Master at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Summer 2014.
James Henshaw founded and runs his own orchestra in Notting Hill called The Outcry Ensemble devoted to giving a world premiere at every concert. Last season, he also conducted the orchestra in Mendelssohn's incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream for performances at Middle Temple Hall.
Future plans include a French tour with the orchestra. During 2014/2015, he worked as Staff Conductor at English Touring Opera, where he assisted on L'assedio di Calais and Il furioso all’isola di San Domingo as well as conducting La bohème. He is the Music Director of Ashtead Choral Society, and is currently Chorus master at English National Opera.