Biography

James Madrilejo (b. 2003) is a Filipino-American composer and pianist. This fall, he will begin pursuing his MA in composition at Rutgers University with Dr. Melissa Dunphy. James’s work is increasingly focused on collaborative practice, including the handing over of compositional agency to systems, processes, objects, performers, and chance.

When he was seventeen, James moved to London to study composition at the Royal College of Music with Dr. Deirdre Gribbin and Dr. Haris Kittos. During his time at the RCM, he received further instruction in orchestration from Dr. Alison Kay and Dr. Edwin Hillier, as well as composition lessons from Dani Howard, Nicola LeFanu, George Lewis, and Michael Finnissy. He graduated in 2025 with first-class honours.

His achievements as an undergraduate include performances at prestigious venues across London such as LSO St Luke’s, St Mary Le Strand, and a seasonal installation at Kew Gardens. In addition to several premieres and commissions over the years for RCM ensembles, his ambitious multidisciplinary work DIGITAL VILLAGE for the student-curated Great Exhibitionists concert series in his senior year pioneered a novel form of live-stream concert, modelled on the work of Jose Maceda.