James Reese sings with a voice The Washington Post praises as "bright, agile, and full of heart." Known for expressive immediacy and connection to text, he brings eloquence and intimacy to repertoire spanning from the medieval period to the present day.

In the 2026-27 season, James will enjoy a wide range of projects and repertoire, giving performances throughout the United States and Canada. Of particular note: Purcell's King Arthur with Tafelmusik in Toronto; Handel's Messiah with the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra; two engagements with the Victoria Symphony, including Messiah and Bach's Mass in B Minor; and Handel's La Resurrezione with Early Music Vancouver.

A distinguished interpreter of Baroque and early music, Reese has earned acclaim for performances described as "splendid" (San Francisco Chronicle) and "captivating." (Broad Street Review) Reviewing a concert with Tafelmusik, Ludwig Van Toronto (Toronto's chief music critic) wrote that Reese possesses "the ideal instrument for the Baroque era: beauty of tone, purity of sound, surefire agility, and firm technique." After his 2025 debut with Opera Lafayette, Opera Gene wrote, "James Reese has an engaging, lively stage presence that stands out… and a crisp tenor voice that makes [his performances] pleasing and affecting."

James is also a tireless advocate of new works. He has given the world premiere of over two dozen songs and arias for tenor, by composers such as Gregory W. Brown, Reena Esmail, Edie Hill, Benjamin C.S. Boyle, Daron Hagen, David Shapiro, and James Primosch. Of recent note was the world premiere of Rural Hours, a concert-length piece for string quartet and tenor by Gregory W. Brown setting texts of Susan Fenimore Cooper.

James was a founding member of Philadelphia vocal ensemble Variant 6, and performed with them until 2022. During his time with the ensemble, they premiered over 25 works for vocal sextet and released two records of contemporary vocal music. James sings frequently with other leading choruses and vocal ensembles, including Blue Heron, The Crossing, Tenebrae, Seraphic Fire, and Gallicantus.

As a recording artist, James won a GRAMMY award as a soloist singing the music of Edie Hill on the record Born, released by The Crossing. James has recorded on a number of labels, including ECM and Harmonia Mundi., and appears in over thirty commercially released albums.

James is a graduate of Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music. He holds a masters degree from Yale University's School of Music, where he studied with James Taylor at the Institute of Sacred Music. James is the 2018 winner of the Margot Fassler Award for the Performance of Music at Yale. He is also a winner of the Career Advancement Award - which recognizes 'especially promising young artists' - from the Musical Fund Society.

He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Natalie, and their sweet but somewhat ill-tempered dog, Ivy.