James made two role debuts in 2023 as Ruggero in Puccini’s La rondine and the title role in Wagner’s Siegfried. He has performed the role of Siegmund in Wagner’s Die Walküre with TUNDI Productions, Cavaradossi in Tosca with Mobile Opera and Druid City Opera, Canio in I pagliacci with Opera Ithaca and Opera in the Heights, Roberto in Puccini's first opera Le Villi with Bel Cantanti Opera, Pollione in Norma with St Petersburg Opera and Don Jose in Carmen with Kingwood Summer Opera. He has performed both Turridu and Canio in a night of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci. He has sung principal roles with Houston Grand Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Wichita Grand Opera.

 James' orchestral works include the Tenor solo in Beethoven’s 9th symphony and Pilate in Bob Chilcott's St John's Passion, where he worked firsthand with the composer. He also has sung Des Grieux from Manon Lescaut and Bacchus from Ariadne auf Naxos in concert.

James spent three summers attending the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices where he worked with Dolora Zajick. He was twice an Emerging Artist with St Petersburg Opera. He also spent a season as a Studio Artist with Sarasota Opera. James studied at Penn State University where, as a baritone, sang roles such as Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas, Rigoletto in Milton Granger's Talk Opera, Doctor Gregg in Douglas Moore's Gallantry, and King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors. He also performed in two children's operas by Seymour Barab, Chanticleer as the Fox, and Little Red Riding Hood as the Wolf. His final role at Penn State was Peter in Hansel and Gretel.