James Leatherbarrow, born in Devon, England, has had his music performed, recorded, or broadcast in France, Germany, Poland, The Channel Islands, and The United States, as well as in London's Royal Albert Hall. He began composing at the age of sixteen, later pursuing formal studies at the University of Huddersfield under Professor Richard Steinitz, OBE. Major performers of his compositions have included South African pianist, James Wilding, Swedish violinist, Semmy Stahlhammer, Englishmen, Peter Hill (piano) and Peter Cropper (violin), American saxophonist Greg Banaszak, the Beethoven Festival Orchestra under the direction of Polish conductor Piotr Borkowski, and the young, prize-winning American group, the Euclid String Quartet.

Recently married, James currently lives in North East Ohio. He has served on the music faculties of Kent State University, Youngstown State University, and the University of Akron, and is a freelance composer and music instructor. He is pursuing a Ph.D. at Kent State University under the tutelage of Professor Thomas Janson.