James Cheung studied with Aaron Shorr at the Royal College of Music junior department before begining his undergraduate studies with Tatiana Sarkissova at the Royal Academy of Music and then at the Moscow Conservatoire with Alexander Mndojants. A scholar at the Britten-Pears programme, IMS Prussia Cove and the Euopean Academy of Music, Provence, James has participated in classes with Ferenc Rados, the Florestan Trio and studied with Dimitri Alexeev.

James is a committed chamber musician and founder member of the agon piano trio. Recent performances include, the Aldeburgh, City of London, Endellion, Chichester and Aix en Provence Festivals as well as performances at St-Martin-in-the-Fields , St. James' Piccadilly and Music Societies across the UK. Abroad, James has performed as a recitalist in Hungary, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Spain, France, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

James is a visiting artist at Oxford University and has made recordings for the Associated Board. 

As a song accompanist James has worked with some of the most exciting artists today, notably the German Baritone Christian Gerhaher. Upcoming concerts the Wigmore Hall with baritone Jonathan McGovern. Performances in Munich and London of Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes with pianist Gerold Huber, Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch at the Chelsea Schubert Festival and Die schöne Müllerin with Marcus Farnsworth in London and Paris.