James Ernest Perring

James Ernest Perring (born London, England, 1 March 1822; died New York City, United States, 12 January 1889) was a British opera singer, voice trainer, and composer.

As a boy, Perring led the soprano chorus at Her Majesty's Theatre before entering the Royal Academy of Music, studying under Sir Julius Benedict. He later studied in Italy and became a good friend of singer Sims Reeves. On his return to England, Perring commenced a successful career as a leading tenor, singing with Jenny Lind and Maria Piccolomini, among others. He was noted for singing oratorio. He toured both Europe and the United States to great acclaim, with the great performers of the day.

He later became a vocal teacher, assisting singers such as Emma Abbott and Max Alvary. In 1850 he suffered financial hardship and spent time in a debtors' prison; he was described then as a "Professor of Music and Singing, composer and organist, occasionally dealing in musical instruments".

By 1859, he had moved to the United States, where he continued to perform until at least 1865, and teach and publish music until his death in 1889. From 1874 to 1876, he was the choirmaster and organist at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1878 he was hired by the new Cincinnati Musical College (a predecessor to the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music) to teach singing. He composed many ballads, parlor songs, and nocturnes, although few if any modern recordings of his work exist.