Performing Highlights
James is playing the the Piccolo Trumpet on a selection from Giovanni B Viviani - Sonata No 1 (1674) at a recital in the Chicago area.
Soloist: Recitalist in Italy and the USA with special events and ministry events all across the U.S.
Boston, MA | Rome, Italy | Chicago, IL | Nashua, NH | Iowa City, IA | Dallas, TX |
Opera and Orchestral Experience: Operafestival di Roma, Ash Lawn-Highland Opera, Dubuque Symphony, Boston Civic Symphony, North Shore Philharmonic, Boston Civic Symphony, Woods Hole Cantata Consort, and the Opera Companies at Harvard, Dartmouth, and New England Conservatory of Music
Genres and Types of Playing Include: Ceremonial Music (Weddings, Funerals), Church Services (Christian Service and Catholic Mass Traditions), Solo Artist with and without accompaniment (Worship, Music Ministry, Recitals)
In the Christian Music Genre James has worked with Christian and Gospel Artists as well as Worship Teams and Orchestras at many churches including Grace Chapel (Boston), Calvary Church (Chicago)
James performs the song “Breathe” on trumpet at a church worship service.
James’ Opera Performances:
Barber of Seville-Rossini (Ash-Lawn Highland)
Le Tragedie de Carmen-Bizet/Brook (Ash-Lawn)
Die Verchworenen (Longy School) Rigoletto-Verdi (Harvard) L'eslir d'amore-Donizetti (Harvard)
Suor Angelica-Puccini (New England Conservatory). The Padrone-Chadwick (New England Conservatory)
Gianni Schichhi-Puccini (Operafestival di Roma+NEC)
I Pagliacci-Leoncavallo (Operafestival di Roma) Credo (World Premiere) (Dartmouth)
James’ Broadway Shows Performances:
A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum (IL)
Annie (NC)
Cabaret Revue with Danny Kaye (MA) Fiddler on the Roof (TX) Jesus Christ Superstar (MA)
The King and I (IL)
Kurt Weil Tribute (MA)
Oh What a Lovely War (IA) Pajama Game (MA)
The Sound of Music (IL)
West Side Story (MA)
Wizard of Oz (IL)
Study the Trumpet with James
Private lessons+ Master Classes/Clinics
James earned his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music
James earned his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance at the University of Iowa
James is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association & resides in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
He travels extensively and also teaches in-person across the USA and has an online trumpet teaching studio
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James' Principal Trumpet Teachers Include:
Charles Schlueter, Principal Trumpet, Boston Symphony Orchestra (Retired) + Soloist
Peter Chapman, Trumpet Boston Symphony Orchestra/Boston Pops (Retired)
Nello Salza, International Soloist & Italian Opera Trumpeter
David Greenhoe, Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Quad City Symphony (Retired)
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"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." -William Arthur Ward (American Writer)
James’ 25+ Years Teaching Experience
TEXAS: Rockwall, TX ISD (HS/MS) 2022-Present Princeton, TX ISD (HS/MS) 2022-Present Fort Worth, TX ISD (HS) Midlothian, TX ISD (HS/MS) Kennedale, TX ISD (HS/MS) Mansfield, TX ISD (HS) Crowley, TX ISD (MS) Saginaw, TX ISD (HS/MS)
ILLINOIS: Westlake Christian Academy, Grayslake, IL Libertyville HS, Libertyville, IL, Oswego and Oswego East HS, Oswego, IL, Wheaton-Warrenville HS, Wheaton, IL, Plainfield South HS, Plainfield, IL Yorkville HS. Yorkville, IL School for the Arts CCC, Naperville IL
MASSACHUSETTS: School of Creative Arts GC, Lexington, MA Concord-Carlisle HS, Concord, MA South Shore Conservatory, Hingham, MA Middleborough Schools, Middleborough, MA Blackstone Public Schools, Blackstone, MA
“My son Nick studied trumpet exclusively with James at least four years. James did a consistently fantastic job of working with Nick. James’ friendly personality and rapport helped keep Nick positive and engaged throughout many years of hard work.
He hosted numerous recitals which allowed his students to prepare and perform more challenging pieces for an audience.
James wide breadth of musical styles afforded Nick the opportunity to learn many types of music as well as discover where his own interests are. Highly recommended!”
—-Stan Taylor, Libertyville, IL
“I met James through my school band’s trumpet students who took privately from him during the summer. After several years of hearing the same results in my students - beautiful trumpet tone, good range, increasing love of the instrument and then the student’s parents deciding to have their children take from him year around, I decided to go take a couple of lessons to learn how he gets such consistent results.
I found myself getting a fresh wind to take back to my brass students and my bands at all levels (I teach 4-12th grade band). James is an encourager, very patient, loves music and is great with all levels of students. He reminded me why I went into the music education profession in the first place and helped me remember to relax and enjoy playing/teaching.
Some of my students have continued to take from James Online and are very satisfied with it.!” — Karen Kurtz, Grayslake, IL