Woodwind Specialist

James studied flute, clarinet, and saxophone throughout junior high and high school while being extremely curious about those odd double reed instruments (instruments of which his small town high school had none). This ultimately led him to studying all five woodwinds extensively and receiving a Bachelors of Arts from Xavier University and Masters of Music from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, both in Multiple Woodwinds Performance.

His teachers include Rebecca Andres (principal flute of the Dayton Philharmonic), Kathryn Lukas (former principal flute of the Santa Fe Opera Company), Lon Bussell (associate principal oboe of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra), Roger Roe (English horn and assistant principal oboe of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra), Eugene Marquis (musician with the Broadway in Cincinnati series), Howard Klug (former principal clarinet with the Fresno Philharmonic, the Bear Valley Festival Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra), Tom Walsh (professor of music in saxophone and chair of the Department of Jazz Studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music), Lauren Piccirillo Waid (second bassoon with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra), and Kathleen McLean (former associate principal bassoon of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, former principal bassoon of the Canadian Opera Company, and guest principal bassoon with the London Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra).

Notable performances include: "The Secret Garden," "In the Heights," and "A Chorus Line" at Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park, "The Wizard of Oz" with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, and spectacular collegiate shows at the University of Dayton, Indiana University, Northern Kentucky University, Wilmington College, and Xavier University.

After five years in music education at Ursuline Academy, James left his position as Director of Performing Arts to pursue a full-time job at First United Church of Christ, Cincinnati.

In addition to working with three choirs (adult, youth, and handbell), James prepares and performs all worship music on piano, organ, and on occasion, the woodwinds. He oversees all aspects of the church's media presence, including its website, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. He meets regularly with youth of various ages, guiding them on their faith journey while also helping them navigate this thing we call life.

More information on the life of the church can be found on the church's website (link above).