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About James

Brief Autobiography - FYI

A native of Rochester, New York, I began piano lessons at age 5 with my mother. In time I studied at a variety of private studios including the Eastman School. After high school, I entered SUNY Fredonia as an organ major, transferring to Stetson University in Deland FL. While raising a young family, I entered Peabody Teacher's College in Nashville. Later I trained as a Navy broadcast journalist, and once a civilian again, I spent five years as a classical radio announcer & producer at WPLN. In 1985, I completed a bachelor's degree in church music at Belmont College (cum laude) and returned for a master's in music education, conferred in 1991. The area of emphasis for my M.M.E. degree was Elementary/Primary Pedagogical Methodology (translation: how to teach music to kids in K-8). My internship was at Montessori Academy in Brentwood teaching pre-school through 6th grade.

I've worked for local churches of every major denomination as an accompanist, organist and choir director, and hold membership in the American Guild of Organists. I am organist at Holy Cross Anglican Church in Franklin, where I also maintain a studio of 20 piano students. In addition, I work full-time for Vanderbilt in the Biochemistry Department. My wife of 35 years, Carol, and I have two grown children, Benjamin and Rebecca, two poodles (Bizet & Isaac) and two cats (Maurice & Pierre). In our "spare time," you can generally find us at home in Brentwood gardening and landscaping.

Belmont University, Nashville TN
bu_tower-blue.jpg
Sponsor of Belmont Academy
Belmont University

B.U.

I earned my B.M. in Church Music from Belmont College in 1985 and my Master of Music Education (MME) from B.U. in 1991.

Favorites

Here's a list of some of my favorite movies:

Sleepless in Seattle, French Kiss, The Princess Bride

Here's a list of some of my favorite musicians:

Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow, The Chieftains...and Bach!

Also on the web as Nashville Wedding Organist,
Nashville Celtic Weddings & Wedding Music Planners