A member of the faculty of the Crane School of Music and the Potsdam Brass Quintet since 1985, James teaches studio trumpet and conducts the Crane Brass Ensemble in addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in research methods, curriculum development and instrumental music education. He received his B.S., M.S. and EdD. Degrees in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He currently is Principal Trumpet of the Northern Symphonic Winds, and performs with the Orchestra of Northern New York.