James holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign, a Master of Music degree in percussion performance from the University of
Minnesota and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Costa Rica. James has over 10 years
of teaching experience and enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels. He currently teaches
percussion, hand drums and drum-set at Melody School.   

James has performed extensively both as a classical and Latin jazz percussionist throughout
South, Central and North America. As a Latin-jazz musician, he has performed with the Krannert
Center for the Performing Arts Jazz Orchestra and the Latin jazz group Martes 8:30. As a
classical performer, he has performed with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia Da

Camera, the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of El
Salvador and the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay, among many others.