James

"Destined to make his mark in a highly competitive field in which many are called but few are chosen." - John W. Lambert, The Spectator
"Ovation after ovation rang from the standing audience, growing louder and louder as the leading ballerinas came forward. But when the conductor was led onto the stage, the roar rivaled that of the music he had led." - Kate Dobbs Ariail, Classical Voice of North Carolina

BIOGRAPHY: In the fall of 2002, James Allen Anderson became Director of Orchestral Activities at the distinguished Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Mr. Anderson received his formal training as conductor and pianist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. His principal conducting mentors have included David Effron, Mark Gibson, Tonu Kalam, Pierre Hetu and Otto Werner-Mueller, with studies in piano under Michael Zenge and Francis Whang.

Born in Okinawa, Japan, and raised in both the United States and Europe, Mr. Anderson began his studies in piano and composition at an early age. His commitment to championing new music developed during his training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was involved with premieres of student works through the UNC New Music Ensemble. This enthusiasm continued while at the Eastman School of Music, where he again premiered student works and assisted in the preparation of new music by faculty composers, Joseph Schwantner, Augusta Read Thomas, David Liptak and Robert Moore. In 1997, as part of Eastman's 75th anniversary, Mr. Anderson was selected to conduct the world premiere of the newly revised Overture in Praise of Folly by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Walker. This commitment to new music endures, with recent world premiere performances of works by Daniel Bukvich (The Glittering Hill) and David Maslanka (11:11 A Dance at the Edge of the World, Symphony No. 6 “Living Earth”).

James Allen Anderson has held positions with the Eastman Opera Theatre, Triangle Opera (NC), Theater on the Ridge (NY), Pauper Players (NC), University of Montana’s Music Department and Missoula Children's Theatre, and Appalachian State University Opera workshop. Mr. Anderson remains committed to a variety of outreach projects and is a frequent adjudicator and clinician on both the state and regional levels. He is in demand as a guest conductor and has served as Music Director of the Butte Symphony Association and Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Montana.

Mr. Anderson was honored to receive the 2005 Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music Outstanding Teaching Award. In 2003, he was selected by the American Symphony Orchestra League to participate in the National Conductor Preview with the Jacksonville Symphony (FL). This program showcased eight conductors that had been “carefully chosen for their talent, accomplishments, and qualifications, who are ready to assume important professional conducting responsibilities with American orchestras.” In 2001, Mr. Anderson competed in the first Vakhtang Jordania/New Millennium International Conducting Competition in Kharkov, Ukraine and “was a Third-Round diploma laureate and major prize winner.” Mr. Anderson serves on the Board of Directors of the Conductors Guild as Secretary and Chair of the Membership Committee.

He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife Davina and their children, Mitchell, Hannah, Savannah and Samuel.

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