James Ieraci has been hailed as a "creative and evocative new voice" by the Santa Barbara Independent. James received a Ph.D. and a Master's degree in Music Composition from the University of California: Santa Barbara. He also holds undergraduate degrees in Music Composition and Music Education from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. He studied composition with Harold Oliver, William Kraft, Curtis Roads and Karen Tanaka; and drums and percussion with Dean Witten, William Kraft and Jon Nathan.
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Ieraci's compositions, which are published by Penn Oak Press, have been performed by numerous percussion ensembles in the USA (including the Eastman School of Music and Ithaca College groups), mezzo-soprano Jody Kidwell, the Philadelphia Settlement Players, violinist Sarn Oliver of the San Francisco Symphony, and Members of the Ensemble Green. His pieces have been performed on the Society of Composers Inc., Southern California Electronic Music Exchange, and Electronic Music Midwest conferences.
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Dr. Ieraci has received awards from the Santa Barbara Music Club, Leni Fe Bland Foundation, thirteen Corwin Composition Awards and the W. Clark Pfleeger Medallion Award. He has recorded with the Rowan University Percussion Ensemble on Encounter Records, and with the bands The Hindu Cows and Dyson Sphere. His commissioned work Circles will be recorded by percussionist Randy Rudolph in the future.
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As a percussionist James has performed with William Kraft on the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), on CBS with The Hindu Cows, in concert and on DVD with dancer Sidnie Charnaw, and as a soloist with the Rowan University Orchestra. Ieraci has performed with many ensembles including: The Atlantic Brass Band, The Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, The Central Coast Philharmonia, The Arcana Percussion Group, UC Santa Barbara's Middle-Eastern Ensemble and Ensemble for Contemporary Music, and numerous rock, jazz and fusion bands. James concertized in the Los Angeles area with recording artist Sheetal and currently, he is working with Matthew Norcross in the band Mansion 11. James Ieraci led the Shawnee High School Percussion Ensemble to victory when they became the 2009 Cavalcade Concert Percussion Champions. In addition, James is a frame drum specialist.
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Ieraci's most recent projects include scores for the films The Ditch and The Dead End of the Woods, by Brian Holcomb. Dr. Ieraci has taught at The University of California: Santa Barbara, Chapman University, in Orange California, and Burlington County College in New Jersey, where he conducts the Concert band, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble.
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