Dr. James Thompson enjoys an active career as a flutist and teacher. He has performed on three continents in diverse venues ranging from LA's Walt Disney Concert Hall to medieval Italian churches to the Great Wall of China. James has appeared as a soloist with the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, New Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Ball State Symphony Orchestra, Illinois State Symphony Orchestra, Sewanee Festival Orchestra, and Truman State Concert Band. He has participated in such festivals as Festival Suoni d'Abruzzo (Italy), Domaine Forget (Canada), the Southern Illinois Music Festival, the Fresno Opera & Orchestra Summer Academy, and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.
Known for his dynamic and engaging demeanor, James is in demand as an educator. He has recently given masterclasses and clinics at Truman State University, Indiana State University, Valley City State University, Texas Lutheran University, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Ball State University, Southeast Missouri State University, East Central College, and numerous high school programs.
Dedicated to the expansion of the standard flute repertoire, James was awarded grant funding from the Friends of Flutes Foundation and Ball State University to travel to France for his dissertation research on the flute music of living French composer, Nicolas Bacri. This dissertation was subsequently named a winner of the National Flute Association’s (NFA) prestigious Graduate Research Competition. Dr. Thompson also gave the American premiere of Bacri’s Concerto pour flûte. James has recorded numerous works by composer Robert Fruehwald, and performed Fruehwald’s works at several NFA conventions and the College Music Society National Conference. James also joined a consortium to commission Roy Magnuson’s solo flute work, The Flibbertigibbet’s Fabrefaction. He gave the world premiere of Lindsey Wiehl’s trio for flute, viola, and bassoon, Hex’s Bonfire, at the 2022 NFA convention in Chicago, and subsequently performed the work at the 2024 American Viola Society Conference.
James maintains a diverse portfolio of chamber and orchestral activities. These include 7 recent chamber recitals with family members, guest appearances with the Southern Illinois University Faculty Quintet, shows at Muncie Civic Theatre, and concerts with many regional orchestras: Orchestra Indiana, Kokomo Symphony, Anderson Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Southeast Missouri Symphony, and East Central Indiana Chamber Orchestra. He currently holds the 3rd Flute/Piccolo chair with Symphony of the Lakes.
Raised in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, James began studying the flute with his father at the age of 12, who instilled in him a love of playing and teaching the flute.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Music from Truman State University and a Master of Music from Illinois State University, James ultimately received his Doctor of Arts in Music Performance from Ball State University, where he was the flute studio GA and a member of the graduate wind quintet. James's primary flute teachers were Mihoko Watanabe, Kimberly McCoul Risinger, Julianna Moore, and Paul Thompson. He has performed in masterclasses for Jim Walker, Mathieu Dufour, Philippe Bernold, Bonita Boyd, William Bennett, Ian Clarke, and Patricia George, among many others.
James joined the faculty of Grand Valley State University in Fall 2024 as Affiliate Faculty in Flute and Music History, and now resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Previously, he was on the faculties of Ball State University, Earlham College, and Taylor University, and also managed Orchestra Indiana’s education programs. Aside from his many musical and professional activities, James enjoys traveling, hiking, learning new languages, and drinking coffee.
