Project Description
James Ackley, USA
Classical trumpeter, James Ackley, is an internationally acclaimed trumpet solo artist, recording artist, pedagogue and author, with numerous appearances that have included orchestras, wind ensembles and chamber groups spanning the entire globe. Ackley has frequently performed as a recitalist throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. On a tour through Venezuela, critics described him as “one of the best trumpet players in the world.”
James Ackley, USA
Ackley received his B.M. from the outstanding Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music and his M.M. from the elite Cleveland Institute of Music. His former teachers include Michael Sachs (principal trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra), James Darling (former member of the Cleveland Orchestra), Mary Squire (former principal trumpet with the Ohio Chamber Orchestra), Eugene Blee (former principal trumpet of the Cincinnati Symphony) and additional studies with David Zauder (former second trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra) and Alan Siebert of the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Currently, Ackley is Professor of Trumpet at the University of South Carolina School of Music. James has also taught at the University of Connecticut, Youngstown State University, the National University in Colombia and the National Conservatory in Mexico. Former principal trumpet and soloist of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, Ackley has previously held positions as principal trumpet with other orchestras throughout Mexico, the United States and South America. He is currently a member of the award winning brass quintet, Bala Brass and plays regularly with orchestras in the U.S. and abroad.
Ackley has had the opportunity to collaborate with such musicians as Sir George Solti, Francisco Rettig, Enrique de Patron, Placido Domingo, Fito Paez, Edy Martinez, Arturo Marquez, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, James Levine, Zubin Mehta, Leonard Bernstein, Christoph Eschenbach, Louis Lane, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, and JahJa Ling, among many others. He has also collaborated with notable modern composers such as Karim Al-Zand (Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra), Robert J. Bradshaw (Sonata for Trumpet & many other compositions), Cherilee Wadsworth-Walker (Suite for Unaccompanied Trumpet), Gordon Goodwin (Sonata for Trumpet and Piano), Erik Morales (Concerto for Two Trumpets and Band) and James Stephenson (Martha Uncaged, a ballet for solo trumpet and ensemble). He performed Bradshaw’s Sonata for Trumpet and Piano at the 2004 International Trumpet Guild Conference (also recorded the work on his Recital Music for Trumpet album) and he performed Karim Al-Zand’s Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.
Ackley has appeared as a guest artist on the “Music for Everyone” program of the Bogotá Philharmonic and on several national television programs in the countries of the U.S., Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Venezuela, Ecuador and México. He has recorded with several orchestras, most notably the Grammy Award winning Bogotá Philharmonic (which he served as principal trumpet), as well as television, radio and movie scores. James has frequently performed as a soloist at the International Trumpet Guild Conferences (2004-2006, 2009-2014). As a soloist, Ackley has performed in more than 30 countries.
His two solo recordings, Recital Music for Trumpet (2007 Claronade Records) and Lirico Latino: songs for trumpet (2008 MSR Classics) have both received critical acclaim, and as the founding member of the professional trumpet ensemble Tromba Mundi, he released their first CD (Tromba Mundi) under the MSR Classics label (2009). In 2010, James recorded Robert J. Bradshaw’s opera .Gabriel (2010 Beauport Classical), an opera about the dangers of withdrawing from society due to technology and networking. The trumpet plays one of the main characters, Gabriel, an enigmatic voice of hope, solitude and desperation. An additional recording of two trumpets and organ material was released in 2011, titled Eternal Source of Light Divine. In 2013, Ackley release a new CD titled New American Works for Trumpet, featuring a newly written ballet The Girl in White, with the trumpet as the solo instrument, by composer and friend Robert J. Bradshaw. In 2014, Plastic was released, the second opera in a series of operas that have the trumpet as the solo instrument (see .Gabriel). As a member of Bala Brass, James released their premiere CD titled Revealed (2014), and the opera Deus ex Machina (2015) – a steampunk opera with brass quintet, Victorian sounds, and cast, by composer Bradshaw. In 2016, James will have a new recording released by Bala Brass of Latin American music, much arranged by him, as well as a new recording of solo trumpet literature for baroque trumpet and organ.
Ackley maintains an active performance and teaching schedule; performing as a soloist with orchestras and in recital, concerts, and in clinics throughout the U.S. and abroad. He is often seen as a judge for the National Trumpet Competition (USA), since 2003, and has sat on the board of directors of the International Trumpet Guild. His musical arrangements and compositions are published under the editorial visage of Cimarron Music Press. His first published book, A Systemmatic Approach to Flexibility for Trumpet, has received much acclaim from some of the most prestigeous trumpeters of our time. You can find his book at Mountain Peak Press. His next book dealing with articulation is due shortly.
James Ackley is proud to be a Yamaha Artist and Clinician.
