JAMES WALTON

Hailed for his technique, musicality, and engaging programming, James, is active as both a concert performer and church musician, whether as an organist, pianist, harpsichordist, continuo player, singer, or composer. At Indiana University, he was a student of Christopher Young, and studied additionally with Jeffrey Smith (improvisation), Judith Malafronte (voice), Johnathan Oddie (continuo playing) and Cléa Galhano (recorder). James loves, and lives to make music as both a soloist and collaborator, and feels equally at home in liturgy and concert performances.

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James has extensive experience in early music as an organist, harpsichordist, continuo player, improviser in historical styles, as well as a singer and recorder player. As a countertenor, James has been the alto soloist for thirteen cantatas by J.S. Bach, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, and oratorio such as Telemann's Die Donner-Ode. As a harpsichordist and continuo organist, James has played for dozens of concerts accompanying singers and instrumentalists, including performances of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and Schütz Musikalisches Exequien.

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James has nearly two decades of choral singing experience, and has performed Bruckner's Te deum, the Requiems of Brahms, Duruflé, & Fauré, Frank Martin' Mass for double choir, and a wide array of Renaissance music, Anglican choral repertoire, Classical music, and new music.

 

As a pianist, James is known for his sensitive playing, touch, and careful work as an accompanist and solo player. As a diction coach, he is proficient in Italian, French, German, and English diction, and has worked with choirs and singers as both a conductor and a collaborator and rehearsal pianist. As a solo player, James enjoys playing the music of Brahms, Bach, & Respighi, among many others.

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As a composer, James has written organ music, choral anthems, hymnody, and a competition-winning art song with original lyrics by Macey Rowland "Eä illúve estel."

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​At Trinity, James is the assistant organist and principal accompanist for all services and concerts for the Cathedral Choir, Cathedral Schola, and the Trinity Choir School. He is a principal choir school teacher, leads the training choir, and piano teacher for choristers. Trinity music supports the worship services at Trinity with a large volunteer choir and paid schola comprising 50 adult singers and 20 choristers. Trinity also hosts a monthly choral evensong and a regular concert series featuring the cathedral musicians, as well as outside guests.​

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James was previously the Assistant Organist at First United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana for three years, and prior to that served as the organist at Camas United Methodist Church in Camas, Washington.​ Before entering music as a career, James worked in the electrical trade for two years.