He attended the University of Northern Iowa to study trombone with Jon Hansen and jazz improvisation with Dr. Robert Washut and earned a bachelor of Music Education degree in 1989. During this period he wrote compositions and arrangements for big band, small jazz groups and local Latin bands in which he also participated. He formed a long standing alternative rock band, writing all the material and acting as lead vocalist, trombonist and performing on flute, saxophone, percussion and bass as well as self-producing two albums. He also marched in the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and taught in the activity in Iowa as well as ran programs in area high schools. After graduation and during a two year period as a high school band director, Mr. Miller became interested in the trombone as a classical solo instrument, winning many awards including a full scholarship to the Aspen Music Festival where he was a concerto winner under the tutelage of Per Brevig. He continued his studies at the Juilliard School as a scholarship student of Dr. Brevig and received a Masters degree in 1993. During that time he premiered a number of his chamber works in Lincoln Centerīs Alice Tully Hall including Trio for Trombone, Voice and Cello and 2 Pianos and 3 Trombones. Mr. Miller also served as second trombonist with the Long Island Philharmonic and performed with the New York Philharmonic as well as regional orchestras. He premiered the Jan Sandstrom "Motorbike" Concerto with the Juilliard Symphony as a concerto winner in 1992. A composition of Herculean capacity, he is one of two trombonists endeavored to perform this work. During a burgeoning freelance career he became established as a long standing member of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and ensemble ST-X (dedicated to the music of Iannis Xenakis) and has recorded for both. In 1994, he won the position as the principal trombonist of the North Carolina Symphony and supplemented his post with performances of his own compositions in annual solo concerts throughout the state expanding the trombone as a multi-faceted instrument. In 1997 he won first prize at the International Women's Brass Conference solo competition. He has also been featured at the Eastern Trombone Workshop both as a soloist and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic trombone section since his appointment and most recently at the International Trombone Festival in Nashville, TN and the June in Buffalo festival. Under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen he performs in the Philharmonic on alto, tenor and bass trombone as well as tenor tuba and bass trumpet.
Mr. Miller continues as instructor of trombone at the North Carolina School of the Arts a position he has held since 1996. James Miller is a clinician for UMI (United Musical Instruments).
