As a composer, James Stewart is interested in many different genres of music; writing for rock bands, symphony orchestras and everything in between. James received a Bachelor of Science in Music with an emphasis in Composition from Toccoa Falls College in Northeast Georgia in 2001. In 2007, James earned his Master’s of Music in Composition from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There he also made connections with the Open Dream Ensemble, an outreach arm of UNCSA and the Kenan Institute for the Arts.
James wrote original music for five children’s shows and spent three years as music director, tour manager and company member. In 2014, James received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford in Connecticut.
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June's Student Composer Showcase features music and interviews with composers, educators and mentors who participated in Music-COMP's Opus 37 concert that took place May 2, 2023 at the St. Joseph's Cathedral in Burlington, Vermont. -
David Neiweem, director of the Aurora Chamber Singers, speaks with Vermont Public Classical host, James Stewart about their upcoming performance on Saturday, May 13th at 7:30pm at College Street Congregational Church in Burlington, Vermont.
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April's Student Composer Showcase features a conversation with Betsy Nolan, at music teacher at Edmunds Elementary School, and Betsy Greene, music teacher at Champlain Elementary School. Both share their experience teaching composition to young students and we sample some of their students' works.
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Clare College Choir starts their US tour here in Vermont, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Middlebury on Friday, April 14th at 7:30pm. Vermont Public Classical host, James Stewart spoke with their director, Graham Ross.
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March's Student Composer Showcase features Mayla Landis-Marinello, a 9th Grader at U32 High School in East Montpelier. Mayla's work "Spring Equinox" was recorded at the Music-COMP's Opus 36 concert back in April of 2022.
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February's Student Composer Showcase features Chase Ehrlich, an 11th grader at Montpelier High School. Chase's work "Spirit of the Sky" will be performed by the Vermont Philharmonic, Sunday, March 19th at 2pm at the Barre Opera House.
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Andrew Crust will conduct the Vermont Symphony Orchestra on February 4th in a program titled "Electric Dreams," which features the Vermont premiere of "Ficciones" by composer Roberto Sierra, performed on the electric violin by Tracy Silverman.
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January's Student Composer Showcase features Drew Frankenberg, a homeschool student from West Rutland, Vermont. Drew's work "Noble Serenity" will be featured in this year's Farmer's Night Concert at the State House in Montpelier, Wednesday, February 1st.
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For December's Student Composer Showcase we will check in with Music-COMP alum, Ethan Duncan about his years participating in the student composition mentoring program and listen back to a piece that he composed for the Vermont Symphony Brass Quintet back in 2018.
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Vermont Public Classical host, James Stewart, speaks with bassoonist and conductor, Anthony Parnther who will be leading the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in their Holiday Pops concerts Dec 9th, 10th and 11th.
