JAMES PATRICK MILLER

257 Fine Arts Center
(413) 545-6056
jpmiller@music.umass.edu

DIRECTOR OF WIND STUDIES; ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

James Patrick Miller is Assistant Professor and Director of Wind Studies at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band and teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting. From 2002-2006 he served as Assistant Conductor of Wind Ensembles and conductor of the University Chorale at Cornell University, in Ithaca, NY, where he directed the Wind Symphony, Chorale and Low Brass Choir. His past faculty appointments also include Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY and Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Miller also serves as artistic advisor and founding member of the Sapphire Chamber Consort, a professional vocal and instrumental chamber ensemble based in Minneapolis, MN. Also active as a clinician and guest conductor, Miller has appeared throughout the Northeast and the Midwest with public school and festival ensembles.

In 2003 Miller received national recognition by winning the American Choral Directors Association National Conducting Prize at the graduate level. He has also been involved in the commissioning of more than 30 works over the last 10 years, and his ensemble's performances have been noted by such composers as Shawn Allison, Karel Husa, Steven Stucky, Judith Weir and Dana Wilson. Miller's mentors have included Steven Amundson, Craig Kirchhoff, Timothy Mahr, Stephen Peterson, Kathy Romey, Robert Scholz and Scott Tucker.

Dr. Miller holds the DMA in conducting from the University of Minnesota where he was named a College of Liberal Arts and School of Music Graduate Research Fellow for the summer of 2008, the MM degree in conducting from Ithaca College, and a BM in music education magna cum laude from St. Olaf College. Professor Miller has been affiliated professionally with the College Band Directors National Association, MENC, Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association, the American Choral Directors Association, and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and was elected into Pi Kappa Lambda in 2001. Miller resides in South Hadley, MA with his wife, conductor and soprano Heidi Johanna Miller and their two rambunctious cats.

Appointed 2009