Bio of Dr. Matthew James
Associate Dean, School of Visual and Performing Arts
Matthew James, D.M.A., brings over 28 years of administrative, instructional and performance experience to his position as associate dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
He also brings an abiding affection for the rich cultural traditions of the Deep South.
“I feel that this institution, as well as this geographic region, has enormous potential, and will continue to develop as a fertile area for the arts,” said James.
This “potential” finds ample expression in the opportunities available to talented persons across the region through the Louisiana Lyric Opera.
“The LLO provides a venue for the School of Visual and Performing Arts to mount larger-scale works that highlight the unique talents of our guest artists, as well as our university performers and production staff," he said.
James achieved his bachelor's degree in music education from Missouri Western State University (then-College) in 1978 after attending the Vienna International Music Center in Austria ('77). He earned his master's degree in music ('82) and then gained his doctorate in voice performance ('89), both from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
Among his extensive accomplishments, James apprenticed with the Des Moines Metro Opera, was an Artist Fellow with the Bach Aria Festival in New York, and received special training from the Institute of Voice Performance Pedagogy with Richard Miller at Oberlin College.
Notably, James toured for two years with the National Opera Company of Raleigh, N.C., where he performed as Mustafa in Rossini's "The Italian Girl in Algiers," as Falstaff/Page in Niccolai's "The Merry Wives of Windsor," as Geronimo in Cimarosa's "The Secret Marriage," as Scaramba in Sousa's "El Capitan," as Bartolo and Basilio in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville," as Sir Tristram and Sheriff in Flotow's "Martha," and as Colline, Benoit and Alcindoro in Puccini's “La Bohème.
James also performed the title role in Mozart's "Don Giovanni" with the Rome Festival Orchestra at the Basilica di San Clemente.
Rounding out his accolade-filled career, James performed as a principal violist for the WWC/WWU Orchestra, received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Missouri Western State University, served as a clinician in German and Italian diction, and directed the South Dakota Metropolitan Opera auditions.
James has held a wide variety of positions including full-time academic positions. He spent 12 years at Northern State University at Aberdeen, S.D., where he taught voice and directed musicals, as well as appearing as a soloist in many oratorio performances and faculty recitals.
Before coming to ULM, James chaired the music department at Walla Walla University in Washington State for six years, while also serving as a professor of music.