James Knox

James Knox, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Central Oregon Community College, directs the Cascade Chorale, the College Choir and is the founder of vocal jazz ensemble, Central Singers. In addition to teaching music courses, he is also a sought at guest clinician locally and throughout the Northwest.

Prior to COCC he was the Vocal Jazz Director at Portland State University and the Choral Director at Mt. Hood Community College. Through James' studies and member of a select group of choral educators, he has had the privilege of working with distinguished conductors and composers from around the world, such as Arvo Pärt, Frieder Bernius, Veljo Tormis, Fred Stoltzfus, Joseph Flummerfelt, Morna Edmundson, Yaccov Bergman, Maria Guinand ,Vance George, Alice Parker, Ann Howard Jones, Charles Bruffy, and Simon Carrington.

His involvement and love for music is also displayed as a baritone soloist. James' work included principal role-Guglielmo in W.A Mozart's Cosi fan Tuttie PSU Opera Production, guest artist at Seattle, Washington's Opera Banquet, Metropolitan Opera Guild's regional finalist. He has been featured with Douglas Webster in the Oregon Symphony's production of Leonard Bernstein's Mass, and Peace Through Music pieces Dona Nobis Pacem by R.V. Williams, Cantata Misericordium by Benjamin Britten, Faure's Requiem, Portland's Baroque Ensemble, portrayed Jesus in the premiere of J.S. Bach's St. Mark's Passion, principal role-Cascada in The Merry Widow, and Menotti's one act opera The Telephone, and he was Pooh-Bah in Obsidian Opera's Production of The Mikado. He was recently seen as Javert in the local production of Les Miserables.

In the spring of 2014, James had the opportunity to teach in London at the University of London through COCC's study abroad program. There, he taught Rock and Roll History, Music Fundamentals and Music History: British Composers.