James’ personal mission is to realize the potential of music-making as a force for social change, community building, and personal wellbeing. Beginning as a composer, arranger and keyboardist in Southern California, James is currently a local choral director and Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor in the music department at Northeastern University,. He also serves as a teaching fellow within Harvard's music department and Mind-Brain-Behavior Initiative. His research interests include music theory pedagogy, embodied cognition, community music, and more.