James Gates joins the University of Maryland Bands as a D.M.A student, studying Wind Conducting with Dr. Michael Votta. He will serve the Mighty Sound of Maryland as a graduate assistant this upcoming season.

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James earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from the University of Akron and his Master of Music in Conducting degree from Penn State University. While at Penn State, James studied Wind Conducting with Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin and served as graduate assistant conductor with all university concert bands. He also held graduate appointments with the Penn State Marching Blue Band and Pride of the Lions pep band. Outside of conducting, James studied trombone with Mark Lusk and served as assistant conductor of the Penn State Trombone Choir. With the choir, James conducted concertos with prominent soloists including Peter Sullivan (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra) and Nitzan Haroz (Philadelphia Orchestra).

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James is an experienced 5-12 educator, spending his career teaching in the Massillon City Schools (Massillon, OH). Under James direction, the Massillon junior high bands consistently received Superior ratings at OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Events. He was named the 2019 Massillon Junior High School Rookie Teacher of the Year and was a 2021 Canton Symphony Orchestra Music Educator of the Year finalist.

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As a clinician focused on empowering others to pursue personal goals, James has presented sessions on interviewing strategies and conducting audition preparation at the OMEA Professional Development Conference and the Midwest Clinic.