Dr. James Wheat

Dr. James Wheat has extensive performance experience, including 4 years as trombonist with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C. and seven years as principal trombonist of the Austin, (TX) Symphony. In addition, he has been principal trombonist with the Arlington (VA) Symphony, the Capital Symphony and the Rochester Symphony, where he was appointed principal trombonist beginning in 1998. While teaching at Michigan's Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, he was principal trombonist for 5 seasons with the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra, as well as the Festival Band and Brass Quintet. In other musical styles, he has played jazz trombone with Ray Charles, Warren Covington, and Les Elgart.

Dr. Wheat earned his DMA in trombone performance with a minor in musicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has also studied musicology at the University of Texas, and is a graduate of Purdue University. He has taught studio brass and music history at Texas Lutheran College, Viterbo College, The Hartt Schools and the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.