Clinician Detail

James Yancey - Biographical Information

James W. Yancey, B.A Luther College music education, vocal performance, business management and music management; MA choral conducting from New Mexico State University; DMA ASU Music Ed (ABD). He has taught all grade levels (general, choral, and guitar)and is currently teaching guitar (three levels with a total of 245 students studying guitar) at Maryvale High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the former department chair for Performing Arts. Mr. Yancey is also music director at Velda Rose United Methodist Church in Mesa, AZ. While teaching junior high in Phoenix, Mr. Yancey built the largest junior high choral program in the state of Arizona. At one point there were over 275 students involved in three choirs. He has conducted numerous choral festivals and was the Arizona Junior High All-State Choral Director in 1997 as well as the Arizona Elementary Honor Choir in 2003 as well as 2005. He was the Arizona Southwest Regional Chairperson for Solo and Ensemble for the years 1999-2003. In 2007 his Advanced Touring Guitar Ensemble was chosen to perform for the Arizona Music Educator’s Association. In 2008 his Advanced Touring Guitar Ensemble toured throughout Germany and Austria with a concert in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. In 2009 the Advance Touring Guitar Ensembles were featured at the AMEA Music Educator’s State Convention. He is a member of the Music Educator’s National Convention, American Choral Director’s Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. In 2012 the Advanced Touring Guitar Ensembles were featured at the Nevada Music Educator’s Association as well as toured Peru for two weeks. In 2016 the guitar ensemble toured Italy (Rome, Florence, and Venice) with a featured concert in the Pantheon in Rome. In 2017 they will be featured at the Hawaii Music Education Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii.