Featured Artist

James Ackley

James Ackley has recently joined the faculty at the School of Music as Associate Professor of Trumpet. A native of Cincinnati, OH, Ackley is an internationally-acclaimed trumpet solo artist who has performed extensively around the world, collaborated with a number of notable modern composers, and contributed to numerous television, radio, and movie scores. He holds a B.M. from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music and an M.M. from the elite Cleveland Institute of Music, is a founding member of the Avant Brass Quintet, and holds the position of principal trumpet with the New Britain Symphony Orchestra. More information about Ackley's life and work is available at http://trumpet.music.sc.edu and http://www.jamesackley.com.

What excites you most about your most recent work?
I am a new faculty member here at USC, so I'm very excited to be part of this incredibly talented faculty. I get to work closely with my colleagues in chamber music and artistic endeavors. There seems to be a lot of support from all faculty and staff, and I look forward to a long career here at USC.

What do you find most appealing about the arts community at Carolina?
I can already see that, for a smaller sized city, Columbia has a vibrant artistic life that is rich in content and talent. The state boasts several orchestras, amazing art galleries, and wonderful museums. It's easy to see why people like to visit and live in the area. Once settled, I expect my wife and I to become fully immersed into this thriving artistic culture.

How do you see your work relating to other arts disciplines besides your own?
All art, at every level, has many aspects in common and it's easy to combine them into fabulous presentations and concerts. I look forward to sharing whatever gifts I can offer with all my colleagues at USC and around the State of South Carolina.

What artist in your field, living or dead, do you admire most, and why?
On one hand, this is a very difficult question to answer because I have so many people I admire in music. On the other hand, there is one person that has inspired me above all others. The person who has carried me to the next level, both technically and musically on the trumpet, is Wynton Marsalis. I remember listening to his cassette tapes (CDs were not invented yet) every night before falling asleep when I began to play the trumpet. The entire time I'd say to myself, "I wish I could play like that. Someday, I will." Since then, I have had the opportunity to meet, perform for, and work with Mr. Marsalis. He continues to inspire me to this day with his intellect, talent, and his amazing ability to play what's NOT on the page with such finesse and character it seems effortless.

If you had a million dollars to give away, what would you do with it?
Now that's a loaded question! I would like to think I would do the right thin: donate a portion to the homeless, perhaps a portion to research, and a portion towards the needs of children. The problem is, a million dollars wouldn't be enough. There are so many things that we still need to address as a society, a million would only put a small dent in the equation; but perhaps if everyone could do this, then we would be moving the right direction. I would probably buy something for my wife too. Just don't tell her when you see her or she may think I actually have a million dollars!

What kind of place do you think art has—or should have—in the larger global community? And how does what you do in the classroom connect to the larger world?
Without trying to sound too corny or intellectual, to me art is the abstract, the absolute and the convoluted. Art is being human and the ultimate expression of who we are. Art can inspire, distract, and can revolutionize a society. Art can represent our greatest failings and our greatest characteristics. Therefore, I can't see a community without art. I just don't think it can work that way. The government has taken away fiscal support of the arts for years, but it won't go away--nor should it. As long as we are human, art will be a part of the larger global community. It's here to stay.

What's the last book you read, and what did you think of it?
The last book I read was I Call the Shots: Straight Talk About the Game of Golf Today by Johnny Miller. Many may know Mr. Miller as a former PGA tour pro and a CBS golf analyst. Mr. Miller was inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame in 1996. The book was actually a gift from my mother. I am an avid golf fan and like to play any chance I get (no, I'm not very good – shooting in the low 90's is common). The book is very well written and gave significant insight into the game of golf, with several Tiger Woods/Jack Nicklaus comparisons, as well as insight into other top players in the game today. If anything, it was a refreshing look at a game that I see directly parallel life and trumpet playing. I highly recommend the book if you are a golf fan!

Tell us about your work in progress—what can we expect from you next?
I am currently working on a recording project of music for trumpet ensemble. It's in the planning stages at the moment, but we hope to record in January if all goes well and have a product out by May. I'm very excited about my second solo CD, titled Lírico Latino: Songs for Trumpet. It has just been released this summer on the MSR Classics label. I will also be hosting the 2009 Carmine Caruso Solo Jazz Trumpet Competition through the International Trumpet Guild and the University of South Carolina, which will undoubtedly put another spotlight on the School of Music. My wife and I are also expecting our third child in May 2008 (we already have two boys, Kevin 9 and Joshua 4). I always consider my family the most important project in progress I have.