James W. Doyle is an associate professor at Adams State University where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in percussion, world music, music business, music education. In addition, he directs the Music of the Americas Project, percussion ensembles, jazz and commercial ensembles, and serves as Faculty Trustee on the Adams State University Board of Trustees.

As a commercial, jazz, classical, and contemporary artist, James has performed throughout North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia, and has performed and presented at several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. He’s recorded over 40 albums for Austin, Nashville, and Southwest-based commercial artists, and regularly performs as a contemporary chamber musician and soloist throughout the U.S. and Japan.

Before accepting his position at Adams State University, James served as principal percussionist with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West where he spent six years touring, recording, and performing throughout the United States, while maintaining an active freelancing schedule in the San Francisco Bay area. He then served six years with the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest in Fort Worth, TX, and the US Air Forces Central Command Band in Doha, Qatar. Prior to his military service, James was a member of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and freelanced throughout the Gulf Coast region.

James has taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Australian National Drum and Percussion Camp, Gunma University in Japan, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and has done residencies at over 50 universities and conservatories. He’s currently on the board and faculty of the Mt. Blanca Summer Music Conservatory, a member of the PAS University Pedagogy Committee, a board member of the New Works Project, and host and faculty for the North America Ted Atkatz Percussion Seminar.

He currently serves as principal percussionist of the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, principal percussionist with the San Juan Symphony, performs regularly with the New Mexico Philharmonic, and tours internationally with the Apricity Trio for flute, clarinet, and marimba. His research areas include chamber music settings with silent film, commissioning new works for chamber percussion ensemble and unique chamber orchestration, the development of equitable pedagogy focused on inclusive excellence, and the lineage of music from throughout the world and their synthesis in popular and contemporary music.

James earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Louisiana State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Central Missouri.

Current CV