James Akins (tubist)
Encyclopedia
James Akins is an American tubist
, music professor, and both a player and maker of Native American Flute
s.
; Arnold Jacobs, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
; Robert Ryker, Montreal Symphony; Fredrick Schaufele Jr, Lakewood High School; and Robert LeBlanc, Professor Emeritus at Ohio State University
. He received his Bachelor of Music
in 1978 and Master of Music
in 1982 from Ohio State University.
He is Associate Professor of tuba and euphonium
at Ohio State University and has been principal tuba of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
since 1981. He is a member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet, and the Ohio Brass Quintet. Akins is also a clinician/consultant for the Tuba Exchange in Durham, North Carolina
and has been a design consultant for various tuba companies including the G+P Instrument Company in Milan, Italy. As a consultant for the United Musical Instrument Company, working with the Conn Instrument Co. division, he collaborates in the development of professional tubas, developing several new designs. As a clinician for these companies, Akins has given tuba masterclasses and recitals for high schools and colleges throughout the United States. He has also presented masterclasses with the Native American Flute
and is himself a flute maker. He has taught several tubists, including Carol Jantsch
as a beginner. His studio at Ohio State University is one of the largest in the country.
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
, music professor, and both a player and maker of Native American Flute
Native American flute
The Native American flute has achieved some measure of fame for its distinctive sound, used in a variety of New Age and world music recordings. The instrument was originally very personal; its music was played without accompaniment in courtship, healing, meditation, and spiritual rituals. Now it...
s.
Life and career
Akins studied the tuba with Ronald Bishop, Cleveland OrchestraCleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
; Arnold Jacobs, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
; Robert Ryker, Montreal Symphony; Fredrick Schaufele Jr, Lakewood High School; and Robert LeBlanc, Professor Emeritus at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. He received his Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
in 1978 and Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
in 1982 from Ohio State University.
He is Associate Professor of tuba and euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
at Ohio State University and has been principal tuba of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
The Columbus Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Columbus, Ohio. The oldest performing arts organization in the city, its home is the Ohio Theatre. The orchestra's current President and Chief Creative Officer is Roland Valliere...
since 1981. He is a member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet, and the Ohio Brass Quintet. Akins is also a clinician/consultant for the Tuba Exchange in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
and has been a design consultant for various tuba companies including the G+P Instrument Company in Milan, Italy. As a consultant for the United Musical Instrument Company, working with the Conn Instrument Co. division, he collaborates in the development of professional tubas, developing several new designs. As a clinician for these companies, Akins has given tuba masterclasses and recitals for high schools and colleges throughout the United States. He has also presented masterclasses with the Native American Flute
Native American flute
The Native American flute has achieved some measure of fame for its distinctive sound, used in a variety of New Age and world music recordings. The instrument was originally very personal; its music was played without accompaniment in courtship, healing, meditation, and spiritual rituals. Now it...
and is himself a flute maker. He has taught several tubists, including Carol Jantsch
Carol Jantsch
Carol Jantsch is an American tuba player. She is the daughter of a medical doctor and a Kenyon College vocal-music teacher, Nancy Jantsch. She began to study piano at age 6, and the euphonium at age 9...
as a beginner. His studio at Ohio State University is one of the largest in the country.
Sources
- Columbus Symphony OrchestraColumbus Symphony OrchestraThe Columbus Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Columbus, Ohio. The oldest performing arts organization in the city, its home is the Ohio Theatre. The orchestra's current President and Chief Creative Officer is Roland Valliere...
About the Symphony. - Murphy, Kate (December 23, 2001). "Grass Roots Business: The Capital of Oom-Pah-Pah. New York Times
- National Public Radio (August 20, 2002). "Dent Eraser". All Things ConsideredAll Things ConsideredAll Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
- Ohio State UniversityOhio State UniversityThe Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. Staff biography: James Akins - ProMusica Chamber Orchestra (March 1, 2007). "Splendor in the Brass", Promusica's March Baroque Series Performance
- Wittstock, Susan (October 5, 2004). "Flute class instills Native American spirit", onCampus (Ohio State University faculty newspaper) Vol. 33, No. 19 (reprinted on Waking Spirit Flutes)