Gustavus Adolphus College

Visiting Instructor
Music

B.M. magna cum laude, St. Olaf College; M.M. Ithaca College; A.B.D. [2009] University of Minnesota

James Patrick Miller joins the music faculty at Gustavus Adolphus for the 2008-2009 year. A Visiting Instructor, Miller will teach Instrumental Conducting, Music Methods, and conduct both the Gustavus Wind Orchestra and the Vasa Wind Orchestra. From 2002-2006 he served as assistant director of bands and conductor of the University Chorale at Cornell University, in Ithaca, N.Y., where he directed the Wind Symphony, Chorale and Low Brass Choir. He has also served on the conducting faculty at Ithaca College. Miller serves as co-artistic director, conductor, and founding member of the Sapphire Chamber Consort, a professional vocal and instrumental chamber ensemble based in Minneapolis (www.sapphirechamberconsort.org).

In 2003 Miller received national recognition by winning the American Choral Directors Association National Conducting Prize at the graduate level, and has appeared as guest conductor and clinician with choral and instrumental ensembles in seven states. In February 2008, in collaboration with contemporary ensemble Zeitgeist, and as a part of the University of Minnesota's SPARK Festival, Miller conducted the world premiere of several scenes from The Calling, a new chamber opera composed by Doug Geers and librettist Wickham Boyle. He has been involved in commissioning more than 30 works over the last 10 years, and his ensemble's performances have been noted by such composers as Shawn Brogan Allison, Doug Geers, Karel Husa, Steven Stucky, Judith Weir and Dana Wilson. Miller's mentors have included Steven Amundson, Craig Kirchhoff, Timothy Mahr, Stephen Peterson, Robert Scholz and Scott Tucker.

Miller is currently completing his D.M.A. in conducting at the University of Minnesota, where he was named a College of Liberal Arts and School of Music Graduate Research Fellow for the summer of 2008. He holds the M.M. degree in conducting from Ithaca College and a B.M. in music education magna cum laude from St. Olaf College, and has been affiliated professionally with the College Band Directors National Association, the American Choral Directors Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda in 2001.

Miller resides in Minneapolis with his wife Heidi and their two rambunctious cats, Teus and Gandalf the Grey.

Areas of Expertise

• instrumental conducting
• choral conducting
• chamber music
• contemporary wind repertoire

Interests

• Golf
• Cats
• Minnesota Twins
• Vikings
• Golden Gophers

James Patrick Miller Schedule

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