Widely acknowledged as one of the most influential conductors in America, James Jordan, through his 40 books, recordings and DVD’s, has brought about far-reaching pedagogical and philosophical changes not only in choral music, but also in the worlds of orchestral conducting, wind conducting, piano, and music education. The Choral Journal has described his writings as “visionary.” Renowned American composer Morten Lauridsen dedicated the third movement of his Midwinter Songs to him. One of the country’s leading choral artists, Dr. Jordan is a senior conductor at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where he conducts the Westminster Williamson Voices and the Westminster Schola Cantorum, and teaches undergraduate and graduate choral conducting. Over thirty works have been premiered by theWestminster Williamson Voices, including works of Mantyjaarvi, Custer, Ames, Hill, Whitbourn, Henson, and Wilberg.
Dr. Jordan also conducts Anam Cara (www.anamcarachoir.com), a professional choral ensemble that has received critical acclaim and a Grammy Nomination for its recordings. The American Record Review wrote that Anam Cara “is a choir to please the fussiest choral connoisseur” and called their inaugural recording, Innisfree, “skillful and shining,” “glowing,” “supremely accomplished” with a “tone that produces a wide range of effects from vocal transparency to rich, full-throated glory.”
This coming year he will teach at the inaugural Margaret Hillis Conducting Symposiumin Chicago as well as teaching at the Choral Institute in Freiburg, Germany.Dr. Jordan is one of the country’s most prolific writers on the subjects of the philosophy of music making and choral teaching. His trilogy of books: The Musician’s Soul, The Musician’s Walk, and The Musician’s Spirit—have made a deep and profound impact upon musicians and teachers around the world. In October, 2009, a new book, written with Nova Thomas of the Westminster faculty, Towards Center, will be published.
Dr. Jordan is also executive editor of the Evoking Sound Choral Series (GIA), which now includes over 100 published works. He delivers over thirty workshops and keynote addresses each year in addition to an extensive conducting and guest conducting schedule. This year Dr. Jordan will conduct three All-State Choirs:Louisiana, Utah, and Ohio.He will guest conduct the National Youth Choir at Carnegie Hall in addition to conducting U.S. Army Soldier’s Chorus (Washington, D.C) on their spring tour and teaching at The New England Conservatory.Dr. Jordan will also gave the Keynote Address at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. at the invitation of the National Endowment for the Arts for the Symposium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities of the United States in August.During the past year, Dr. Jordan has taught at the Curtis Institute, the University of Buffalo, the University of Dayton, theUniversity of North Texas, Vandercook College of Music, the United States Army School of Music and the University of Northern Colorado.Dr. Jordan also serves on Panels for the National Endowment for the Arts.
