composer
sound artist
double bass
Full Bio
James A. Devor (b. 1998) is an American composer, sound artist and double bassist whose music draws on his own wide-ranging musical background. His music grapples with rapidly-changing human emotions and attempts to sort through the natural chaos of the world. When writing, he focuses on the act of collaboration which occurs between the composer, performers and audience.
While his catalogue includes solo, chamber, and large ensemble compositions, James has a particular affinity for art song and vocal music. His recent compositional interest is in how live electronics can enhance and supplement the sound of musicians in real time. As a double bassist, James specialized in performing new solo and chamber works. He is a founding member of Aimless Duo, which commissions and promotes new pieces for clarinet and double bass. He also regularly plays with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra and was previously the bassist for the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra.
James has written for The Hartt School’s Foot in the Door ensemble, Nathalie Joachim, Bergamot Quartet, Akropolis Reed Quintet, Dalí Quartet, Dior Quartet, and Sinfonietta Vidin. He was the winner of the inaugural 2020 West Chester University Orchestra Composition Competition. His music was also featured in The Hartt School’s Spring 2023 production of Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves.
His mini-opera, Fairies Found and Lost, premiered during Opera from Scratch 2024. James has also been a participant at MNSong – Source Song Festival’s composer mentorship program, where he is currently working on a new full length song cycle, New Music on the Point, Wintergreen Composers’ Retreat, Sō Percussion Workshop, European American Musical Alliance, and the Contemporary Music Lab at European University of Cyprus. Most recently, James’ work has been featured at the 47th Annual Festival of New American Music at Sacramento State, the Come As You Are Concerts at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Wisconsin Alliance for Composers New Music Festival, New Music Mosaic’s Timbre Vol. 3 virtual concert, Composers Breathing Podcast, NACUSA National Conference, the Annual Research on Contemporary Composition Conference at University of North Georgia, and the Midwest Music Research Collective Symposium.
James received a dual Bachelor of Music degree in music theory & composition and music education: instrumental performance from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, studying double bass with Peter Paulsen and composition with Robert Maggio. He completed his Master of Music in music composition at The Hartt School – University of Hartford, studying composition with Keen Steen and Robert Carl and double bass with Robert Black. James has also studied privately with composers Libby Larsen and Daron Hagen, and has most recently received his Artist Diploma from OAcademy as a 2024 cohort member of the Gabriela Ortiz Composing Studio.
Find more at: www.jdevormusic.com
full bio updated as of September 2024
Permission granted to shorten as needed
