Electronic Press Kit
Short Bio
Dr. James Brinkmann leads a diverse career as a performer, teacher, and researcher. He creates interactive performances that strengthen the listener's connection with music. From playing in concert halls to jamming in the subways, he has performed throughout North America and presented at National Flute Conventions, College Music Society Conferences, Society for American Music, and gave a TEDx Talk. James taught flute lessons and flute methods at Michigan State University as a graduate flute assistant. Prior to graduate school, he was on flute faculty and the woodwind department chair at the Merit School of Music in Chicago. A versatile performer, he co-founded Floboe Productions and Silverwood Ensemble. He also held positions in the Northbrook Symphony, Lakeview Orchestra, and has subbed with the New World Symphony. He placed 2nd and 3rd in the National Flute Association Orchestral Excerpts Competition and was a two-time 3rd prize winner in the Donald Peck International Flute Competition. He completed his D.M.A. and M.M. at Michigan State University and his B.M. at DePaul University.
Long Bio
James Brinkmann unites teaching, performance, and research to create interactive performances that strengthen the audience's connection with music. From playing in concert halls to jamming in the subways, he has performed for and collaborated with communities throughout North America, including the University of Utah, Atlanta Flute Club, Broad Museum Art Lab (MI), and Pan Harmonia (NC). He has presented lecture-recitals and research papers at National Flute Conventions, College Music Society conferences, the Society for American Music, University of Toronto Graduate Music Conference, and presented "Collaborative Listening" at TEDx DePaul University. His spontaneous performances in the Chicago subway stations and ideas about audience engagement were featured in the Chicago Tribune in August 2018.
In addition to his interactive performances, he leads a diverse career as a teacher, researcher, chamber and orchestral musician. James taught flute lessons and flute methods at Michigan State University as a graduate assistant. Prior, he served on the flute faculty and as the woodwind department chair at the Merit School of Music in Chicago. As a pedagogue, he has articles published in Flute Talk, The Flute View, and Pipeline. Dedicated to the scholarship of teaching and learning, James is a third year Senior Fellow in the Residential College of Arts and Humanities, where he served as the interim co-director in Fall 2021. Along with Dr. Liza Calisesi-Maidens and Dr. Erika J. Knapp, he researches undergraduate music students’ sense of belonging. They presented their findings at the College Music Society Great Lakes Conference and will present at the 2022 International Society for Music Education World Conference and 2022 CMS National Conference. As a chamber musician, he co-founded Floboe Productions and Silverwood Ensemble, and was the flutist for the CHAI Collaborative Ensemble. Orchestrally, he held the positions of second flute in the Northbrook Symphony, principal flute in the Lakeview Orchestra where he also was a concerto soloist, and has subbed with the New World Symphony. His competitive achievements include 2nd and 3rd in the National Flute Association Orchestral Excerpts Competition and two 3rd prizes in the Donald Peck International Flute Competition. James completed his D.M.A., M.M., and Graduate Certificate in Music Career Development at Michigan State University. He received his B.M. from DePaul University. His primary teachers include Richard Sherman, Mary Stolper, Lisa Byrnes, and Christina Smith.