James R. Ramsey

• Instructor, Choral Literature
• jamesramsey2@man.com

James Ramsey also serves as Director of Music and Arts at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Executive Director for the St. Luke’s Performing Arts Academy, and Education Docent for Opera Colorado’s Backstage Workshops. James has worked with various orchestras and ensembles in the area as well as served as Music Director and Conductor for the Littleton Chorale, Music Director for the University of Colorado Summer Opera Program, Chorus Master for the Colorado Music Festival, Associate Conductor of the Carolina Chamber Chorale and Assistant Conductor of the Grammy award-winning San Francisco Symphony Chorus preparing for several maestros including Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Roger Norrington and Libor Pesek.  

James has conducted choral and orchestral performances across the United States and Europe including professional appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Red Rocks Amphitheater. As a baritone soloist, he has performed with CU Opera, Pikes Peak Opera, Opera Colorado, and Rochester (NY) Light Opera Theater.  

He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Literature and Performance at the University of Colorado, Boulder, a Master of Music degree in Conducting at the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music Education at Middle Tennessee State University. Mentors and teachers include Joan Conlon, Vance George, Donald Neuen, Alfred Mann, and Samuel Adler. As an instructor, James has taught at the University of Colorado, Whitman College in Washington, and Brighton Central Schools in Rochester, NY. He has served as the American Choral Directors Association’s Repertoire and Standards Chair for Community Choirs for both Colorado and the Southwest Region. James resides in Littleton with his wife, Leigh, and their sons, Jack and Luke.