Quick Facts
Biography
James Staples (born 1934) is an American composer, music educator, and pianist.
Life and career
Staples studied piano and composition at Florida State University in Tallahassee and earned his Bachelor of Music and his Master of Music. He then studied at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and received his Ph.D. in music. His teachers were Carlisle Floyd and Maria Luisa Faini. He also studied privately for two years with Irwin Freundlich in New York City.
As a solo pianist, he regularly performs recitals in Indiana, as well as concert performances with orchestras in Fredonia and Rochester and also in Tallahassee and Fort Lauderdale.
In addition, he teaches music at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, and state university college in Fredonia, New York.
Since 1988, he has also been working as a freelance composer. He has composed for orchestra, wind band, choirs, chamber music, and for piano.
Compositions
With orchestra
- 1995-1996 Concerto
With wind band
- 1991 Windsprint
With choirs
- Mass
- God with us
Chamber music
- Piano trio
- Drie duos
- Suite
On piano
- Sonata
- Theme and Variations