James Hamlin

James Hamlin did not always play trumpet. His first experience was in a drum and bugle corps when he was in fifth grade. The next time he played the trumpet seriously was after getting a B.A. in American History from the University of Pennsylvania. While living in England for a year James began taking trumpet lessons again. From there it was five more years at the Manhattan School of Music. James is now a freelance player in the New York City area. He has played with many groups, including the New York Philharmonic, the American Symphony Orchestra, and The New York City Opera. He has been a member of the Greenwich Symphony for 37 years. One of his interests is the natural trumpet and he has played with groups such as The Grande Bande, Concert Royale, the Fairfield Old Academy, and New York Collegium. James has recorded on the natural trumpet on Sony Classical and other labels. Teaching is also a big part of his musical life. For twelve years he taught at the Eastern Music Festival and for thirteen years at the Juilliard pre-college. He currently teaches at the Hoff-Bartelson Music School. James received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and his B.M. and M.M. from the Manhattan School of music.