Nancy B. James, soprano, received a B.M. in Musical Studies/Piano Performance from the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, and a M.M. in Vocal Coaching from the New England Conservatory of Music. Her post-graduate work in Vocal Performance was at the University of Lowell, MA. After returning to her native home of Syracuse, NY she was the Chorus Master, Vocal Coach, Rehearsal Accompanist and Assistant Conductor for Syracuse Opera for seventeen years from 1990-2007, and she returned once again from 2015-2023.
Ms. James was previously an Adjunct Professor of Voice at Syracuse University and Hamilton College. Ms. James has been the Director of Music Ministries at multiple Syracuse area churches for the last 32 years.
During her tenure with Syracuse Opera, Nancy made her debut in the title role of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience, followed by Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. Nancy is especially fond of the hundreds of performances with the Opera Ensemble that traveled to hundreds of schools bringing live opera to students all around the state. Some of Ms. James' repertoire highlights include the Requiems of Brahms, Fauré and Mozart, Handel’s Messiah, the Beethoven Mass in C and several of the J.S. Bach cantatas.
Classes Taught:
MUS 112: Introduction to Music Literature
MUS 113: Introduction to Music Literature and History