James Donahue, Flute Instructor

Flutist James Donahue enjoys a multi-faceted career as soloist, chamber player, orchestral musician, and teacher.

An enthusiastic advocate of new music, he has collaborated with many exciting composers, including Warner Jepson, Timothy McCormack, Tamar Muskal, and Helmut Lachenmann. In 2008 he gave the world premier performances of McCormack’s Tumma Pilvi for solo bass flute and chamber orchestra, and Hammara Pilvi for solo bass flute, both of which were dedicated to him. James has performed with the Waco and San Antonio Symphony Orchestras, the Lyric Opera of Waco, and from 2006-2008 was solo flutist with the acclaimed Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble.
As a teacher, James enjoys working with students of all ages and levels of achievement. His style of teaching is strongly rooted in the traditions of the French School of flute playing, and it is his goal to help all of his students become independent, creative musicians, who will have the skills they need to enjoy a lifetime of happy flute playing.
James holds a Bachelor of Music in flute performance (2006) from the Baylor University School of Music where he was a student of Helen Ann Shanley. In 2008 he was awarded the Oberlin Conservatory’s prestigious Artist Diploma, following two years of intensive graduate study with the legendary French flutist Michel Debost.

Favorite solo pieces (flute):
J. S. Bach: Flute Sonata in E-flat major, BWV 1031
Claude Debussy: Syrinx
Jacques Ibert: Concerto for flute and Orchestra
Andre Jolivet: Chant de Linos
Yuko Uebayashi: Sonata for flute and piano

Favorite Recording artist for instrument (flute):
Michel Debost (my teacher!)
Jean-Pierre Rampal
Emmanuel Pahud
Paula Robison

Favorite orchestral works:
Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe
Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
Howard Hanson: Symphony No. 2, “Romantic”
Claude Debussy: prelude to the afternoon of a faun
Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

Favorite pieces of music not for my instrument:
He Zhanhao & Chen Gang: The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto
Cesar Franck: Sonata in A major for violin and piano
Edward Elgar: Cello concerto
George Crumb: Black Angels for string quartet
Richard Strauss: Oboe concerto

Music for Bedtime:
Claude Debussy: Clair de lune from “Suite bergamasque”
Jules Massanet: Meditation from “Thais”
Igor Stravinsky: Berceuse from “The Firebird”
Ludwig Van Beethoven: Adagio sostenuto from “Moonlight” Sonata
Samuel Barber: Adagio for strings