UK's James Campbell Named to Percussive Arts Society's Hall of Fame
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2021) — University of Kentucky School of Music's Director of Percussion Studies James Campbell has been named to the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Hall of Fame. The 2021 PAS Hall of Fame class will be recognized at the upcoming Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) scheduled for Nov. 10-13.
The Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame was established in 1972 to recognize the contributions of the most highly regarded leaders in percussion performance, education, research, scholarship, administration, composition and the industry. Inductees demonstrate the highest ideals and professional integrity to their profession to bring about significant events, substantive improvements in the world of percussion and the betterment of the profession through exemplary services or acts. Campbell's class also includes marimbist, percussionist, vocalist and composer Valerie Naranjo; composer, drummer, author, filmmaker and educator Layne Redmond; and conductor, composer and educator Garwood Whaley.
“On behalf of the entire PAS community, I want to congratulate Valerie, Jim, Gar and the friends, colleagues and family of Layne. All four of our 2021 Hall of Fame inductees have made significant contributions to our field and I am thrilled they will be inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame this year. I look forward to celebrating their achievements in person at PASIC 2021," said Joshua Simonds, PAS executive director.
James Campbell has received worldwide recognition as a performer, pedagogue and author, and is a respected figure in the development of the contemporary percussion ensemble. He has toured extensively throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. A Provost’s Distinguished Service Professor of Music and director of percussion studies at UK, he also holds the positions of principal percussionist with the Lexington Philharmonic and drummer with the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra.
Campbell also serves as past-president of the PAS and received their PAS Lifetime Achievement in Education Award in 2019, which recognizes the contributions of the most highly regarded leaders in percussion education.
Having worked with several Drum Corps International (DCI) member drum and bugle corps, Campbell is well known for his long past association with the internationally renowned Rosemont Cavaliers, with whom he served as principal instructor, arranger and program coordinator. He was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame in 2008. He served as percussion director for the McDonald’s All-American High School Band and was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have greatly impacted the nation's band activity and music education.
As a performer, Campbell has appeared at the International Society of Music Education World Conference, International Patagonia Percussion Festival, Journèes de la Percussion, PercuSonidos Percussion Festival, Swedish Arts and Musicians Interest Organization, Australian Percussion Eisteddfod, MENC National In-Service Conference, Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, MusicFest Canada, All-Japan Band Clinic, The Music for All World Percussion Symposium, State MEA conventions across the country, and frequently appears as an artist at PASIC.
Among his award-winning works for percussion, Campbell has published with Meredith Music, C. Alan Publications, Innovative Percussion, Row-Loff Productions, Bachovich Music Publications, Alfred Publications and Tapspace Publications. Campbell is an artist and endorsee for Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, Meinl Percussion and a member of the Black Swamp Percussion Educator Network. He is an artist and educator for the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company and a performing artist for Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestra Division, who recently presented him with their Legacy Award.
The School of Music at UK College of Fine Arts has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, music therapy, composition and theory and music history.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.