Arts & Culture

UK's James Campbell Named Recipient of PAS Lifetime Achievement in Education Award

photo of James Campbell standing between 2 rows of brick columns

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 11, 2019) University of Kentucky Percussion Professor James Campbell has been named one of Percussive Art Society's three 2019 Lifetime Achievement in Education Award winners. Established in 2002, the award recognizes the contributions of the most highly regarded leaders in percussion education.

"Although this award was a complete surprise, I’m proud to stand in the footsteps of my own college percussion professor who also received it in 2012," Campbell said. "I’m deeply honored to accept this international recognition from my profession and my peers."

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 the Americas, Europe and Asia. Currently Provost’s Distinguished Service Professor of Music and director of Percussion Studies at UK School of Music, he also holds the positions of principal percussionist with the Lexington Philharmonic, drummer with the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra, and past-president of the Percussive Arts Society.

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 DCI Hall of Fame in 2008. Campbell 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 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 the Percussive Arts Society International Conventions (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. He is an artist and endorsee for Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, Meinl Percussion and a member of the Black Swamp Percussion Educator Network. Campbell 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.

Fellow 2019 recipients of the PAS Lifetime Achievement in Education Award are Christopher Deane, a professor of percussion at the University of North Texas College of Music, and Zhao Ji, who taught at Central Conservatory of Music. The three will be recognized at a ceremony at PASIC 2019 in Indianapolis in November.  

"On behalf of everyone at PAS, I want to congratulate Jim, Chris, and the family of Zhao Ji. I think their body of work speaks for itself on why these educators were chosen for this award," said Joshua Simonds, PAS executive director.

PAS is the world's largest percussion organization and is considered the central source for information and networking for percussionists and drummers of all ages. Established in 1961 as a nonprofit, music service organization, the group's mission is to inspire, education and support percussionists and drummers throughout the world.

The School of Music at the 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.