James Bagwell ’88

BSC Alumni

BSC Faculty

Dr. Charles Norman Mason | Patti Manning

James Bagwell '88
Red Hook, New York

Associate professor of music at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., who also maintains an active guest conducting schedule

On career: “I have taught at Bard College—which has just opened a new performing arts center—since 2000. I'm now chairman of the Music Department. I also serve as chorus master of the Bard Music Festival in August and as music director for the May Festival Youth Choir in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as maintain an active schedule as a guest conductor.”

On BSC: “BSC provided me with an outstanding undergraduate education, which brought me up to a high level of performance. Among my special mentors were Hugh Thomas (late music professor, Music Department chair, and choral director), who taught me how to rehearse a group; Bill DeVan (piano professor), who taught me discipline and how to practice a

On recent and upcoming engagements: “On March 12 in New York, I was guest conductor of The Dessoff Choirs; during 2004-05, I served as chorus master, preparing the New York Concert Chorale for three performances with The American Symphony

On why he loves conducting: “I enjoy working with people. I see my role as someone who allows people to do their best work.”

Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. On May 14, I will be conductor of The Berkshire Bach Society Chorus and Orchestra in Great Barrington, Mass. As music director for the Light Opera Oklahoma in Tulsa, I will conduct three productions and a concert version of La Perichole this summer (the company will make its debut with the OK Mozart Festival in Bartlesville); I'll also serve as conductor of Aaron Copland's The Tender Land at the Bard Festival in August.”

piece; and Tom Gibbs (music professor), who taught me technical mastery and music history, preparing me for graduate study in music history at Florida State University. I am glad that the liberal arts program I'm now involved in at Bard offers students something of the same experience I received at 'Southern.”