James Knox, an associate professor of music at COCC, directs the Cascade Chorale, the College Choir and the Central Singers as well as teaching other music classes. Prior to COCC he was the Vocal Jazz Director at Portland State University and the Choral Director at Mt. Hood Community College. Through James' studies he has had the privilege of working with distinguished conductors/ composers from around the world, such as Arvo Part, Frieder Bernius, Veljo Tormis, Fred Stoltzfus, Simon Carrington, and Joseph Flummerfelt.

His involvement and love for music is also displayed as a baritone soloist. James' work included principal role-Guglielmo in W.A Mozart's Cosi fan Tutti PSU Opera Production, guest artist at Seattle, Washington's Opera Banquet, Metropolitan Opera Guild's regional finalist. He has been featured with Douglas Webster in the Oregon Symphony's production of Leonard Bernstein's Mass, and Peace Through Music pieces Dona Nobis Pacem by R.V. Williams, Cantata Misericordium by Benjamin Britten, Faure's Requiem, Portland's Baroque Ensemble, portrayed Jesus in the premiere of J.S. Bach's St. Mark's Passion, principal role-Cascada in The Merry Widow, and Menotti's one act opera The Telephone, and he was Pooh-Bah in Obsidian Opera's Production of The Mikado. Recently, James was nominated to be the representative for all 2-year colleges for the upcoming American Choral Directors Association, Northwest Division. His main responsibility is to provide a booklet for reading sessions containing several choral works appropriate to 2-year Colleges around Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Said Knox, "This is an honor, and a proud achievement for my career."