Our Director

James W. Knox is an American composer and Professor of Music at Central Oregon Community College, where he leads an active and diverse program in choral and vocal studies. Widely recognized for his vibrant and evocative choral writing, Knox’s music has been performed across the United States and internationally, including in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, England, Ireland, Wales, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia.

His compositions—described as epic, expressive, and accessible—strike a balance between contemporary energy and emotional depth, making them ideal for moderate to advanced ensembles. Recent commissions include premieres by collegiate choirs, community ensembles, and international festivals, with works featured in performances from the Pacific Northwest to Eastern Europe.

As a composer in demand, Knox has developed a growing catalog of commissioned works since 2017, including large-scale choral-orchestral settings, chamber works, and collaborative projects with ensembles around the globe. Notable recent performances include collaborations with regional symphonies, national honor choirs, and guest appearances at international choral festivals.

Knox's academic and artistic career has taken him across the globe. In 2014, he served as Visiting Professor of Music at the University of London through Central Oregon Community College’s abroad exchange program. In 2018, during a sabbatical in Estonia, Knox worked closely with Maestro Hirvo Surva and several prestigious Estonian choirs including the Virumaa Boys’ Choir and Revalia Male Choir. He was later appointed Guest Maestro at the Conservatorio di Musica “Arrigo Pedrollo” in Vicenza, Italy, and served as Guest Choral Clinician throughout the Veneto Region. He also worked as a vocal coach and music educator at the Scuola Comunale di Musica “Antonio Miari” in Belluno, and performed with the acclaimed ensemble Nova Cantica under the direction of Maestro Luciano Borin.

Throughout his career, Knox has studied with and been mentored by a distinguished roster of international conductors and composers, including Robert Sund, Frieder Bernius, Veljo Tormis, Fred Stoltzfus, Joseph Flummerfelt, Morna Edmundson, Yaccov Bergman, María Guinand, Hirvo Surva, Alice Parker, Charles Bruffy, Simon Carrington, Karen Kennedy, and Hilary Apfelstadt.

Knox continues to be a vital force in the Pacific Northwest and beyond—blending his passion for teaching, conducting, and composing into a life devoted to the choral arts.