About the Artist

James Scott began his distinguished professional career while still a first-year student at Emory
University, winning a position as flutist in the Atlanta Symphony at a time that made him one of
the youngest musicians in the history of the orchestra.
 
After earning degrees in both flute and piano from the Oberlin Conservatory and the Peabody
Conservatory, Scott served for many years as a faculty member and head of the music program
at Rutgers University. During these years he gave recitals throughout the metropolitan New York
area, in Canada, in the Far East, and throughout the United States. He also performed with the
Woodwind Repertory Group of New York, the Schola Cantorum Orchestra, Princeton Pro Musica,
Princeton Ballet Orchestra, Opera Theater of New Jersey, Metro Lyric Opera Orchestra, and the
Camerata Chamber Orchestra. Scott later became associate dean for instruction and professor of
flute at Indiana University, performing as principal flutist of the Indiana University Festival
Orchestra with which he appeared as soloist in Lukas Foss’ Renaissance Concerto under the
direction of the composer. He also served as Director of the School of Music at the University of
Illinois before beginning his work in 2001 as Dean of the College of Music at the University of
North Texas. After retiring from the deanship in 2016, he continued as Professor of Flute,
teaching at all degree levels and directing final doctoral projects for over half a dozen students.
 
Scott’s major flute teachers include Robert Willoughby, Britton Johnson, Charles DeLaney,
Marcel Moyse, and Geoffrey Gilbert.