Jazz Faculty Bio's

James L. Klages is professor of trumpet at the University of Central Oklahoma. Prior to coming to Oklahoma, he had the honor of being the only person in the entire 20th century to be directly hired as the Cornet soloist by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in Washington, DC. He has played solos throughout the United States with bands and orchestras, and as been featured as soloist at many national band conferences and conventions. Since leaving the Marine Band, he has continued his solo career throughout the continental United States and the Middle East. In 1996 he was chosen to be the trumpet soloist for the historic first performance of Handel's Messiah given at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Israel.

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