About

Hailed as “the best clarinetist in Oregon,” (Oregon ArtsWatch) James Shields is a performer, composer, educator, and arts leader with over 25 years of experience in presenting events of exquisite artistry, dynamic programming, and deep community connections.

After James attended Juilliard under clarinetist, Ricardo Morales (Philadelphia Orchestra), he won a job as Principal Clarinet of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra in Albuquerque and completed a master’s degree in composition at University of New Mexico (Chris Shultis, Richard Hermann). In 2010, James became the Associate Artistic Director of Chatter. A weekly music and poetry series, the organization has grown exponentially over the past two decades, expanding to more than 100 concerts per year in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

James was appointed Principal Clarinet and Basset Horn with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra in 2011, but continued splitting his time between Toronto, Albuquerque, and numerous guest appearances with chamber music festivals and orchestras—including the Metropolitan Opera, Malaysian Philharmonic, Toronto, and Philadelphia orchestras, the National Ballet of Canada, Chamber Music Northwest, Aspen Music Festival, Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival, and the Astoria Music Festival.

In 2016, James won the Principal Clarinet job with the Oregon Symphony—a position he has held for the last 10 years while maintaining an active chamber music presence with Chatter, Fear No Music, 45th Parallel Universe, Third Angle, and a wide array of music festivals across the country. James and his wife, violinist Emily Cole, were named the All Classical Radio Artists-in-Residence in both 2024 and 2025. James also teaches clarinet and coaches chamber music throughout the Portland region through his private studio and positions at Reed College, the Portland Youth Philharmonic, and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony.

Building upon decades of artistic excellence, galvanizing leadership, and inspired programming, James established his own chapter of Chatter in Portland in 2024. He has overseen an explosive growth for the new organization—already considered a vital hub for chamber music in Portland—and has garnered a dedicated following of weekly attendees.

Fall 2025 will see several premieres of James’ chamber music, including trios, duos, and the third installment of his large-scale project: Of Observation and Experience. James will also be featured as clarinetist on concerts with Chatter PDX, Chatter ABQ, BodyVox Dance Company, Soundstrucks’ Taste of the Season, Fear No Music (including a public marathon of reading works by local composers), Third Angle, Friends of Chamber Music, an ambitious program with the Garneau Quartet, as well as a number of solo shows throughout Portland.