James Barger holds Bachelor of Music degrees in both Saxophone Performance and Music Theory and Composition at West Texas A&M University where he will be continuing his Graduate Studies in saxophone with Don Lefevre.  Originally from the Dallas area, his primary teachers have been Mark Alewine and Don Lefevre.  He has studied composition with Alexis Bacon and BJ Brooks.
    In 2006, James was awarded first chair placement in the 4A Texas All-State Band and performed with the Honor Band of America, under the direction of Ray Cramer, in Indianapolis.  In addition, James was a two-year member of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra (GDYO) Wind Symphony and performed George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with the GDYO Symphony Orchestra.  He has also performed on numerous occasions with the Metropolitan Wind Symphony.  As a member of the Paradigm Saxophone Quartet, he was a recipient of the Jent’s House of Music Showcase Scholarship in 2007 and performed at Amarillo’s Showcase of Music.  As a solo artist, he was a finalist in the West Texas A&M Concerto Competition in 2007 and won in 2008 and 2010.  He was also a finalist in the 17th Annual Grand Junction Young Artist Competition.