James McMahon is the Director of Choral Activities at Simle Middle School in Bismarck, North Dakota, where he has over 400 students participating in the Choral program.  James received the Golden Apple Award in 2007 for teaching excellence, and was recognized as the 2008 North Dakota ACDA Young Choral Director of the Year. While in college, Mr. McMahon was awarded “Best Male College Jazz Vocalist” at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.  James has performed at venues in New York, New Orleans, L.A., and Montreux, Switzerland.  James was more recently voted “Favorite Keyboardist” during the 2016 North Dakota Music Awards.

 

Locally, he can be found playing trumpet, piano, percussion and as a vocalist in varying area groups, primarily with the folk duo “The McMahon Bros.” As a trumpet player, he is now proudly representing Getzen as a Trumpet Artist, has served on the International Music Camp faculty, and maintains a private trumpet studio.  He is also active in the community serving as the Past-President of the Dakota West Arts Council Board of Directors.  He also is a high school tennis coach, currently working with the Legacy High School Boys Tennis Team. James is in his 14th year as the Director of Choral Activities at Simle Middle School and is an active musician, educator, and composer.  This is his 5th season as the director of Central Dakota Children’s Choir’s Middle-Level group, Kantorei.

 

He enjoys the outdoors, spending time at the hockey rink and completing house projects. His greatest joy is raising his three amazing sons Justice, Avery, and Stryder with his partner, Mollie.