Why I Chose Backun
Before playing on my MoBas I had to constantly fight tuning and response issues depending on what register I was playing in. No more. The evenness of scale and ease in which I can connect lyrical lines enables me to focus on one thing and one thing only: the music.
About
James Logan is the clarinet professor at the University of Texas El Paso. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree and Master of Music Performance degree from the Catholic University of America, studying with Ricardo Morales. He earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance from the University of North Texas, where he studied with James Gillespie. Prior to joining the music faculty at UTEP in 2018, Logan served as Associate Principal Clarinetist with the US Navy Band in Washington DC. His nearly 100 solo appearances with this ensemble include performances in St. Petersburg, Russia, Quebec City, Quebec, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, DAR Constitution Hall in Washington DC, and 4 National Concert Tours. He has performed throughout Europe, as well as all 48 contiguous states.
Logan served as Adjunct Professor of Clarinet at Towson University from 2011-2018 and has performed with the American Festival Pops Orchestra, the Northwest Orchestra, the Midland Odessa Symphony, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and the National Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra where he served as principal clarinetist on a CD featuring works by Steven Gerber and featuring Carter Grey on cello. Additionally, he has performed in numerous regional orchestras throughout New Mexico and Texas. He is the founder of Logan Circle, a highly-acclaimed ensemble dedicated to performance of clarinet chamber music. Logan’s woodwind quintet experience includes Towson University’s faculty ensemble, Quintigre, and The West Texas Windswhile serving as Principal Clarinetist with the Midland Odessa Symphony. As leader of the US Navy Band Clarinet Quartet from 2001-2011, Logan led performances by this ensemble that included recitals and masterclasses nationwide in a wide array of venues from the White House to quarters of the Chief of Naval Operations.
In addition to appearances with the US Navy Band, Logan has appeared as soloist with the American Festival Pops Orchestra, the Packard Band, the Midland Odessa Symphony, the Iowa Military Veterans Band, University of Texas El Paso’s Symphonic Winds and Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared as recitalist, clinician and provided masterclasses nationwide at venues including International Clarinet Association Conventions in New Orleans, the University of Maryland, and the University of Kansas. He was an ICA Young Artist semi-finalist in Seattle and a concerto winner while a graduate student at the Catholic University of America. Logan has performed alongside Dave Brubeck, Maureen McGovern, Rosemary Clooney, Branford Marsalis and Ricardo Morales. In addition to teachers mentioned above, Logan also studied extensively with Robert Walzel and Jeffrey Lerner and while at the Aspen Music Festival, with Richard Waller.
Logan’s dedication and support of innovative contemporary works can be shown by his CD recording of Bay Images, a work for clarinet and piano by Erich Stem and his work as editor of the clarinet solo music of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Concerto for Clarinet in preparation for publication by Theodore Presser. This work was premiered by Ricardo Morales and the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Nézet-Séguin.
Performs On
Photo Credit: Jonathan Barnes
