James Newton, composer

Born: May 1, 1953 in Los Angeles, CA

Positions: Professor of Ethnomusicology with a compositional emphasis at UCLA since 2008; has also held professorships at University of California at Irvine, California Institute of the Arts and Cal State University Los Angeles; Music Director of Luckman Jazz Orchestra 2001-2006

Known for: being a composer, flutist and conductor; compositions and performances include chamber, symphonic, and electronic music genres, compositions for ballet and modern dance, and numerous jazz and world music performances

Awards, fellowships and grants: received an honorary doctorate from California Institute of the Arts, Cal State LA Distinguished Alumnus Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Rockefeller Fellowship, Montreaux Grande Prix du Disque, Downbeat International Critics Jazz Album of the Year, Downbeat International Critic’s Poll Top Flutist for 23 consecutive years

Performed with and composed for: Mingus Dynasty, Buddy Collette, New York Philharmonic, Anthony Davis, David Murray, Aurèle Nicolet, Donald McKayle, Vladimir Spivakov and the Moscow Virtuosi, Sir Roland Hanna, Jose Limon Dance Company, Bennie Maupin, Cecil Taylor, John Carter, Andrew Cyrille, Wu Man, Red Callender, Southwest Chamber Music, Bobby Hutcherson, Dino Saluzzi, Zakir Hussain, San Francisco Ballet, Jon Jang, Kenny Burrell, Herbie Hancock, Frank Wess, LA Philharmonic New Music Group