James Romeo
Piccolo and Flute Masterclass
Following his appointment to the position of Piccolo, James began his tenure with the Dallas
Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 2022. He previously served as acting Assistant Principal Flute and Piccolo of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (Canada) for the 2019—2020 season. He has appeared as guest Principal Flute with the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera,
Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, and Modesto Symphony, and has
also performed with the Indianapolis, Fort Worth, and Canton Symphony Orchestras.
His summer festival appearnces have included Mainly Mozart, Kent/Blossom, and Orford
Musique (Canada), Indiana University Summer Music Academy, and Anatolia College (Greece).
James has also performed the Vivaldi Piccolo Concerto in C Major with the Vancouver
Symphony Orchestra, and the Nielsen Flute Concerto with the Roosevelt University Symphony
Orchestra (Chicago). James has enthusiastically engaged in solo and chamber music projects
with organizations including the La Jolla Music Society, Art of Élan, Ensemble newSRQ, and the
Dallas Cultural Collective, among others. His discography includes a recording of David DeBoor
Canfield’s Sonata for Flute and Piano, which he also premiered.
A committed educator, James taught at the Jacobs School of Music Flute Academy at Indiana
University Bloomington, where he served as Assistant Director. He also served on the faculty of
the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music. In the fall of 2023, James joined the
faculty of Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts. James has also pursued
his interest in instrument repair, taking repair courses at the Vermont School of Flute Making and
receiving Straubinger Pad® certification from Straubinger Flutes of Indianapolis.
James received a Bachelor of Music at Indiana University Bloomington studying with Thomas
Robertello, and a Master of Music at the Cleveland Institute of Music studying with Joshua
Smith. His mentors include Cheryl Bretsnyder, and his parents, Judith Shriver Kelley and James
J. Romeo, both professional woodwind players.
Outside raising five children together with his wife Stephanie, James enjoys reading and roasting
coffee in his few moments of spare time.