Faculty
James Grinta
Trumpet
James Grinta began studying trumpet at the age of nine, and by the time he was fifteen he was featured as trumpet soloist in a concert at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. with the Warren Jr. Military Band. In high school he received top honors at the Annual Solo and Ensemble competitions. While in College, he was recognized twice for outstanding musicianship by the National Association of Jazz Educators, and recently was honored as Guest Alumnus Soloist at the annual Showcase Concert at Youngstown State University where he performed solos with the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble. He is a classical player as well as having quite a talent for jazz improvisation.
Teaching music has also been a great interest and besides giving private trumpet instruction for the past twenty years, in English and in Spanish, Jim also held a "Limited Service Faculty" position at Youngstown State University for two years. His duties included trumpet instruction and ensemble conducting.
Jim has a Master of Music Performance degree and has had a wide-ranging musical career. He held the Principal Trumpet position in the Mexico City Philharmonic for two and a half years and in the UNAM Symphony Orchestra, also in Mexico City, for another year. He made several recordings with the Philharmonic on the EMI Angel record label including being the featured trumpet soloist on Aaron Copland's "Quiet City" for trumpet, English horn and string orchestra. While in Mexico, Jim also performed jazz and big band music, recorded several jingles for national TV and radio and performed numerous times as soloist with La Orquesta Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra and La Orquesta de Camara de Coyoacan, as well as various other chamber orchestras.
For the last thirteen years, Jim has played first trumpet at the prestigious "Pageant of the Masters" in Laguna Beach, California, and has performed steadily as principal and section trumpet with the Santa Barbara Symphony. He has also played with the Long Beach Symphony, Pacific Symphony, New West Symphony, Inland Empire Symphony, Pasadena and Ventura Symphony orchestras.
Always a freelance player, Jim has performed in many different styles of music. He was a member of a jazz quintet for two years, performing in the Dayton-Cincinnati, Ohio area and supported himself through college playing in various rock bands while also freelancing in shows, recording sessions, orchestras, church music and even circus bands. His freelancing continues through present time. He has recorded while in Los Angeles for Neil Diamond, Golden Era Productions and various movie, television, and commercial recording dates including Star Trek Enterprise", "JAG","Chicago Hope", "City", "Bugs Bunny and Friends Sing the Beatles", and spots for Target, Intel, Rolled Gold, Hyundai, Lexus and more. While in Mexico, Jim also performed for several months with "The Beatles Espectaculart."
Jim has performed on stage with such artists as Itzhak Perlman, The Moody Blues, Henry Mancini, Edgar Winter, Chick Corea, Doc Severinsen and more.