James Buxton is an award winning harpist located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. A finalist in the prestigious McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians, he is a busy performer and a tireless perfectionist. James is the former principal harpist of the Des Moines Metro Opera and is often asked to play with local orchestras.
A graduate of Western Illinois University, it was during the pursuit of a BA in Vocal Performance that he began to study harp. He has studied with several prominent harpists, including Sally Goodwin, Laura Hearne, Martha Burwell, Francis Tientov and Kathy Kienzle.
His repertoire includes classical, pops, jazz and show tunes. Also classically trained in voice, James will often accompany himself during many concerts each year. James has also performed in the pit with touring productions such as Showboat and Cinderella.
James' incredible artistry and improvisation is showcased in his Duet performance with Rhonda Grobe. James weaves intricate improvisations around Rhonda's performance of the written score.