His latest CD, British Tuba Concertos, has received international acclaim as have his other five solo recordings.
PITTSBURGH, PA, December 20, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. James Gourlay has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Born in Scotland, Dr. Gourlay developed a love of the tuba at a young age. During the early 1970s, he began his career as the principal tuba player of the City of Symphony Orchestra in Birmingham, England, moving on to the BBC Symphony Orchestra, where he remained for ten years. There followed a full-time position, in Switzerland, with the Orchestra of the Zürich Opera House. After completing ten seasons with that orchestra, Dr. Gourlay served as at the Head of School, Wind Brass and Percussion, at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, England, and later as Deputy Principal (Music) of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Other academic posts include Director of Instrumental Music at Wheeling Jesuit University WV.
Whilst maintaining his role as a teacher and scholar, Dr. Gourlay continues to be active as a conductor and soloist. His latest CD, British Tuba Concertos, has received international acclaim as have his other five solo recordings. As a conductor, Dr. Gourlay has worked with some of the finest ensembles in the world, such as the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, the Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony and the River City Brass Band, a 28-member professional group, highly respected in the Pittsburgh area, which he currently leads as General and Artistic Director.
Backed by his vast breadth of professional experience, Dr. Gourlay has been appointed International Chair of Brass Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, and as professor of tuba, director of bands and conductor-in-residence for the Mary Pappert School of Music, Duquesne University.
An expert in his field, Dr. Gourlay initially earned a Master of Music from the University of Leeds. He subsequently obtained a DMA from the University of Salford. In order to remain aware of ongoing developments in his field, Dr. Gourlay is affiliated to, and is current President of, the International Tuba Euphonium Association.
For his professional excellence, Dr. Gourlay was recognized among the SMART 50 Top Business Leaders in Pittsburgh in 2015 and nominated among the Top 30 Music Professionals in the United States by Musical America in 2017. Even though his career has been filled with highlights, he is incredibly proud of the River City Brass Band surviving the pandemic because they were not able to perform for 18 months. In the coming years, Dr. Gourlay intends to make the River City Brass Band renowned on a national and international level.
About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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