Dr. James Umble is Professor of Saxophone at Youngstown (Ohio) State University where he has twice been awarded the Distinguished Professor in Teaching Award. As a music educator, Dr. Umble has a particular interest in creative teaching techniques. 

He appears frequently as a clinician, recitalist, orchestral musician and chamber musician. Plain Dealer Music Critic Donald Rosenberg wrote that Dr. Umble…” must be one of the most elegant exponents of his instrument…he was virtuosic in every way.”

He is the author of the biography and pedagogical survey of one of the world’s most revered saxophonists, French musician Jean-Marie Londeix. The Second Edition of this volume “Jean-Marie Londeix, Master of the Modern Saxophone”, has recently been released and is available worldwide through Theodore Presser.  

For over 20 years Dr. Umble performed around the country and internationally with “The Cleveland Duo and James Umble”, a trio that presented original commissions and transcriptions of works for violin, piano and saxophone. 

He has served as visiting professor at the University of Michigan, Indiana University (Bloomington) and at the American Saxophone Academy, and as guest artist and clinician at numerous schools of music and conferences. A favorite topic for his clinics deals with developing tonal beauty and tonal imagination. 

Learn more about his work and hear some performances at jamesumble.com