James Breckenridge

Pianist James Breckenridge is recognized internationally for his concerts, workshops, lectures and master classes. Adept as both a soloist and chamber pianist, Dr. Breckenridge has performed in thirty-six states within the continental United States as well as in international locations in Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Russia and the Far East. His appearances have often been coupled with pedagogy workshops and/or student master classes. Critics and colleagues have given him rave reviews not only as a pianist but also as “...a skillful teacher with wonderful ears who readily offers solutions and with further possibilities for technical and musical discoveries.” (Rostov, Russia 1993).

Breckenridge began piano study at the age of thirteen as a student of Eunice Eubanks and in 1963 won the Allied Arts Competition in his native Alabama. In 1967, he received the Bachelor of Music degree from Maryville College (Tennessee) where he studied with Sallie W. Schoen, artist-in-residence. Breckenridge holds the Master of Music degree from Northwestern University (Illinois) where he studied with artist-in-residence, Gui Mombaerts. He completed the Doctor of Music degree at the American Conservatory of Music (Illinois) as a student of Alice Angermann. He has done extensive study and coaching with several major artists including Aldo Mancinelli, Bruno Glade, Wanda Paul, and Marilyn Taggart.

The 2000 recipient of the SWOSU Bernhardt Academic Excellence award for exceptional achievements in teaching, scholarship and service, Dr. Breckenridge has served on the music faculty at Southwestern Oklahoma State University for forty years. He is currently Full Professor of Piano, Coordinator of Keyboard Studies, teaches advanced performance and pedagogy and is the teacher of many prize-winning pianists in competitions across the U.S. A vast majority of his former students have successfully pursued careers in music education and performance in the U.S. and abroad. He has been instrumental in curriculum development for keyboard degree programs as well as other music curricula including new, specialized course offerings on the graduate level. He is the founder/director of the SWOSU National Piano Camp held during the summer to which students from across the U.S. are attracted. He serves as chairman for two major state-wide keyboard competitions held annually on the campus. He is founder/director of the Oklahoma Beethoven Society a state association of the National Beethoven Society for Pianists. In 1996 Breckenridge directed the Inaugural Festival of the Oklahoma Beethoven Society which brought to the SWOSU campus twenty-one internationally renowned pianists from around the world for three days of concerts and various musical activities. The immediate cultural success of the 1996 event established the foundation for the society’s expanded second festival held in April of 2000. Planning is currently underway for the third festival to be held in April of 2009 involving forty pianists as well as university students, faculty and community personnel.

During his tenure in Oklahoma, Breckenridge has been an active member of several state and national professional organizations. An Honorary Life member of Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, he has held every state office of OMTA including its Presidency (1990-1994). Additionally, Breckenridge has served as the Collegiate Audition Chairman for the South Central Division of the Music Teachers National Association, as a member of the MTNA Ad Hoc Committee for review and revision of the national certification program (1996-1998), is currently a member of the Young Artist Committee of the National Piano Pedagogy Conference, is a faculty member of the American College of Musicians, the Suzuki Association of America, and an Honorary Life member of the National Beethoven Society for Pianists. In April of 2005, Breckenridge was recognized by MTNA as an MTNA National Foundation Fellow during the MTNA National Conference in Seattle.

In February of 2007, Dr. Breckenridge was awarded the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence in College/University Teaching by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. Nominated by the SWOSU Faculty Senate, this award is given annually to a college or university professor who exemplifies excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.

Dr. Breckenridge received the award in May at a gala foundation ceremony televised from the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Breckenridge is in constant demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and pedagogue as well as performer. He has adjudicated local, state and national keyboard competitions across the U.S. He presents an average of ten to fifteen workshops and clinics annually throughout the U.S. and abroad. During the academic year he is often “on the road” over weekends to various locations nationwide to conduct master classes with students and teachers. For the past eleven years, his summer months have found him teaching and performing at various national and international music festivals held in the U.S. He is a permanent member of the faculty for week-long festivals held in Illinois, Minnesota, and Vermont. Additionally, he has served on festival faculties in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Florida and Washington, DC. During the current season (2006-2007) he will make professional appearances as pedagogue and/or performer in Minnesota, Illinois, Vermont, Washington, Oregon and Missouri.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Dr. Breckenridge is an avid reader, an adventurous traveler and a member of several civic associations.