Dr. James Gholson, Professor of Clarinet, holds an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from The Catholic University. His major teachers include Elsa Verdehr, Keith Stein, Sidney Forrest, and Anthony Gigliotti. As a member of the United States Navy Band, Washington, D.C., he appeared frequently as soloist. Dr. Gholson performs regularly as principal clarinet of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He is an emeritus member of the Memphis Woodwind Quintet. He is the author of The Seasoned Clarinetist, a bundle of interviews with prominent clarinetists, the UNITUS website and Windscapes, a videotaped series of clarinet primers. James is the 2007 winner of the FLAME award given by the University of Memphis.