James Kortum
Lecturer in Flute, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
All-14K Custom, OFFSET G, B Footjoint, E Mech, C# Trill, N CUT HEADJOINT
James Kortum is Lecturer in Flute at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Australia. Originally from the United States, James began his flute studies with Philip Sieburg and studied with Donald Peck at DePaul University, Chicago. At the completion of his studies, James was offered the position of Principal Flute with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. He has also been Principal Flute with the Opera Australia Orchestra and Second Flute with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. James has also performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra, Hunter Sinfonia, the Pacific Opera Orchestra and Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand.
Prior to his current position, James was Lecturer in Flute at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music. In 2005 James received the Master of Arts (Music) degree at the University of Newcastle for his text, The Purposeful Flautist: Technique to Interpretation. Active as a clinician throughout Australia and abroad, James has appeared at flute conventions and festivals held in Sydney, Brisbane, Coffs Harbour, Canberra, Christchurch and Hamilton, New Zealand, as well as classes in England, Hong Kong, and Russia. James is currently Festival Advisor for the Australian Flute Festival. He is also Co-Director with Andrew Macleod, Principal Piccolo of the Melbourne Symphony, of The Complete Flute, offering courses for performers and teachers in Macedon, Victoria.
A dedicated ‘yogi’, James is a qualified yoga instructor and has offered classes for musicians at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The Australian Institute of Music, The Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, plus classes in Italy and New Zealand.