James Peebles is a classical singer-composer, born in Memphis in 1952. He is a graduate of The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the University College of the University of Memphis, where he was awarded the Johannes Smit Prize for undergraduate composition. He received a M.Mus. degree from Westminster Choir College where he appeared with the Princeton Composers Ensemble and the Princeton Singers. A number of his performances and compositions have been recorded by Pro Organo and broadcast on NPR and PRI. His "performance art" score,
"X-Static: The Reveries of St. Teresa," was commissioned by the University of Texas at Arlington with co-funding by the National Endowment of the Arts. Another work, "Hymn in the Holy Nativity," was premiered by Kallen Esperian at the Memphis Chamber Music Society and conducted by John Ayer. An earlier piece, "William's Song," was first performed by Joan Lippincott and the choir of Princeton's University Chapel. His setting of "Joly Wat" was conducted by George Guest at St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Memphis. In addition, his acapella score for "As You Like It" was produced in London at the behest of Ian Judge of The Royal Shakespeare Company.
In addition to the works mentioned above, representative works include "Until Shiloh Come," "By the Wilds of Swan Creek," and "Love on My Heart from Heaven Fell."
Samples of the works of James Peebles are available online at https://SoundCloud.com/James Peebles.