James Wilding

Praised by the Cape Times as highly original, South African composer James Wilding's mastery of structure and lyricism, and his use of ethnic instruments, folk tunes, connections to art, photography, literature, and stories, capture audiences in the US and abroad.Wilding's work has been enthusiastically championed in many countries, by such groups as the Stow Symphony Orchestra and others. He has received commissions from Bayerischer Rundfunk, the South African Music Rights Organization, the Tuesday Musical Association, the Orange County School of the Arts, and his music is published by the Foundation for the Creative Arts, the University of South Africa, and Wilding Publications.
Performances of his works have been broadcast all over the world.
Wilding's works have achieved considerable acclaim and he won the Oude Meester Prize for South African composers with a commission for a String Trio, and Potchefstroom University's Chancellor's Trust Prize, resulting in slaap klein beminde for soprano and piano trio.
A dedicated teacher, committed to sharing his knowledge, Wilding is Professor of Instruction and Co-Chair in Composition and Theory at the University of Akron, where he also directs the New Music Series.
He studied at the University of Cape Town, Youngstown State University, and Kent State University. His musical mentors were Neil Solomon, Stewart Young, Peter Klatzow, and Thomas Janson.