James Shields is a performer, composer, educator, and arts leader with more than 25 years of experience creating programs of exceptional artistry and deep community connection.
A graduate of The Juilliard School, where he studied with Ricardo Morales (The Philadelphia Orchestra), Shields began his career as Principal Clarinet of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra while earning a master’s degree in composition at the University of New Mexico. In 2010, he became Associate Artistic Director of Chatter, the innovative music-and-poetry series now presenting more than 100 performances annually in New Mexico.
Shields served as Principal Clarinet and Basset Horn of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra before joining the Oregon Symphony as Principal Clarinet in 2016. He is also a frequent chamber musician with organizations including Chatter, Fear No Music, 45th Parallel Universe, and Third Angle.
In 2024, he founded Chatter PDX, which has quickly become a vital hub for chamber music in Portland. He maintains an active teaching studio and performs regularly throughout the region.