Dr. James Layfield is the holder of the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Endowed Chair in Music.
He received in Doctorate in Trombone Performance from the University of Michigan, and holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Arlington.
His principal instructors have included John Kitzman, David Jackson and Dennis Bubert. He was previously on faculty at the Flint School for Performing Arts.
Dr. Layfield is the Instructor of Low Brass at ULM, teaching applied low brass lessons, brass methods and aural skills. His students have attended or are currently attending prestigious universities and have received high accolades.
Dr. Layfield has been a member of the Saginaw Bay Symphony and Warren Symphony since 2010.
He has performed with the Dallas Symphony, Dallas Wind Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Dallas Brass Quintet, Michigan Philharmonic, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, and many other orchestras.
In 2011, his trombone quartet, EuFouria, was selected as co-winner of the Eastern Trombone Workshop Quartet Competition as well as a finalist in the International Trombone Festival Quartet Competition.
About the Endowment:
The Emy-Lou Biedenharn Endowed Professorship in Music endowment was established to encourage and reward excellence in teaching and demonstrate scholarly expertise in an appropriate field of music.