William James is currently in his first season as Principal Percussion of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining the orchestra he was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. William James graduated from the New England Conservatory in 2006 with a Masters of Music as a student of Will Hudgins of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University in 2004. While attending Northwestern he studied with Michael Burritt, an active soloist and clinician around the country, and James Ross, a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.



William James has played with many outstanding ensembles including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival Orchestra, and Chautauqua Festival Orchestra. In addition to his experience as an orchestral player William James has performed solo recitals in Chicago, Boston, and Raleigh; as well as soloing with the New World Symphony.