James Box & Jean-Willy Kunz
Biographie James Box & Jean-Willy Kunz
James Box
has held the position of Principal Trombone with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 2001. He has also held that position with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Canton (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra, the Wheeling (West Virginia) Symphony Orchestra, and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Nuevo León (Mexico). Mr. Box has been an Assistant Professor of Trombone at McGill University since 2003. He is a regular faculty member of the National Orchestral Institute (USA). He has also served on the trombone faculty of the University of Akron, the Cleveland Trombone Seminar, the Orford Arts Centre, and the Sewanee Summer Music Center. He has also served as Guest Lecturer at the North Carolina School of the Arts.
A native of Ripley, Tennessee, James Box first studied trombone with his father and maternal grandfather. He holds a B.M. magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University and an M.M. from the Cleveland Institute of Music. His major teachers include Marta Hofacre, John Kitzman, James DeSano, and Steve Witser. James Box has made solo appearances with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own), the McGill Wind Symphony, the Vermont Youth Orchestra, the Sewanee Summer Music Festival Orchestra, and the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra. In 2003, he premiered a commissioned solo work with the Southern Methodist University Wind Ensemble. Mr. Box has also performed chamber music at the Edinburgh Festival and the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival. In 2001, he presented a solo recital that was broadcast nationally by CBC/Radio-Canada. James Box exclusively plays S. W. Matras Custom Trombones, and he is currently contributing to the design of a new series of professional model trombones.
Jean-Willy Kunz
is the first organist in residence of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. In addition to playing both with the Orchestra and in recital, he sees to the development and showcasing of the OSM’s Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique at Maison symphonique de Montréal.
His most recent performances include concerts with l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, les Violons du Roy, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, as well as with the singers Pierre Lapointe, and Rufus and Martha Wainwright.His discography includes many recordings which reflect the broad range of his musical influences: solo organ; “Impressions” for organ, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, double bass and percussions; “Symphonie et créations pour orgue et orchestre” with the OSM (Juno Award 2016); “Punkt” with Pierre Lapointe; “André Gagnon Baroque” for harpsichord and symphony orchestra.
Jean-Willy Kunz is organ professor at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and artistic director of the Canadian International Organ Competition.
