About me
My name is James Sterritt.
I live in San Anselmo, CA.
I was born Nov. 9, 1948 in Morris, Il.
The Basic Music Stuff
I started playing guitar at age 12.
I studied at Lyon & Healy Chicago for 2 years with Jerry Lepinski.
We worked on jazz theory and chord melody playing. We worked on such tunes as
Moonlight in Vermont , I'll remember April, Four ....
Wrote my first piece and started performing when I was 15.
Started teaching guitar at age 16.
Started training combos around age 17 for competition in the IMA ( Illinois Music Association )
State combo competitions. Directed a 1st place winning combo.
My main interest through my teens was in jazz, although I also played
in a rock group here and there.
I Majored in Theater/Music Composition at
Columbia
College in Chicago
(1970-75).
Studies included :
- Theory and Sight Singing
- 16th Century Counterpoint
- 18th Century Counterpoint
- Composition
- 20th Century Composition
- Jazz band Orchestration
- Symphonic Orchestration
- Classic Guitar
- Theater Movement
- Directing
- Dance
- And other related subjects
While at Columbia, I studied composition and orchestration
with William Russo and Robert Lumbardo.
In 1970 I took a course in Classic Guitar with the idea of
getting some right hand fingering technique. I was playing in a jazz-rock
group at that time, arranging for trumpet, saxes, and trombone, and I thought the
classical technique would make it easier for me to play 3 parts simultaneously.
I then, quite unexpectantly, fell in love with the Classic Guitar and have been playing
it ever since.
I also worked in theater as a music director and a choral arranger durring this time. And
I taught guitar at music store in Riverdale Il.
From 76-79 I worked as an accompanist and played in jazz ensembles.
In 1979 I left Chicago and moved to Boulder, Co. It
was around that time that things started to click for me creatively ; That
is, when I started writing the music I wanted to write. I found myself
leaning more toward the classic guitar and writing a lot for winds and
strings. I was fortunate enough to meet some very fine musicians with interests
similar to mine. This gave me the opportunity to experiment with orchestration
in a way that I was never able to do in Chicago.
In Boulder I met Benjy Wertheimer, a Tabla and Esraj player. We formed a friendship, shared
some musical ideas, and did a number of performances. We formed a group consisting of, Violin,
Bassoon, French Horn, Classic and Electric guitars, bass, tabla and esraj. From Bengy I learned
much about Northern Indian music which I incorporated into my own music vocabulary.
Also, While in Boulder I:
- Worked the Colorado Renaissance Fair as an accompaniest and Classic Guitar Soloist
- Did a series of concerts with the Colorado Center for New Musical Resources
- Formed an ensemble with Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, violin, Guitar, Piano, and Bass.
- Played number of restaurant gigs or Classic Guitar brunches,
- Taught lessons privately
In around 1982 I lived in Seattle for a year. I had a trio Flute, Classic Guitar, and a person
who doubled on celo and bass. We played classical and jazz pieces and performed at cafes, restaurants,
and business events.
I came down to Marin County California around 1983 and am still here today. I had a couple of performance
ensembles together here before Meridian and also have been involved in a number of theatrical productions.
Local Theatrical Credits Include:
A Midsummer Night's Dream ( 4 productions )
• Composed and Directed Music
• Did Sound
Lysistrada
• Composed and Directed Music
• Performed music with Flute, Oboe, Guitar, Bass, and Percussion.
The Tempest
• Composed and Produced Music
The Lorax
• Directed Music
The Toad of Toad Hall
• Directed And Produced Music
• Did Sound
Other Performance Credits
I've also performed at Weddings, Art Shows, Wine Tastings, and other events and continue to do so today.
