James was named the 7th Conductor of the Milwaukee Choristers in 1993. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Jacksonville (FL) University, in his hometown. He was awarded a Master of Music Education degree by Southern Illinois University in 1977, and received a Doctor of Education degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1984.

James is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, where he's been a member of the faculty since 1989. In 2003, he received the university's prestigious Stella Gray Teaching Excellence Award and was given the UW-Parkside Faculty Distinguished Service Award in 2006. He also conducts the Voices of Parkside, the Parkside Chorale and the Master Singers.

In 2002, James participated in the first Chorus America/Chicago Symphony Association Choral Orchestral Workshop and Master Class. In a national competition, 18 "emerging professional conductors" were selected as "fellows" for that workshop. James was the only Wisconsin applicant selected.

On April 12, 1998, at the invitation of Mid-America Productions, James made his Carnegie Hall debut. He shared the podium that day with the famed John Rutter from England. In 2004, James returned to Carnegie Hall to conduct Gabriel Faure's Requiem. He led a massed chorus of 190 singers from around the country.

James was back at Carnegie Hall on March 20, 2006 to conduct Vivaldi's Gloria. The chorus he directed on the accasion included singers from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, New Jersey and Wisconsin. He will return to Carnegie to conduct Glenn Edward Burleigh's Nguzo Saba Suite on November 25 of this year.

He holds membership in the American Choral Directors Association and has held leadership positions at state, regional and national levels. He served on the Convention committee for ACDA's 2007 National Convention, which was held recently in Miami. He is presently President of the Wisconsin Choral Directors Assocaition and has chaired WCDA's last two state conventions.

He also holds membership in the Music Educators National Conference, the International Choral Music Federation, Chorus America, National Collegiate Choral Organization and is an Associate at the Black Center for Music Research.

He has been listed in the International Who's Who in Music.

Christine Simon Halverson has been a member of the Milwaukee Choristers since January of 1983 and, for most of that time, has been the first sopranos' section leader. She has also performed as a soloist on several occasions. She was named Assistant Conductor in 1994.

From 1988 - 2005 she was the Music Director at Perseverance Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee, where she directed the Chancel Choir and two handbell choirs. Once a month, she leads a singalong for the residents of Harwood Place Retirement Living Community.

Chris holds a Choral Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Patricia was hired by the Choristers in 1993. A native of Palos Heights, a suburb of Chicago, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the University of Illinois.

Since April of 1997, she has been Music Coordinator for Racine Bible Church, where she's organized an orchestra, adult and children's choirs, men's and women's ensembles, and a variety of smaller vocal and instrumental ensembles. There are opportunities for every age group, from 2 years through adult, to participate in music.

Pat is also a composer and arranger. The Milwaukee Choristers have performed several of her pieces, including Gyspy Spring in 2007 and Psalm of Deliverance, based on Psalm 30, in 1995.