April 22, 2017

James Scott, today we recognize and congratulate you for your distinguished professional achievements as a performing musician, a teacher, and an administrator.

Many people excel in one or two of these areas, but you are one of the rare individuals who has achieved depth and distinction in all three.

Your professional career began when, at age 16 and a student at Emory University, you became one of the youngest members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in its history.

Your next stop was Oberlin, and then you came here, to Peabody, to complete your training. You received Master of Music degrees in both Flute and Piano in 1966, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in 1973.

You started teaching at Rutgers University in 1967 and became a full Professor of Music in 1986 teaching flute, piano, and theory. During that time you were also developing your skills in the administrative arena, founding and directing the Master of Music Program within Mason Gross School of the Arts, chairing the Department of Music, and being appointed Acting Dean of Mason Gross School of the Arts in 1988.

In addition, you were performing in more than thirty concerts each season: in solo recitals, chamber ensembles, concerto appearances, and free-lance orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, and the Far East.

In 1994, you became Associate Dean for Instruction and Professor of Flute at Indiana University, and principal flutist of the Indiana University Festival Orchestra.

In 1997, you moved into the role of Director of the School of Music at the University of Illinois; and in 2001 you became Dean of the College of Music at the University of North Texas.

Your administrative leadership activities have included chairmanship of the Commission on Accreditation of the National Association of Schools of Music; presidency of Pi Kappa Lambda; and membership on the boards of the Dallas Symphony and Dallas Chamber Music.

You have recently retired as Dean, but continue to teach at the University and give master classes in this country and abroad, including here at Peabody this afternoon. 

With this award we celebrate all that you have accomplished, and we couldn’t be more proud to have you as part of the continuing legacy of this great conservatory.

On behalf of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University it is our honor to confer upon you the Peabody Distinguished Alumni Award.