James Babor has been a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1993. In addition to his performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Babor regularly participates in concerts on the LA Phil’s Green Umbrella series. His solo engagements have included performing the xylorimba solo in Olivier Messiaen’s Des canyons aux étoiles with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Babor received his Bachelor of Music degree from Texas A&M University and his Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has studied with Richard Weiner, Paul Yancich, Cloyd Duff, and Doug Howard. He has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, the Seattle Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, and the New World Symphony. He has also been fortunate enough to perform with So¯ Percussion. Babor has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, Sony, Telarc, Teldec, and London Records.
In April of 2012, Jim was the featured soloist in Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto during the University of Southern California’s “Visions and Voices: The Arts and Humanities Initiative.”
Babor has given master classes at numerous institutions throughout the U.S. and Canada, including New England Conservatory, Boston College, the University of Miami, the Royal Conservatory, and the San Francisco Conservatory. He has also given clinics at the Annual Percussive Arts International Convention sponsored by the Percussive Arts Society.
James Babor is a Remo Orchestral Artist and an endorser of Pearl/Adams Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Freer Percussion Products. He is also on the faculty of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.
Babor is a certified PADI Divermaster and has worked frequently with local dive shops and instructors. He is also a certified Diving Emergency Management Provider through DAN, and he holds certifications with Global Underwater for Cave Diver 2 and Technical Diver 2. He is very active in volunteering his time for Ghostnet removal and project baseline conservation initiatives.
Photo by Frances Marshall Photography
