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Awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance at Stanford University, James Welch studied with Herbert Nanney and served as Assistant University Organist. He has also studied organ with Grace Brown; Parley Belnap, Brigham Young University; Dr. Alexander Schreiner, former Mormon Tabernacle Organist; Dr. Josef Doppelbauer, Mozarteum Akademie, Salzburg, Austria; Jean Langlais, Ste. Clotilde, Paris, France; and Dr. John Walker. Piano studies were with Elsa Burland and Earle Voorhies in Pasadena, California. From 1977 to 1994 he served as University Organist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 1984 he was the recipient of a Fulbright award to pursue research on historical Cavaille-Coll organs in Brazil. He has continued his research in Latin American organ music, and has presented lectures and recitals on this subject at the 1992 National AGO Convention in Atlanta and at the International Congress of Organists in Montreal in July 1993. He has travelled extensively in Latin America, doing research and recitals in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. He has edited and published three volumes of organ works by Mexican composers. In July 1994 he gave a lecture and recital on Mexican organ music at the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists in Dallas, Texas. His world-wide appearances include the following concerts:
James Welch is an Associate member of the American Guild of Organists. He has served on both the local and regional levels as an officer of the Guild and has performed several times at Guild conventions. He has written articles on a variety of topics for organ journals including The American Organist and The Diapason. His recordings include Magnum Opus, recorded on the Flentrop organ of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle; Music for Christmas, Stanford University Memorial Church; Recital, All Saints' Episcopal Church, Palo Alto, California; Discovery, St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, Los Olivos, California; Instrument of Peace, Church of Saints Peter and Paul in San Francisco; Instrument of Wonder, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Oakland, California; and A Treasury of Wood Works, recently recorded at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in San Francisco. Many of his recorded performances have been aired on Public Radio International's Pipedreams program. His travels, studies, and performances on historical and modern instruments throughout the world have given him a sure command of many styles of music. Critics in this country and abroad have praised him for his technical facility, solid musicianship, and creative programming. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he has been very active in the Church's music program. He has served as ward organist and stake music chairman, and he has arranged for and accompanied numerous music programs, including Area Conferences and Messiah sing-alongs. He is the composer of a hymn in the Church's hymnal ("Bless Our Fast, We Pray," No. 138). He is a frequent guest recitalist at the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, and he has taught numerous times as a guest professor at the Annual Church Music Workshop held at Brigham Young University. He frequently conducts workshops and performances in stakes throughout the United States and abroad. He served a mission in Brazil 1970-72 and has returned several times for concerts and masterclasses. He and his wife, Deanne Everson, are the parents of two sons, Nicholas and Jameson.
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James Welch is the University Organist and lecturer in music at California's