James F. Matheson, Jr. is the director of bands at
Richfield Elementary School. Â He directs
all levels of the bands.
Mr. Matheson has been
teaching private Saxophone and Clarinet students since 1992 and has started his
first year of teaching at Richfield Elementary School. Mr. Matheson has a Bachelor of Arts, Classics
degree in Latin and Classical Greek from Loyola University of Chicago and a
Master of Music degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University. Mr. Matheson has taught private Saxophone and
Clarinet lessons for the last 20 years. As a performer, Mr. Matheson spent sixteen years playing the Baritone
Saxophone and Clarinet for the Bill Engberg Orchestra, the Shananigans Big
Band, the Rock Valley Jazz Ensemble as well as performing with groups as diverse
as the Beloit/Janesville Symphony Orchestra, Theatre Unlimited, Rock Valley
Starlight Theatre Pit Orchestra, Rock Valley Community Band, The Rock Valley
Olde Towne Band and any other ensemble or group that wishes to use his skills. Over the years, he has performed with notable
Jazz Musicians such as Buddy Baker, Frank Mantooth, Glenn Kostur, Antonio
Garcia, Arnie Lawrence, and Mark Colby. He continues to study saxophone and flute with Ken Stein.
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Mr. Matheson is looking
forward to working with all the musicians at Richfield Elementary School. He hopes to enlist the talents of some of the musicians who have not played in a while and those who are brand new to the
wonderful world of band.