James Beauton, percussion (Stony Brook, NY), has performed chamber and solo percussion works throughout America as well as Canada and France. He has also performed with ensembles such as the Contemporary Chamber Players, the Michigan State Wind Symphony, the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, the Interlochen All-State Orchestra, and the Wynton Marsalis Jazz Band. He has worked closely with composers such as John Mackey, William Bolcom, Ricardo Lorenz, Carter Pann, Felix Pastor, John Corigliano, and Joel Puckett and performed under the batons of Gary Lewis, Leonard Slatkin, and Kevin Sedatole. James has also been a featured soloist with each of the top three performance ensembles at Michigan State University during his time at MSU and was awarded a finalist position at the second annual Southern California Marimba Competition. Recently, he has become the drummer for the Stony Brook Big Band and the band leader/drummer for a new Salsa band based in Stony Brook that he founded. James studied with Professor Gwen Burgett Thrasher at Michigan State University, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance in 2011. James is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Percussion Performance at SUNY-Stony Brook with Eduardo Leandro.