James E. Mack

James Mack began studying clarinet at age 8 in Milwaukee (WI) and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance from Northwestern University. He served as first chair clarinetist in an Army band in Monterey (CA) and remained in California to study at UCLA and California State – Los Angeles where he received teaching credentials and a Masters degree. His arranging and composition teachers include Glenn Cliff Bainum, John Paynter, Robert Delaney, John Vincent, and Lukas Foss.

While playing professionally in the Los Angeles area, he served as band and orchestra director at Franklin High school for five years and followed by two years at Los Angeles High School. Mack was then appointed to the position of Director of Instrumental Music at El Camino College in Torrance (CA) where he remained for 34 years while directing all of the ensemble groups at various times and teaching clarinet and saxophone in the Applied Music program. After retiring from full time teaching, Mack continued to teach clarinet students at the college and direct a clarinet choir in the spring semesters, Now fully retired, he continues to write arrangements and play clarinet for the fun of it.