Biography
James A. O’Dell began his musical training in Rochester, New York at the age of eight years when he began piano lessons. Raised in a musical environment, his mother, Jessie was an artist and musician and his father, Clayton was a public school teacher, basketball coach, and banjo player. In high school he started organ lessons with William Wilson at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Rochester while continuing his piano training at the Eastman School of Music Preparatory Department studying with Emily Vanderpool.
Initiating his collegiate career at Concordia Lutheran college of Bronxville, N.Y. he eventually transferred to Nazareth College of Rochester where he studied piano with Robert Hobstetter and organ with Barbara Harbach. After graduating from Nazareth with a B.S. in piano performance and a minor in organ he was appointed Organist-Choirmaster at Sacred Heart Cathedral of Rochester. At the cathedral he was responsible for the Cathedral Choir and an extensive concert series.
In the spring of 1986 Mr. O’Dell was accepted as a graduate student at the State University of New York at Buffalo where he furthered his organ studies with Dr. Harbach. During his two years at the university he was president of the student chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), began studying harpsichord, and received second prize in the annual student organist competition sponsored by the AGO chapter in Buffalo.
After receiving the Master of Music degree in organ performance in 1988 he became Director of Music/Organist at Brighton Reformed Church in Rochester. The next year he was appointed full-time Director of Music/Organist at Irvington United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana where he was responsible for a fully graded music program as well as drama and other liturgical arts. In addition to his responsibilities at the church he was treasurer for the Indianapolis Chapter of the AGO as well as a Ragtime pianist at the Boggstown Inn & Cabaret, Boggstown, Indiana.
In the summer of 1992 he was appointed Director of Music/Organist at First United Methodist Church in Victoria, Texas. The full time position included responsibility for the two adult choirs, two bell choirs, brass choir, youth and children’s choirs.
During his tenure at FUMC Mr. O’Dell began the “First Fridays at First and Nave” concert series, presented public organ recitals, served on the Victoria Bach Festival Board, was accompanist to the Children’s Chorus of Victoria, sang in the Victoria Master Chorale, and was interim choral director at Victoria High School. Additionally, he performed as organ soloist in the 1995 Victoria Bach Festival, was accompanist for the United Methodist Southwest Texas Conference Adult Choral Workshops and Youth Choir Rallies, and was a clinician for organ and choral workshops. Additionally, he represented FUMC, Victoria as organist to the United Methodist Southwest Texas Annual Conference in Corpus Christi.
Mr. O’Dell accepted the position of Director of Music/Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, PA in February of 2000. The full-time position included responsibility for the adult Chancel, Children’s, Handbell, and Youth choirs in addition to the seasonal Orchestra and Abendmusiken concert series.
After leaving the position at First Presbyterian in the summer of 2001 Mr. O’Dell was hired as organist and then Music Director/Organist at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mount Joy, PA. where he developed the Festival Choir, directed inter-generational musicals, and played public organ recitals at Trinity and throughout Lancaster. Performing two theater organ concerts he raised over $4,000 for Hurricane Katrina survivor relief. During this time he served the Lancaster Chapter of the AGO as chapter Newsletter Editor and Sub-Dean. As a member of Lancaster AGO he performed in the Pipes Plus, and Organ Plus concerts and in the annual Summer Arts Festival concert series. Additionally, he performed as part of the Lenten Organ Concert series at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster. While in Lancaster Mr. O’Dell was a certified conductor at the Strasburg Railroad.
In 2005 Mr. O’Dell was appointed to the position of Director of Music/Organist at Central United Methodist Church, Monroe, NC. During his 15 years at Central his ministry and responsibilities have included direction and/or oversight of the Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, Brass Choir, Praise Band, Youth Praise Band, Festival Choir, Community Chorus and orchestra, Chapel Service Song Leaders, Inter-generational musicals, Drama, Trinity, Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Children’s Chorus, vocal and instrumental soloists, and the Moore-Price Concert Series. Additionally, Mr. O’Dell has served on the board of the Union County Symphony Society.
Initiating his collegiate career at Concordia Lutheran college of Bronxville, N.Y. he eventually transferred to Nazareth College of Rochester where he studied piano with Robert Hobstetter and organ with Barbara Harbach. After graduating from Nazareth with a B.S. in piano performance and a minor in organ he was appointed Organist-Choirmaster at Sacred Heart Cathedral of Rochester. At the cathedral he was responsible for the Cathedral Choir and an extensive concert series.
In the spring of 1986 Mr. O’Dell was accepted as a graduate student at the State University of New York at Buffalo where he furthered his organ studies with Dr. Harbach. During his two years at the university he was president of the student chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), began studying harpsichord, and received second prize in the annual student organist competition sponsored by the AGO chapter in Buffalo.
After receiving the Master of Music degree in organ performance in 1988 he became Director of Music/Organist at Brighton Reformed Church in Rochester. The next year he was appointed full-time Director of Music/Organist at Irvington United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana where he was responsible for a fully graded music program as well as drama and other liturgical arts. In addition to his responsibilities at the church he was treasurer for the Indianapolis Chapter of the AGO as well as a Ragtime pianist at the Boggstown Inn & Cabaret, Boggstown, Indiana.
In the summer of 1992 he was appointed Director of Music/Organist at First United Methodist Church in Victoria, Texas. The full time position included responsibility for the two adult choirs, two bell choirs, brass choir, youth and children’s choirs.
During his tenure at FUMC Mr. O’Dell began the “First Fridays at First and Nave” concert series, presented public organ recitals, served on the Victoria Bach Festival Board, was accompanist to the Children’s Chorus of Victoria, sang in the Victoria Master Chorale, and was interim choral director at Victoria High School. Additionally, he performed as organ soloist in the 1995 Victoria Bach Festival, was accompanist for the United Methodist Southwest Texas Conference Adult Choral Workshops and Youth Choir Rallies, and was a clinician for organ and choral workshops. Additionally, he represented FUMC, Victoria as organist to the United Methodist Southwest Texas Annual Conference in Corpus Christi.
Mr. O’Dell accepted the position of Director of Music/Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, PA in February of 2000. The full-time position included responsibility for the adult Chancel, Children’s, Handbell, and Youth choirs in addition to the seasonal Orchestra and Abendmusiken concert series.
After leaving the position at First Presbyterian in the summer of 2001 Mr. O’Dell was hired as organist and then Music Director/Organist at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mount Joy, PA. where he developed the Festival Choir, directed inter-generational musicals, and played public organ recitals at Trinity and throughout Lancaster. Performing two theater organ concerts he raised over $4,000 for Hurricane Katrina survivor relief. During this time he served the Lancaster Chapter of the AGO as chapter Newsletter Editor and Sub-Dean. As a member of Lancaster AGO he performed in the Pipes Plus, and Organ Plus concerts and in the annual Summer Arts Festival concert series. Additionally, he performed as part of the Lenten Organ Concert series at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster. While in Lancaster Mr. O’Dell was a certified conductor at the Strasburg Railroad.
In 2005 Mr. O’Dell was appointed to the position of Director of Music/Organist at Central United Methodist Church, Monroe, NC. During his 15 years at Central his ministry and responsibilities have included direction and/or oversight of the Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, Brass Choir, Praise Band, Youth Praise Band, Festival Choir, Community Chorus and orchestra, Chapel Service Song Leaders, Inter-generational musicals, Drama, Trinity, Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Children’s Chorus, vocal and instrumental soloists, and the Moore-Price Concert Series. Additionally, Mr. O’Dell has served on the board of the Union County Symphony Society.