About Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony (RPWS)
The Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony (RPWS) began its humble musical path on 1st August 2003 as part of the school’s Centre for Culture and Communication’s multi-faceted cultural activities by their own RP students.
James Barnes
James Charles Barnes was born on September 9, 1949, in Hobart, OK. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theory and composition from the University of Kansas in 1974 and 1975 and studied conducting privately with Zuohuang Chen. Since 1977, he has been affiliated with the University of Kansas and is presently a member of the Theory-Composition faculty, teaching orchestration and composition courses. His numerous publications for concert band and orchestra are extensively performed in the United States, Europe, and the Pacific Basin. His works have been performed at Tanglewood, Boston Symphony Hall, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
He is also a tubist and has performed with numerous professional organizations. He has received many awards, grants and has written over 45 works for band, most notably Brookshire Suite, Centennial Celebration Overture, Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Nicolo Pagannini, Heatherwood Portrait, and Invocation and Toccata. In recent years, he has been commissioned to compose works for all five of the major military bands in Washington, DC.
