James Recktenwald is a member of the Louisville Orchestra and held the Lynne A. Redgrave Chair as Assistant Principal Trumpet for over twenty seasons. Presently, James is third trumpet in the Louisville Orchestra. As an Orchestra member since February 1997, Dr. Recktenwald performs on educational and community engagement services as a soloist, clinician, and member of The Louisville Orchestra Brass Trio and Brass Quintet. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and a Master of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin as well as a Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Louisville. Dr. Recktenwald is the founder and manager of Kentucky Brass, a versatile brass and percussion ensemble, and Symphonic Arts Entertainment, a professional contracting/booking agency that provides a variety of professional ensembles for the Louisville area. Dr. Recktenwald maintains a prominent teaching studio and coaches Master classes at local high schools, including The Youth Performing Arts School. Additionally, he was the conductor of The Louisville Youth Orchestra’s Horizons Brass Ensemble for eight years.

What do you enjoy most about performing with the Louisville Orchestra?

The daily battle of trying not to let some one steal the music from your soul.

In what ways do you think the Louisville Orchestra can make the greatest impact on our community?

The Louisville Orchestra will find the most impactful success in your community, when it adequately balances the performance of "classical music", including samples of all Western Art Music with the performance of "new music", including samples of all Contemporary Orchestral Musical.

What’s something unique, surprising, fun, or interesting about you?  

I am a life long enthusiast of the dog breed, the Irish Setter. I presently live with Flanagan, CH Analainn's Moonshadow, who I showed and finished several years ago. He is a handsome five year old Irish Setter.

What are some of your hobbies outside the LO?

I am a novice/beginner woodworker, recently completing my first project, a 7' floating entertainment shelf.