James McNeish

Jim McNeish teaches courses in solo classical guitar performance, Guitar Ensemble/Chamber Music, and Acoustics for Musicians. He also runs the College's Elizabeth Gilbert Fortune Recording Studio (a multi-room facility incorporating Fortune Hall, Evans Hall, Oliva Hall, a soundproof isolation booth and Harkness Chapel) and assists Professor Arthur Kreiger with electronic music and computer music courses in the Cummings Electronic and Digital Sound Studios. 

Professor McNeish holds a Master of Music degree in Applied Classical Guitar Performance from the Yale University School of Music, New Haven, Conn. He studied classical guitar with Benjamin Verdery and performed in master classes with Eliot Fiske, David Leisner, Jaap Schroeder, Ricardo Isniola, Michael Newman, Seymore Bernstein, and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. He also studied computer music programming with Jonathan Berger, and arranging with Willie Ruff.

While earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Acoustics and Music from the College of Engineering, University of Hartford, Hartford, Conn., he studied acoustics with Robert Celmer and Craig Stalk and audio recording/engineering with David Budries.  

Earning a Bachelor of Music in Applied Classical Guitar. Hartt School of Music, Hartford, CT, he studied classical guitar with Oscar Ghiglia, Richard Provost, Robert Guthrie, and Alan Spriestersbach. He performed in master classes with David Tannenbaum, Manuel Barruecco, Sharon Isben, Nigel North, and Ben Verdery.

Mr. McNeish is a member of the Connecticut College Chamber Players and has performed with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, the Goodspeed Opera Orchestra, the United States Coast Guard Band, and the Connecticut Orchestra. Mr. McNeish also performs regularly at the College, as a soloist throughout New England, and has recorded 2 classical guitar solo CD's, 1 flute and guitar CD (with ECSO Principal flautist Nancy Chaput). Prof. McNeish has several, live performance, solo and ensemble music videos, which can be found on YouTube.

As Professor of Acoustics at Connecticut College, he has re-designed Dana Hall, transforming it into the new Evans Hall, helped to design and oversee construction of the new Elizabeth Gilbert Fortune Hall & Recording Studio, and continues to involve his Musical Acoustics Classes in the study and improvement of the acoustic properties of existing rooms on campus.

He has the following professional affiliations:

• Connecticut Classical Guitar Society, Founding member, Hartford, Conn.
• Guitar Foundation of America, Professional member
• Ammerman Center for the Arts and Technology, Founding Member/Fellow

Visit the Connecticut College Department of Music website.

Majoring in Music.

Minoring in Music

Majoring in Music Technology

Minoring in Music Technology