Based in Southern California, James Beauton is a percussionist who specializes in experimental music from the last century. Beauton performs regularly as a soloist in Los Angeles for the Music@MiMoDa and Brilliant Strings concerts series, performing works of composers Iannis Xenakis, John Cage, Philippe Manoury, Franco Donatoni and Brian Ferneyhough. He has also performed in Monday Evening Concerts and the unSung Music Festival.
Beauton is a member of the ensemble Tala Rasa, a percussion trio dedicated to the commissioning and performance of new music. Tala Rasa has premiered works by composers G.N. Gianopoulos, Andrea Mazzariello, Wally Gunn, Michael Laurello and Thomas Childs. He has also performed with ensembles such as red fish blue fish, the Santa Monica Symphony, the Nova Ensemble and has been featured as a soloist with the ensembles Renga, the Contemporary Chamber Players and the Michigan State University Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras.
Pursuing his passion for percussion pedagogy and music education, Beauton joined the teaching artist roster at the innovative Music Vault Academy in 2014. This dynamic and multifaceted music school, recording studio and concert venue also hosts and produces the music series Concerts@theVault. As Artistic Director of this series, Beauton manages these events that provide live music to the community of South Orange County, often featuring artists from Los Angeles and San Diego.
Beauton holds a faculty position at San Diego State University as a dance accompanist and works toward his Doctorate of Musical Arts at UC San Diego. He has earned degrees from SUNY Stony Brook (Master of Music) and Michigan State University (Bachelor of Music). Beauton is a Vic Firth and Yamaha Performing Artist.
