James Gai is a multi-woodwind instrument performer and teacher. He joined the University of Central Missouri faculty to teach clarinet and saxophone in 1985 following 12 years of teaching at Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota. A former public school band director, Dr. Gai holds Bachelor of Music Education (clarinet) and Masters of Music (music theory and composition) degrees from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and the Doctorate of Arts (woodwind performance) from the University of Northern Colorado.
He continues an active performance schedule as principal clarinet with the Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra, the Roadkill Clarinet Quintet, the After-Hours Trio, and the Jim Gai Big Band. He has performed as an extra with the Kansas City Symphony, and with the Greeley Philharmonic, Denver Symphony, Huron Symphony, and Watertown Symphony. His clarinet students placed first and second in the Missouri Federated Music Clubs auditions, and the University of Central Missouri Saxophone Quartet placed first in the Woodwind Chamber Music Auditions in both 2011 and 2012
He has been with the Yamaha family of artists and clinicians since 1981.
