Originally from San Diego, California, James (Jim) Winchell knew early in his high school years that he wanted to become a music teacher, being inspired by his own teachers...and the Canadian Brass.  He formed and managed a brass quintet starting in grade 10, and his first conducting teacher was Russ Sperling (who later became the president of California Music Educators Association).  Winchell went on to complete his bachelor's degree in Music Education with a minor in Psychology at Cal State Fullerton, where he studied trombone with Bob Sanders and Mike Hoffman, and conducting with Dr. Mitch Fennell. He maintained an intense performance schedule with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, Trombone Choir, Brass Ensemble, Varsity Band, and more.

Winchell completed his student teaching with Gregory Whitmore and Jennifer Dean in the Palm Springs Unified School District, before taking the post of Instrumental Music Director at Garden Grove High School, back in Orange County, where he served for nine years.  Winchell successfully brought the GGHS band out of the financial and musical struggles he found it in, and his bands and orchestras earned many Superior and Excellent ratings at festivals.  Winchell regularly attended professional development conferences, conducting workshops, and symposiums during this time, and also performed on percussion, French horn, bass and principal trombone with the Southern California Philharmonic for eight years.  In the 2021-22 school year, recovering from COVID lockdowns, Winchell's music program had one of the highest student retention rates of all the surrounding schools.  He left the program with a strong foundation to a new director, in order to further his own education.

Currently, Winchell is pursuing a Master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting with an interdisciplinary specialization in Music Cognition at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada's first UNESCO City of Music.  His two primary mentors are Dr. Colleen Richardson (conducting) and Dr. Jonathan De Souza (music cognition).  His current research interests include the communication of musical expression through body movement in performers, and the science behind mental practice to train musicians for efficiency and effectiveness in the practice room.  He looks forward to being able to apply his research and newly refined conducting skills to practical applications back in the music classroom, and is pursuing potential avenues for a PhD in Music Education starting in 2024.

James (Jim) Winchell is a music educator and trombonist native to the San Diego area.  He holds a B.A. in Music Education with a minor in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton, and taught public high school for nine years in Orange County.  He is currently completing a Master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting with a specialization in Music Cognition at Western University in Ontario, Canada, and looks forward to go back into teaching with his new knowledge and skills.