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A native of Buffalo, New York, James D. Hildreth received his first instruction in piano and organ from his father, Charles, who was formerly employed by the Schlicker Organ Company. As a boy, Jim sang in the Boy Choir of Christ Church (Cathedral) in Cincinnati, Ohio, under Gerre Hancock. Jim continued his organ study in High School, Robert Mollard being his principal teacher. He furthered his piano study with Margaret Taylor. He also studied and played French horn during his Junior High and High School years, and was accompanist for the chorus at Dixie Heights High School in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. At age fifteen he became Organist of the Immanuel United Methodist Church in Lakeside Park, Kentucky, a position he held through his college years. Mr. Hildreth won a full scholarship to the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where he received a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance, studying organ with Wayne Fisher and Roberta Gary, and piano with John Quincy Bass. Mr. Hildreth received a Master of Sacred Music (MSM) with emphasis in Choral Conducting from the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. His principal teachers there were Lloyd Pfautsch, Jane Marshall, and Larry Palmer (harpsichord).
From 1982-87, Mr. Hildreth was Director of Music Ministries for the First United Methodist Church of Griffin, Georgia, where he was responsible for a graded program for children, youth and adults in vocal and handbell choirs. During this time he was a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus under conductor Robert Shaw, with whom he participated in ten commercial recordings.
Since 1987 Mr. Hildreth has been Organist of the Broad Street Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he accompanies an active adult choral program and gives annual organ recitals in addition to playing for weekly services, in which he offers a wide range of repertoire in addition to creative hymn accompaniments and improvisation. A Past Dean of the Columbus Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, James Hildreth has written convention reviews for that chapter's newsletter and website, and has served for two terms on the Executive Committee. He is Organist for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, with whom he performed in New York City's Carnegie Hall in April 2001 in Boïto's Prologue from Mefistofele. Other performances with the CSO include the Mass in B Minor by J.S. Bach under Helmuth Rilling, the tone poems of Respighi, and the Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony, under the direction of Alessandro Siciliani. Mr. Hildreth is also Organist with the Columbus Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, Timothy Russell, conductor, with whom he has performed in chamber versions of Mahler's Fourth Symphony and Bernstein's Mass. He is a private teacher of piano and organ, and has taught courses on Service Playing and Improvisation at Capital University in Columbus. He was Organist for the Festival Service of the American Choral Directors Association Central Division Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio in February 2000, under the direction of Philip Brunelle. He served as organist for the opening service of the 214th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Columbus, Ohio in June 2002, at which some 7000 worshipers were present.
James Hildreth's recital repertoire covers a wide range of periods and styles, including transcriptions of orchestral works. Recital venues include various locales in Ohio, Georgia, Chicago (Fourth Presbyterian), Pennsylvania, New York State (Houghton College, and St. Thomas Church, New York City) the historic Methuen Memorial Music Hall in Methuen, Massachusetts, and the Organ Hall of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine (November 2004). In June 2003 he played for the annual convention of the Organ Historical Society in New Freedom, Pennsylvania. Each recital program is tailored to the specific instrument and audience. James Hildreth's programs are designed to include both familiar and new repertoire that will satisfy the audience and showcase the instrument's best capabilities.
Contact details and further information
E-mail James D. Hildreth