James Tobin is the principal clarinetist of the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra and performs with many ensembles, including the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the Quad Cities Symphony, Ash Lawn Opera, Opera on the James, The Oratorio Society of Virginia, and the Virginia Consort.  He has performed as guest with the Albemarle Ensemble and performs frequently with the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia.  As a soloist James has been featured several times in the Concerts at Cove summer chamber series.

Mr. Tobin maintains a large studio and appears as clinician throughout Central Virginia.  He frequently appears in schools on behalf of the Charlottesville Symphony Preludes program. James has given masterclasses at Virginia Tech, UVA-Wise, and in Charlottesville.  He is the founding director of the Youth Orchestra of Charlottesville-Albemarle Clarinet Ensemble and the Charlottesville Clarinet Workshop.  James is happy to serve as winds coach of the Youth Symphony of Central Virginia, an ensemble that he belonged to in high school.

Studio members are frequent participants in All-Virginia Band and Orchestra.  They have performed in masterclasses for David Shifrin (Yale), Matt Hunt (Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie), Julian Bliss (international soloist), Andrew Simon (Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra), Boris Allakhverdyan (L.A. Philharmonic), Carol McGonnell (the Argento Ensemble), David Lemelin (Richmond Symphony) Robert DiLutis (Maryland), Charles West (VCU-retired), Phil Paglialonga (VT), Sarunas Jankauskas (JMU), Tiffany Valvo (VCU), Garrick Zoeter (Shenandoah Conservatory), and others.  Studio members have also been accepted to Virginia’s summer Governor’s School for the Arts, Interlochen’s One Week Clarinet Institute, Interlochen Summer Arts program, the Philadelphia International Music Festival’s Young Artist Program, and both the Interlochen and Idyllwild Arts Academies.