James Vaughan is a saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, composer, educator, and bandleader based in San Jose, California. He has performed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in a wide range of musical styles, including jazz, funk, R&B, Latin, classical, orchestral, and musical theater. His performance credits include collaborations with the Monterey Symphony, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Quique Neira, as well as numerous productions with local theater companies, including 42nd Street, Chess, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Finding Neverland, and Guys & Dolls.
As an educator, James has over five years of teaching experience throughout the Bay Area. He provides private instruction on all saxophones, flute, and clarinet, and has taught marching band, concert band, and jazz ensembles of various sizes. During the 2025–2026 school year, he directed the Leigh Lil Band, a specialized advanced 10-piece jazz ensemble.
James recently earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from San José State University, where he studied with renowned educators and performers including Mary Fettig, Dr. Aaron Lington, and Steve Sánchez.