Dr. James Snell has performed with the Kansas City Symphony, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Opera, the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the Missouri Chamber Orchestra. He has recorded with the New Mexico and Dallas Symphonies as well as the Dallas Wind Symphony. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, the Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Southern Methodist University and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Dr. Snell has served on the faculty of the Department of Music at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and currently serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Dr. Snell is also a member of Marimba Yajalon, an ethnic marimba ensemble, performing the music of Mexico internationally.